Mark Beardsworth

Mark Beardsworth is a partner in Cadwalader’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Group, resident in the London office.

Mark focuses his practice in the defense of serious fraud and criminal matters and has been involved in prosecutions brought by the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Services Authority, HM Revenue and Customs, the Financial Reporting Council and the Environment Agency. These cases are often complex, high profile and international in nature. Mark has a special interest in cases with ancillary civil and professional disciplinary proceedings and has a practical knowledge of representing a client's wider interests in these situations.

Mark conducts internal investigations for corporates, regulators and other entities and advises companies and their directors on governance issues. He helps clients to avoid compliance and criminal risk in a wide range of scenarios.

Additionally, Mark has represented clients in relation to confiscation and restraint issues including cash seizures. He was the acting solicitor in the House of Lords case of Regina v Rezvi and Others (2001 2 All ER 609) which challenged confiscation proceedings as contrary to the Human Rights Act 2000.

Mark is recognized as a leader in the field of both commercial fraud and criminal litigation in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. He also was recognized as a global leader in Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defence Investigations 2019. Mark is chair of the American Bar Association's International White Collar Crime Committee; a representative of the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA); and a member of the ABA Section of International Law, The Law Society and the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA).

Mark received his LL.B from The University of Manchester. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.