Mark Abbott

Mark Abbott is a Solicitor and Partner at Reeds, based in the firm’s Complex Crime department.  He is also the firm’s principal VHCC supervisor for fraud and non-fraud cases. Mark joined the firm in 2016 from Blaser Mills LLP where he was a Partner and Head of the Crime Department.

Mark is mentioned as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500, they describe him as:

“a very experienced solicitor. Extremely through in the preparation of cases and his attention to detail is exceptional. His insight into several fields of expertise enables him to anticipate requirements and marshal the evidence extremely effectively. Has a natural charm which not only inspires immediate confidence in his clients but also enables him to secure the co-operation of all the agencies he deals with”

In recent years, Mark has been instructed by both professional and lay-clients in London and across the country as a result of his substantial expertise and reputation for representing those charged with some of the most serious, high profile and complex cases.  Mark was individually selected to represent a number of those arrested under Operation Elveden and Operation Weeting, including a News International Editor charged in connection with Operation Elveden. He represented the Defendant in the country’s first double-jeopardy re-trial for murder, and has also represented suspects accused of terrorism offences.

He is frequently sought out to advise individuals seeking to appeal convictions arising from cases in the Crown Court, predominantly for murder, and his current cases in that regard include those convicted of some of the most notorious murder cases in the country.

Mark has extensive experience and notable success in representing clients accused of serious offences such as murder, firearms, drugs and money laundering offences and has built up an enviable reputation in defending those involved in gang related crimes, with great success.  Despite the severity and complexity of the cases Mark deals with, he is always approachable and always makes himself available. Such is his nature that he is equally at ease representing clients in cases of a sensitive nature, including historical sexual allegations against senior school staff and members of the public. Mark takes pride in providing a “platinum service” to his clients, and consistently delivers advice to them in a clear and concise manner.

Mark is competent at conversing with clients in German.

In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Mark Abbott charges Level A hourly rates.

Awards and Recognition of Mark Abbott

Mark been ranked in recent years by the Legal 500 as one of a handful of Recommended Lawyers.

Specialist Homicide & Serious Violence Solicitor

R v W (the country’s first double jeopardy re-trial for murder) – Reading Crown Court

M was acquitted of murder in 1995 but his acquittal was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2009 following the change in the law relating to double jeopardy after the discovery of “new and compelling” evidence. M was the first person in the UK to be re-tried under the new double jeopardy provisions.

R v M – (the country’s oldest double jeopardy re-trial for murder) – Operation Mawthorpe – Central Criminal Court & Huntingdon Crown Court

In January 1976 M stood trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of a 15-year-old girl and was acquitted of the murder.

In 2020 the defendant was charged again with the murder as a result of new and compelling DNA evidence. Following the successful application to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) it was ordered that the defendant be retried for the offence of murder having quashed the acquittal. The defendant was ultimately re-tried in 2022.

R v R & another (Operation Achfary) – Central Criminal Court

R was 1 of 2 charged with attempted murder & possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. This was an Operation Trident led investigation into the attempted execution of R’s brother. The case against R concluded following a successful application to dismiss.

R v B & Others (Operation Plumeham) – Bradford Crown Court

B was 1 of 5 charged with murder & conspiracy to kidnap. The deceased was kidnapped and tortured as it was believed that he had stolen cash from a relative, who was also an international drug-dealer. Following representations, the Crown accepted a guilty plea to conspiracy to kidnap.

Specialist Drugs & Organised Crime Solicitor

R v L & Others (Operation Erant – linked to Operation Orochi) – Isleworth Crown Court

L was 1 of 8 charged with conspiracy to supply wholesale quantities of cocaine to other OCGs in Bristol and Southampton, in addition to associated money laundering offences. Following an 8-week trial, L was the only defendant acquitted of all charges.

R v M & Others (Operation Debelattio) – Central Criminal Court

M was 1 of 16 defendants charged with conspiracy to import and supply class A controlled drugs on an industrial scale. M was arrested in Holland on a European arrest warrant after appearing on Crimewatch and the UK’s Top 10 Most Wanted list. M was acquitted of conspiracy to import class A drugs and 1 count of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

R v F & others (Operation Edgeley) – Teesside Crown Court

F was 1 of 17 charged with conspiracy to supply importation grade quality class A controlled drugs throughout the north-east of England.

R v O & Others (Operation Ledger) – Maidstone CC

O was 1 of 18 charged with conspiracy to import and supply class A controlled drugs. The investigation concentrated on North Kent Gangs & the ‘scouse network’ in Kent and beyond. In excess of 170,000 of material was eventually served by the Crown.

R v K & others (Operation Kewick) – Harrow Crown Court

K was 1 of 6 charged with conspiracy to supply significant quantities of class A controlled drugs with regional distribution through vehicles with custom made concealed compartments in vehicles.

R v A & others (Operation Aqua) – Exeter CC

A was 1 of 8 charged with conspiracy to cause explosions, armed robbery & conspire to commit burglary. A was part of an Organised Crime Group from Liverpool who targeted ATMs and cash in transit deliveries.

R v E & 22 others (Operation Evolution) – Leicester Crown Court

E was 1 of 23 charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder and attempted murder following 3 separate altercations on the same date in central Leicester. Although E was convicted at trial, his conviction was successfully quashed on appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Specialist Fraud & Miscellaneous Offence solicitor

R v I & 18 others (Operation Klister) – St Albans Crown Court

I was 1 of 19 charged with conspiracy to defraud in a £1.2 million ‘crash for cash’ conspiracy spanning a 2-year period and involved over 50 staged traffic collisions. I’s defence included duress and Stockholm’s Syndrome.

R v D and others (Operation San Diego) – Teesside CC

D was 1 of 10 charged with conspiracy to defraud. D was a principal defendant in stolen cheques being laundered through various bank accounts.

R v D & others (Operation Elveden) – Kingston Crown Court

D was the former Managing Editor of the Sun Newspaper responsible for the paper’s £63M budget. He was accused of knowingly authorising payments to public officials. Acquitted.

R v M & another (Operation Elveden) – Central Criminal Court

M was a leading journalist employed by the Daily Mirror, The News of the World & then the Sun. He was accused of knowingly making payments to a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh. The CPS eventually offered no evidence.

R v K & others (Operation Chinstrap) – Maidstone Crown Court

K was charged with conspiracy to be knowingly involved in the fraudulent evasion of duty in relation to £2M of alcohol and cigarettes.

Specialist Sexual Offence solicitor

R v E & others (Operation Satchell) – Wolverhampton Crown Court

Operation Satchel was an investigation carried out by the West Midlands Police which uncovered the systematic sexual abuse of children in Walsall and is the largest child sexual abuse prosecution in the West Midlands.

The defendant was 1 of 26 charged with conspiracy to commit sexual offences against 7 child complainants.  After a 5-month trial, E was sentenced to a Supervision Order and a SHPO.

R v Y & others (Operation Sabaton) – Oxford Crown Court

Y was 1 of 7 defendants accused of historical sexual offences against a child. The case was linked to Operation Bullfinch. Despite being named and positively identified by the complainant, Y was 1 of 2 defendants acquitted of all charges.

R v S – Isleworth Crown Court

S was charged with offences of rape, incest and indecent assault. The allegations were historical and the case complicated by the fact the complainant had made a number of earlier allegations of rape against other family members, some of which were proven to be true.

Following a 6-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court S was acquitted of all matters in less than an hour.

R v W – Inner London Crown Court

W faced a re-trial in respect of 3 counts of indecent assault against 2 female family members. W had already been acquitted of multiple counts of rape and indecent assault against the same complainants at his original trial.

At the conclusion of the 7-day re-trial at Inner London Crown Court W was acquitted of all remaining allegations.