Mark Tomassi
A very experienced highly regarded courtroom advocate, who is fearless and effective in his approach. He is regularly instructed in heavyweight criminal cases and has acted as a leading junior in two of the longest- running and largest criminal trials ever.
He is noted to be a good listener, with a relaxed and approachable manner at the case preparation stage. He gains the confidence of others in difficult situations and has an ability to assimilate vast amounts of detail in a narrow time frame.
In addition to his normal workload of very serious criminal cases, including murder and fraud, he accepts work in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal on reference.
He is retained mainly by Legal 500 firms but is willing to travel nationwide and internationally in appropriate cases. He has represented individuals accused of murder in the Caribbean and was recently successful in the Court of Appeal (Cayman Islands).
Cases
Fraud and Financial Crime
He is instructed in an Office of Fair Trading case due to last three months. He also has a
specialist knowledge of VAT carousel fraud and a proven ability in cases where the
prosecution has failed to disclose essential material.
Asset Confiscation
He has a wide knowledge of asset confiscation work. He has recently been engaged in five High Court trials in the current year. He is regarded as someone who can get the
best out of any case and situation. Major drug trials have included representing the only westerner ever to successfully escape from the ‘Bangkok Hilton’ prison.
Crime
He is regularly instructed in high profile cases for crimes such as R v. Celbequiri and Others that lasted ten months in total in overturning a murder conviction
Significant Cases
R v. Celbequiri and Others – A ten month drugs trial.
R v. Malcolm Sayers and Others – An alleged MTIC case stayed as an abuse of
the courts’ process.
R v. Oliver and Others – A massive drugs case dismissal judgment referred to
the Court of Appeal.
R v. Martinez McLaughlin – Successfully overturned murder conviction.
R v. Shane Dedman – Successful in resisting unduly lenient sentence for
attempted murder.
Wiseman v. Sullivan – Libel case: Mark acted for the client of solicitor who
claimed to have been overcharged for work.
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association
Awards, Qualifications & Other
- Grade 3 CPS Counsel
Direct Access
Mark Tomassi is qualified o accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come directly to him. In addition, he welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions directly to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme. For more information please visit our Direct Access page here.