Mark Cran QC’s Full CV

Qualifications

Gordonstoun School, Bristol University LLB (1970)

Career

Called to the Bar 1973, appointed silk 1988, appointed recorder 1998.

Practice Profile

Mark Cran QC has developed an impressive practice within the field of commercial law. Given his strong advocacy experience and command within the court room his practice additionally covers specialist areas such as banking, entertainment and media, licensing & gaming, sports law, insurance and reinsurance, European law, and public and administrative law.

Commercial Law

Mark Cran QC is a commercial silk who has substantial court and advisory experience. Highly experienced as an advocate he is a regular visitor to the Admiralty and Commercial Court and before various Arbitration Panels on high value claims. He is recognised in the area of Commercial Litigation as a leading silk in the Legal 500.

His recent and reported cases are:

  • Occidental v. Republic of Ecuador
  • IPOC v LV Finance Group
  • Bancomext v. Etecsa
  • Lincoln v. Hancock
  • Law Debenture Trust v. Lexington Insurance Co.
  • SFA v. Laurent and Fleurose
  • Carnoustie Universal SA & Ors v. ITF.
  • Rowland & Norgren v. Bock
  • Motorola v. Uzan.
  • Europhone International Ltd v. Frontel Communications Ltd, The Times 2nd September 2001
  • Director General of Fair Trading v. The Proprietary Association of Great Britain & Anor, 151 NLJ 17
  • 2001 - "ABT Summer" - Trial
  • Somatra Ltd & Others v. Sinclair Roche & Temperley [2000] 1 WLR 2453, [2000] 2 Lloyds Rep 673, [2000] 1 Lloyds Rep 311
  • Medicaments & Related Classes of Goods, Restrictive Practices Court, [2001] 1 WLR 700, [2001] ICR 306
  • Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd v. Seagate Trading Co.Ltd, [1999] 1 All ER 261
  • Patrick Stevedores Operation Pty Ltd v. International Transport Workers Federation, [1998] 2 Lloyds Rep 523
  • The "Sivand" [1998] 2 Lloyds Rep 9
  • Marshall v. NM Financial Mangement Ltd, [1997] 1 WLR 1527, [1997] ICR 1065, [1997] IRLR 449
  • Kuwait Airways Corporation & Minister of Finance for the State of Kuwait v. Kuwait Insurance Co SAK & Others, [1996] l Lloyds Rep 664 - led for London insurance market in successfully resisting war risks claims by Kuwaiti Government/Kuwait Airways who were seeking to defeat limitation of $300 million on loss of aircraft and equipment following Iraqi invasion (Rix J).
  • Chequepoint Sarl v. Mcclelland & Anor, [1997] QB 51, [1997] 2 All ER 384, [1996] WLR 341, [1997] l BCLC 177
  • Simon Engineering Plc & Others v. Butt Mining Plc & Anor, [1996] 1 Lloyds Rep 91
  • 1995 - Guam Harbour Arbitration - re: Building Contract
  • 1995 - 1996 - led for Winchester Bowring in series of successful applications to strike out claims of Syndicate 90 (Wrightson names) arising out of run-off reinsurances placed by WB for Wrightson with Outhwaite Syndicates
  • R v. Camden London Borough Council ex parte Cran & Others [1995] RTR 346, 94 LGR 8, (Pro bono) - led for North London residents in successful High Court action to squash traffic and parking orders made by Camden Council (McCullough J.) ([1995] RTR 346; 94 LGR 8).
  • Banque Brussells Lambert SA v. Eagle Star Insurance Co.Ltd [1995] 2 All ER 769, [1994] 31 EG 68, [1994] 2 EGLR 108 - led for Eagle Star in successful defence of major BBL and related actions for recovery under commercial mortgage indemnity policies.
  • 1995 - Arbitration Led for AIG in successfully resisting Alghanim all risks claims arising out of Iraqi invasion (Sir M.Kerr, Lord Griffiths, HE Judge Schwebel arbitrators)
  • Century Textiles & Industry ltd v. Tomoe Shipping Co. (Singapore) Pte Ltd [1993] 1 Lloyds Rep 63

Entertainment and Media

Having acted on behalf of various well known artists such as George Michael in his dispute with Sony, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Bolton against Warner Chappell Mark Cran QC is without question a leading silk within this area. His other clients within this area include Major and Independent Record Companies, Film and Theatre Companies, TV and Radio Broadcasters, Directors and Producers.

His reported cases are:

  • Davy International Ltd & Others v. Tazzyman & Others
  • Davy International Ltd & Others v. Durnig & Others, [1997] 3 All ER 183, [1997] 1 WLR 1256
  • Panayioutou & Others v. Sony Music Entertainment [1993] Ch 142, [1994] 1 All ER 755, [1994] 2 WLR 241 - led for George Michael in unsuccessful action to set aside recording contracts for restraint of trade (Jonathan Parker J).
  • Warner Chappell Music & Anor v. Michael Bolton Music Inc & Michael Bolton

Licensing and Gaming

Mark Cran QC has advised and appeared before various licensing committees. For the last eighteen or so months Mark Cran has been instructed on behalf of Clermont Leisure in relation to obtaining suitable gaming licensing for the development of casinos within their various hotels throughout the UK under the umbrella of the Thistle group.   

Sport

Mark Cran QC is rated as leading silk for sport disputes. Given that his specialist knowledge covers a wide range of issues, he has been instructed to act for various individuals, organisers, teams, governing bodies and broadcasters. He has previous advised the Williams Formula One team and attended an Arbitration in Geneva before Concorde Formula One Commercial Arbitrators which involved a drivers contract. More recently he was instructed on behalf Digicel in their dispute with the broadcasting and staging of the Stanford 20/20 cricket match.

  • Stanford v. Digicell
  • Williams Grand Prix re Concorde Agreement - Arbitration in Geneva before Concorde Formula One Commercial Arbitrators re Driver's contract for David Coulthard
  • 1995 - 1997 Series of actions and hearings for Williams Grand Prix Engineering covering all aspects of Formula One motor racing including EC and Competition issues