Mark Hapgood QC

Mark Hapgood was called to the Bar in 1979 and was the most junior member of the Bar to be appointed Queen's Counsel in April 1994.  He is widely recognised as a leading Silk in commercial litigation.  In recent years, he has led the defence in a succession of heavy commercial cases, including the £2.6 billion claim by Equitable Life against Ernst & Young, and the US$850 million claim by Springwell Navigation against JP Morgan Chase Bank.

Mark also has a very extensive advisory practice and regularly advises City firms on transactional issues arising as transactions are being put together or after they have closed.

In 2009, Mark advised a joint working party of The Law Society Company Law Committee and The City of London Law Society Company Law and Financial Law Committees on the execution of documents at a virtual signing or closing.

He is Editor of Paget's Law of Banking (10th, 11th, 12 and 13th editions), Joint Contributor to Halsbury's Laws of England, General Editor Butterworths on-line service Banking Law Direct and a contributor to Professional Negligence and Liability.

Mark Hapgood QC’s News and Cases

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Mark Hapgood QC’s Directory Quotes

  • "The ‘first-rate' Mark Hapgood QC is ‘the person to go to for weighty finance matters'." (Legal 500 2011)
  • " ‘approachable, extremely hands on and hardworking, and retains a sense of humour throughout'." (Legal 500 2011)
  • "‘one of the best in the field'" (Legal 500 2011)
  • "‘an absolute star who prepares brilliantly and is an impressive advocate.'" (Chambers Global 2011)
  • "both a decent lawyer and an utterly decent man  .. brilliant on his feet, he is a succinct advocate; he is always on top of the facts and figures in a case" (Chambers & Partners 2010)
  • "the silk of choice for the defence of claims involving financial instruments" (The Legal 500 2009)
  • "a real terrier who is good on his feet and aggressive in chasing down every point; a match for the very very best" (Chambers & Partners 2009)
  • "ability to quickly identify and isolate issues"; "spark of genius"; "brilliant on his feet" (Chambers & Partners, 2008)

Mark Hapgood QC’s CVs