After completing his education at Essendon Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, Mark was admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Victoria, and enrolled by the High Court of Australia. He has been a director of the firm and its predecessor since 1982.
Mark is an accredited specialist in family law and criminal law, receiving accreditation when each was first offered to Victorian lawyers in 1989 and 1995 respectively. In these specialty areas, Mark regularly appears as advocate in all jurisdictions. In addition, he undertakes general litigation on behalf of the firm’s clients.
His legal professional achievements include serving as a Council member of the Law Institute of Victoria since 1992. He is a past president of the Institute, and currently chairs the Country Law Associations Committee, and the Access to Justice Committee. Mark is a member of the Specialisation Board, the board of the Leo Cussen Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the board of the Victoria Law Foundation.
Mark is a former director of the Law Council of Australia, and currently chairs its Access to Justice Committee and represents Australian lawyers on the Australian Legal Assistance Forum. He is a board member of the National Pro Bono Resource Centre. He is a regular presenter at legal conferences and events in Australia and overseas.
Mark is honorary legal advisor to a host of community organisations within Gippsland and elsewhere, and is often recognised for his appearances as a member of the “Brains Trust” on The Einstein Factor for ABC television.
Outside the law, Mark is married to a science teacher, with three children and is involved in a number of community, sporting and theatrical groups in his local area. He is trained in piano and classical organ, and enjoys music, literature and supporting the Essendon Football Club.