Mark Allison

Mark attended Glasgow University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Prior to calling to the Bar in 2021, Mark was in private practice as a Solicitor for over 13 years, latterly as a Partner and Head of Department in a large litigation firm in Glasgow. As a Solicitor, Mark gained considerable experience in civil litigation, specialising in Family Law (with particular interest in Child Law) and Employment Law.

Mark has extensive experience in relation to children’s referral and private child law (residence, contact, adoption and permanence) proceedings, having conducted well over 100 contentious proofs. He has experience of dealing with complex and sensitive issues such as sexual abuse, non-accidental injury and parental alienation. He also regularly deals with other Family Law matters including divorce, financial provision, child relocation and Hague Covention (child abduction) cases.

Mark was appointed by the Scottish Ministers in 2019 to the Panel of Safeguarders, meaning he is routinely appointed by Sheriffs and Children’s Hearings to represent and safeguard the interests of vulnerable children in court proceedings. Since 2018, Mark has been a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Child and Family Law Committee and has interest in the development of policy in those areas.

In his Employment Law practice, Mark routinely appears before the Employment Tribunal and has experience of representing both Claimants and Respondents. He has conducted numerous appeals before the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and also has experience of appeals in the Inner House and Supreme Court. Mark has particular interest in issues concerning discrimination, victimisation, and other issues under the Equality Act 2010.