Mark Pritchard
Called to the Bar in 2017
Before coming to the bar Mark worked for the NHS in an acute mental health unit and later Human Resources. After leaving the NHS Mark became Associate Lecturer in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University teaching in Criminal Law, Contract Law and the Law of Tort.
Crime
Mark enjoys an increasingly busy Crown Court practice and has particular experience in dealing with sexual offences, serious violent crime and cases involving mentally ill defendants. Mark has been able to demonstrate particular skill in dealing with professional and expert witness in cases involving complex technical and legal points.
Mark’s understanding of IT systems, mobile applications and communication technology means that he is particularly suited to any case involving images or internet communication offences.
Mark has a specialist defence practice dealing with protesters accused of a variety of criminal offences. In this practice Mark has represented clients in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and the High Court.
Inquests, Mental Health, and Court of Protection
Mark accepts instructions for all cases within the Coroner’s Court. Mark is willing to assist instructing solicitors from the earliest stage of proceedings and assist with drafting submissions for preliminary hearings in article 2 cases. Mark has a particular interest in cases involving a death in in-patient mental health units or in patients in the community.
Working within mental health services developed Mark’s passion for representing people who’s liberty may be at risk due to their mental health or mental capacity. Mark is able to work well with clients suffering from serious mental illness, profound learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Mark also accepts instructions from Local Authorities in cases where the nearest relative needs to be displaced and cases where deprivation of liberty is an issue.
Family
Mark has experience in dealing with a number of private law family cases and has a particular interest in cases involving serious allegations of domestic violence or coercive and controlling behaviour. Mark also has an active interest in cases where the mental health or substance misuse of a parent is an issue in child contact proceedings.
Other work
Mark has a strong interest in cases of discrimination against people with a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 or the emerging area of caste discrimination. Mark works with third sector groups within the LGBT+ community and is passionate about helping people assert their right to freedom from discrimination. Mark accepts instructions for Employment Tribunals and civil claims in relation to discrimination matters.
Notable cases
R v H – appeal by way of case stated heard in the High Court
R v C – successful appeal in the Crown Court for a particularly complex protest case
R v B – acquittal at half-time in a multi-handed protest case
R v N – online grooming
R v L – historic sexual offence
D v C – successful finding of fact in a private law family where rape was alleged
Affiliations/Personal
- Criminal Bar Association Member
- Inquest Member
- Associate Lecturer in Law Manchester Metropolitan University
Education
Manchester Metropolitan University –
LL.B (Hons.), BPTC & CMC Accredited Mediator
Called to the bar by Middle Temple (Harmsworth Scholar)
What His Clients Say:
Lay client "F"
Mark was also both caring and conscientious, and returned solid arguments in the face of, what appeared to me, a belligerent approach from the judge, I appreciate his hard work
Lay client "C"
I can honestly say that Mark was the best Barrister I had ever come across… For the first time in a long time I felt I had somebody to represent me because he believed in me and not his pay packet at the end of the month… Mark fights for truth and justice with integrity, humour and passion and that is something money can't buy.
Protester Client
I was impressed by the technical expertise of the team of barristers who represented the nine of us ... following the ... protest, and it was certainly a relief when the judge found No Case To Answer. Mark was also both caring and conscientious, and returned solid arguments in the face of, what appeared to me, a belligerent approach from the judge... I appreciate his hard work. Additionally, his colleague, Tony [Williams], who stepped in at the last minute to deal with the judgement on Friday, was thorough and professional.
Articles by Mark include:
Failure to Conduct an Effective Investigation and Article 2 Inquests: New Case Law
The Mental Health Act 1983 and the nearest relative
DPP v Ziegler: a clear framework for dealing with protest cases
