Mark Owen
Solicitor and Director
Mark qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and joined forces with the Peninsula Group in 2002, to assist with a wide range of legal issues associated with its ‘core’ services, HR, Employment and Health and Safety.
Areas:
- Regulatory
- Employment
- Commercial
Mark qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and joined forces with the Peninsula Group in 2002, to assist with a wide range of legal issues associated with its ‘core’ services, HR, Employment and Health and Safety.
Formerly a partner with Weightmans, a top 45 law firm, Mark set up his own firm in 2002 to offer a specialised service, and since then has dedicated his time and expertise to the needs of the Peninsula Group and its clients. Latterly with Irwell Law, which took over his practice earlier this year.
For the past 19 years Mark has also been exclusively retained by Betfred and the Peninsula Group to advise on legal and regulatory issues affecting its business. During this time Mark has advised on a number of high-profile matters, including Betfred’s acquisitions of the Tote in 2011, over 300 shops from Ladbrokes/Coral in 2016/17, and the proposed William Hill acquisition in 2021.
He is regularly instructed to deal with complex high-value Employment Tribunal claims and commercial disputes, and also represents Peninsula’s clients in prosecutions brought by the HSE, Local Authorities, and the CQC. He also recently acted in an appeal to the Court of Appeal by a multi-site discount retailer on the scope and application of the Definitive Sentencing Guideline in health and safety cases.
Mark also has vast experience as a speaker, trainer and presenter, running workshops and seminars not just for the Peninsula Group and its staff, but also for its clients and prospects.
When not at work Mark can be found either exercising his RSPCA rescue Lurcher Tilly, or refereeing on a Saturday, enforcing laws of a different kind on the rugby pitch.
Relevant Qualifications Work History & Affiliations
- Bachelor of Law – University of Reading – 1980 to 1983
- College of Law – 1984
- Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors – 1987
- Weightmans – 1987 to 2002
- Mark D Owen Solicitors, Sole Practitioner – 2002 to 2021
- Irwell Law – 2021
- Member of HSLA
Notable cases include;
- R (Hestview Limited) v Snaresbrook Crown Court [2001] EWHC 144; the leading authority on the exercise of the Justices discretion when considering the grant of a betting office licence under the Betting Gaming & Lotteries Act 1963.
- Irwell Insurance Company Limited v Watson & Others [2021] EWCA Civ 67; established for the first time that an Employment Tribunal amounted to a ‘court’ within the meaning of the Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010
Interested in working for Irewll Law? Send us a copy of your CV, we are always keen on inviting new talents to our Team.
By submitting your CV, you agree for Irwell Law to process your personal details in relation to potential job vacancies.
Send your CVAt Irwell we care about your access to law and justice. We are a specialist legal expenses insurance provider and we’ve been helping businesses defend and pursue their rights since 1994.