Overview
Kawsar is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, internationally recognised as the standard of excellence for mediators. He accepts instructions to act as a Mediator or as a Mediation Advocate, from both professional clients and on a direct access basis.
Kawsar enjoys a diverse practice with particular expertise in Employment, Regulatory and Public Law. He has appeared before a range of courts and specialist tribunals. He is regularly instructed in complex matters - beyond his level of call – both as an advocate as well as in an advisory and investigatory capacity.
Before becoming a Barrister, Kawsar was a solicitor at ‘Magic Circle’ law firms Clifford Chance LLP and Allen and Overy LLP in London, where he specialised in Financial Services Regulatory Law acting for some of the world’s largest corporate and financial institutions on a range of high-profile matters. He also worked on high-value International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation matters, complex Banking and Finance transactions, and in forming Private Funds.
Kawsar graduated with a First-Class law degree from the London School of Economics, before reading for the BCL at Oxford University as an OCIS Scholar, and then the LLM at Harvard Law School, where he was Fulbright Scholar. In 2009, he was a Global Fellow of the Prime Minister.
Kawsar is accredited to accept direct instructions from members of the public where appropriate.
Languages
- English
- Bengali
Practice and Experience
Kawsar has advised and acted for clients on a range of employment law matters. He has a particular interest in discrimination cases and those involving a financial and/or corporate element. He recently successfully represented, as leading junior, a group of 74 claimants in a class action against Carillion plc, in a 10-day preliminary hearing at the Manchester Employment Tribunal. The compulsory liquidation of Carillion plc is described by the Insolvency Service as the largest and most complex trading liquidation in the UK. Kawsar’s oral advocacy and submissions were praised by co-counsel as “very persuasive and attractive”.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kawsar represented businesses across the country in challenging local authority grant decisions. He was interviewed and recognised by the BBC as the leading barrister in this field.
Kawsar is also regularly instructed in professional discipline proceedings. He has acted for doctors, osteopaths and nurses in full and interim order hearings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, General Osteopathic Council’s Professional Conduct Committee and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee.
As a member of the Attorney General and Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior’ Panel, he enjoys a busy public sector practice in all types of Employment, Regulatory and Public Law proceedings.
In addition to court work, Kawsar provides training and seminars to law firms, corporate and financial institutions as well as charities on a range of employment matters. He is instructed in pre-litigation matters including advising on: settlement and compromise agreements; handling internal grievance and disciplinary proceedings; and drafting policy documents.
Previous Experience
- Associate (Lawyer), Allen and Overy LLP
- Trainee Solicitor, Clifford Chance LLP
Investigations
Kawsar is an experienced investigator and has led internal investigations and inquiries in the corporate, public and charitable sector – often involving multiple jurisdictions. Recent investigations include a complex racial discrimination complaint at a public body and an employment grievance investigation within an international NGO.
He is currently a counsel to the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing and security cleared to SC Level. As a result, he has good knowledge of police law and other public law issues including judicial review, and claims under the Human Rights Act.
Sector Experience
Banking, Finance, Leisure, Healthcare, Education, Social Care, local government, Police, Fire and Rescue and the NHS.
Testimonials
A complex 7-day victimisation and harassment (associative) claim acting for the claimant, instructed by Thompsons Solicitors LLP.
“You have represented Mark magnificently, for what it is worth, you have my future recommendations” Steve Price-Hunt, Fire Brigades Union, West Midlands Secretary
Appointments
• Junior Junior Counsel, Undercover Policing Inquiry
• Governor, Morpeth Secondary School
• Level 1 Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel
• Teaching Associate in Law, Queen Mary University of London
• Junior Junior Counsel, Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel
• Trustee, Toynbee Hall
Awards
• Ann Goddard Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2019)
• Prime Minister’s Global Fellow (2009)
• Shortlisted, Junior Lawyer of the Year, Law Society of England and Wales (2018)
• Excellence in Advocacy, Criminal Bar Association Award (2018)
• Tun Mahathir Scholarship OCIS, University of Oxford (2012-13)
• 2HC Scholarship, London School of Economics (2009-12)
• Fulbright Scholarship, Harvard Law School (2013-14)
Memberships
• Roll of Solicitors, Law Society of Ireland (2018)
• The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
• Accelerated Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), University of Law (2014-15)
• Roll of Solicitors, Law Society of England and Wales (2017)
• Member, City of London Law Society
• Member, City of London Solicitors’ Company
Qualifications
• Harvard Law School, Master of Laws (LLM), Fulbright Scholar (2013-14)
• University of Oxford, Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Tun Mahathir Scholar OCIS (2012-13)
• London School of Economics, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), First Class Honours, 2HC Scholar (2009-12)
