Mark Stephens

Mark has over 27 years of practice in complex commercial litigation, IP, cultural property and media related disputes. He is also known for his experience in the fields of Human Rights, Administrative law & Media-Regulatory issues. He is recognised in the legal directories as an expert in his fields.
He is Senior Member at Finers Stephens Innocent. He has wide experience of large and complex litigation in London and many other Jurisdictions including the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. He practiced at the first English Law Firm in Moscow as well as regularly appearing before the ECtHR and the Privy Council. Mark has also practiced before the ICTY & the UN Committee on Human Rights. He has given expert evidence to US Courts on English Law and expert evidence on the international law position relating to the division of Cyprus.
Mark has been a mediator since 1999. He has been trained by both CEDR and ADR Chambers. He is recognised as getting results using his “creative user friendly style” whilst having the steeliness to clinch a deal.
His experience of mediations has included trust & shareholder disputes, partnership, commercial contracts, confidential information, copyright, trademark and other IP disputes, libel, cultural property disputes including spoliation claims, employment, family disputes, internet issues, IT, television & film rights, boardroom disputes, property disputes, professional negligence, solicitors costs and sports disputes. Often these have included cross border and multi-jurisdictional elements, NGO’s, charities & trade unions.
Mark is able to draw on his long period of practice, his boardroom & regulatory experience and his practice as a disputes consultant in handling a wide variety of disputes and sensitive issues. Frequently this involves formulating strategies in delicate and difficult situations in the corporate, political and public arenas extending to designing innovative techniques and combined mechanisms for resolving complex or novel issues.
Mark has been Chair of the Management Board of the Programme in Comparative Media Law & Social Policy at Wolfson College Oxford, he is also on the advisory board of Hong Kong University and was recognised for his work with a Doctorate (Honoris Causa). He has also facilitated & taught Media Law and regulation for the Commonwealth, World Bank Institute & International Research & Exchanges Board. He has acted as a regulator – Internet Watch Foundation where he was founding policy chair and ICSTIS the (premium rate) telephony regulator.