For 21 years Mark worked in law enforcement for several Federal Government agencies, specialising in serious fraud and commercial crime.
Mark started with the Australian Federal Police and worked in a range of policing roles, becoming a Detective in the specialist fraud investigation squad. With the creation of the then Australian Securities Commission (now the Australian Securities and Investments Commission), Mark was seconded to the Commission to lead complex commercial and corporate investigations.
Mark became a Senior Investigator with the Internal Investigations Branch of the Department of Immigration, conducting investigations into fraud, corruption and disciplinary matters both within Australia and at Australian Immigration Missions throughout the world. He was then promoted to Assistant Director with the Department of Defence, in a commercial, fraud and disciplinary investigation role.
Mark was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor in the Australian Capital Territory in 1997 and had intended commencing practice in family law however, his career took him in a different direction.
In 1998 Mark became an Australian Navy Reserve Legal Officer, a role he continues to serve in today.
Mark was also promoted to the position of Deputy Director, Fraud and Commercial Investigations at the Department of Defence, where he led a team of investigators conducting complex commercial and disciplinary investigations, nationally and internationally. Whilst at Defence, Mark was seconded to the Canadian Department of National Defence as the Director, Special Examinations and Inquiries, with a secondary role as a specialist advisor to the Canadian Forces Provost Marshall on Military Policing issues.
In 2001, Mark was invited to join the fledgling international Forensic practice of a large international Accounting and Advisory firm. Mark worked for a short period in the firm’s Sydney office, then became the leader of the Asia Pacific investigations network, a role he held for 13 years. Mark established and led the New Zealand forensic practice and mentored and led the South Korea forensic practice. Mark became a Partner in 2008, then later returned to Australia as the lead partner for the Brisbane and Canberra forensic practices.
Whilst in that role, Mark established and oversighted the firm’s pro-bono services to the Women’s Legal Service of Queensland and the Women’s Legal Centre in the Australian Capital Territory, assisting them to help women and children who are at risk and who are without ready access to the types of Forensic services which would assist their legal position. Mark saw this as an important contribution to the community and it is a legacy that he hoped would continue well into the future.
Mark has always had a passion and desire to practise family law and prior to joining Leishman Legal completed a Masters of Applied Law, majoring in both Family and Wills & Estate law. He was awarded the College of Law, Mills Oakley – Sandra Paul Memorial Best Graduating Student – Family Law prize in 2018 and was admitted as a Graduate Fellow of the College of Law for academic achievement.
Mark has extensive experience in dealing with people in crisis and is able to assist clients with developing legal, commercial and practical strategies to address their family law and estate issues. Mark has given evidence in a wide range of proceedings and his practical experience assists clients and witnesses to clearly articulate and document their evidence. His fraud and commercial crime experience assists clients in dealing with complex property structures, including those designed to hide assets and in analysing complex financial documents.
Mark’s practical commercial experience complements the legal advice he provides to clients.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Laws (1997) Australian National University
- Masters of Applied Law (Family / Wills & Estates) (2018) College of Law
- Graduate Diploma in Government (Fraud Control – Investigations)
- Graduate Diploma in Government (Fraud Control – Prevention & Detection)
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace Training
ADMISSIONS
- Barrister and Solicitor Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
- Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland
- Legal Practitioner in the High Court of Australia
MEMBERSHIPS
- Graduate Fellow of the College of Law
- Queensland Law Society
- Family Law Section