Practice Overview
Mark is a private wealth specialist with a particular focus on the financial aspects of relationship breakdown and the disputes that arise within high net worth families. His work spans matrimonial finance, property and wealth disputes, including those with inheritance or capacity dimensions. He is known for his intellect, clear strategic judgment and approachable manner.
A key part of Mark’s practice is private adjudication. As a qualified arbitrator, he welcomes instructions for arbitration and private FDRs. He brings a structured, outcome-focused approach that helps parties and advisers reach resolution efficiently and with discretion.
Before joining 1GC Family Law, Mark practised as a solicitor for fifteen years and was head of the London team at a leading boutique family law firm. That background gives him a deep understanding of family dynamics, client priorities and the commercial realities of private wealth disputes, enabling him to work seamlessly with solicitors, wealth advisers and trustees.
Mark practises at the intersection of family finance, mental capacity and property litigation, including disputes concerning vulnerable adults, the management of family wealth and cases overlapping with probate or broader property issues. His practice also includes international aspects of family finance, enforcement and jurisdiction.
Mark has a flourishing appeals practice across all aspects of family law. He is meticulous in the preparation of written submissions and appears both in his own right and as junior to King’s Counsel.
Mark accepts instructions on a direct access basis. He provides clear, strategic and highly responsive advice to clients seeking specialist support in financial cases, paperwork-focused applications, dispute resolution processes and appeals, particularly where discreet senior input is required at speed.
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Matrimonial Finance
Mark advises on all aspects of matrimonial finance. He has particular experience in cases involving substantial family wealth, business structures, inherited assets and third-party interests.
He is regularly instructed in complex financial remedy proceedings requiring careful analysis of disclosure, valuation and enforcement issues. Mark is known for his clear strategic advice and meticulous preparation.
His background as a senior family solicitor gives him a strong commercial understanding of the pressures facing clients and advisers in high-value financial litigation.
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Private Adjudication (Arbitration & Private FDR)
Private adjudication is a key focus of Mark’s practice. As a qualified arbitrator, he accepts appointments in financial arbitrations and private FDRs.
He brings a structured, analytical and outcome-focused approach to evaluative work, drawing on extensive experience of complex financial disputes and decision-making.
Mark provides clear, practical guidance aimed at helping parties and advisers move towards resolution efficiently and with discretion.
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Appeals
Mark has a flourishing appeals practice across all aspects of family law. He is regularly instructed to advise on permission to appeal, prospects of success and strategic options.
He is known for distilling complex issues into precise and persuasive written submissions. Mark appears in appeals both in his own right and as junior to King’s Counsel.
He is also available to advise or represent clients directly on a direct access basis where urgent or specialist appellate input is required.
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Cohabitation & TOLATA / Schedule 1
Mark advises on property and financial disputes arising out of unmarried and cohabiting relationships. His work includes TOLATA claims concerning beneficial ownership, contributions and constructive trusts.
He also accepts instructions in Schedule 1 proceedings relating to financial provision for children of unmarried parents.
Mark combines careful forensic analysis with sensitivity to family dynamics and is experienced in the overlap between civil property principles and family-law considerations.
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Inheritance, Probate & Family Wealth Disputes
Mark is able to advise on disputes involving family wealth, including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and contested probate.
He is well placed to assist where inheritance issues intersect with relationship breakdown, financial arrangements within families or broader questions of property ownership.
His background in family finance, property disputes and private-wealth litigation provides a strong foundation for cases where financial remedy, property and capacity issues overlap with private-client matters.
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Court of Protection (Property & Financial Affairs)
Mark can advise on matters at the interface of family finance, capacity and property management. He accepts instructions concerning the financial affairs of vulnerable adults and cases raising questions of capacity or potential financial abuse.
He also advises on family disputes about the management of assets within the Court of Protection jurisdiction.
Mark brings a clear, measured and sensitive approach to these complex cases, supported by his wider private-wealth and family-finance expertise.
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International Family Finance
Mark accepts instructions in cases with international or cross-border financial elements. His work includes jurisdictional issues, enforcement abroad and cases involving overseas assets.
He is familiar with the practical and strategic challenges arising in multi-jurisdictional family finance disputes. Mark provides measured, commercially-aware advice to clients and advisers navigating litigation with an international dimension.
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Direct Access
Mark accepts instructions directly from individuals, families and professionals. He is well suited to providing senior input on financial disputes, paperwork-focused applications and second opinions.
In particular, Mark receives many direct access instructions relating to appeals and applications for legal services payment orders, both of which are especially well suited to direct access. These applications benefit from focused, specialist advice at an early stage, and a well-timed LSPO application can help a party secure the assistance of their preferred solicitor for the remainder of the proceedings.
Clients value his clear guidance, prompt turnaround times and ability to deliver precise, strategic advice where specialist support is required quickly and discreetly.
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What the Directories Say
“Incredibly intelligent, sensible and pragmatic. He is calm and unflappable even in situations where many would crumble. His experience as a judge only widens the breadth of advice he provides to clients” Legal 500 2024
“Mark Harrop is especially strong. His huge experience and pragmatic, sensitive and commercially aware advice is extremely reassuring to clients” Legal 500 2024
"Extraordinarily bright without losing a very human approach at what may be a difficult time. Balanced and fair he is a reassuring lodestar for any client … who is lucky enough to be represented by him" Legal 500 2023
'Mark has so much experience and judgment that the strategy and case preparation is of the highest standard and perfectly pitched to give the client the best prospect in court" Legal 500 2023
"A fantastic lawyer who is particularly strong in negotiations and knows how to find the right angles to get his client's case on top. He is very experienced and personable and gives clients great confidence as a result" Legal 500 2023
“Has a well-deserved reputation as one of the next generation of leading family lawyers” Legal 2022
"Mark Harrop is among 'the best young legal minds'" Legal 500 2022
"Exceptionally bright and commercially astute. He brings a quiet confidence to the case and is tactically clever. He is a real pleasure to work with" Legal 500 2022
“Highly rated. He is sensible and pragmatic. He earns his client’s confidence and for good reason” Legal 500 2022
"Brilliant – he just gets on with it. Mark is, in my opinion, a first-class lawyer, possessing a razor-sharp intellect, an impressive grasp of detail, tactical astuteness and an excellent manner with clients. He is also extremely hardworking and has an unfailingly professional approach" Legal 500 2021
"A considered, bright individual. He gives clients quiet confidence in his outstanding abilities to resolve their case” Legal 500 2021
"Intellectually acute, brilliant with clients and a robust negotiator" Citywealth Leaders List 2020
"Exceptionally good at what he does and manages to combine sensible, practical and pragmatic advice with a caring attitude. He also manages to do all of this whilst remaining completely approachable" Citywealth Leaders List 2019
"Bright and forward thinking and committed to finding the best resolution for his clients" Legal 500 2019
"An exceedingly thorough lawyer – he will leave no stone unturned for his clients. He is totally committed to obtaining the best outcome possible" Citywealth Leaders List 2018
”Work[s] tirelessly for his clients to ensure the best outcome. He is meticulous when it comes to financial detail and effectively narrows the issues to be resolved" Citywealth Leaders List 2017
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Publications
Co-author of Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents 6th and 7th editions (LexisNexis)
News
