Mark Balysz KC is a specialist regulatory law practitioner, practising exclusively in Health & Safety, Environmental Law, Consumer Safety, Inquests and Inquiries.
In 2020 and 2016 he was named “Health & Safety Junior of the Year” at the Bar Awards, having also been nominated for the award in 2011.
Mark has been instructed to advise and represent both national and global companies and organisations including The Home Office, Amazon, Blackstone, Jaguar Land Rover, Viridor, Virgin, The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Crest Nicholson, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman, Kier Infrastructure & Overseas, B&M Retail, GEA, British Airways, Siemens, Galliford Try, Birse Civils, Sheffield Forgemasters, Metroline, Warburtons, Iceland, Sainsburys, Booths Supermarkets, Homebargains (TJ Morris), B&Q, New Look, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Yorkshire Water and Northumbria Water.
Mark also represents individual directors, managers and employees charged with gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offences.
Ranked consistently throughout the last decade by legal directories as a leading or “Star Individual” most recently he has been described as being:
“Absolutely superb: the crème de la crème … extremely sharp and decisive … silky smooth with his advocacy and doesn’t shirk from a fight … mitigates with panache and humanity … a go-to barrister … smooth operator who is strong on the law and always prepared … a superb advocate … a real depth of technical knowledge. Commitment to strategy that is key in cases of this nature and he has very persuasive advocacy skills that not only reassure clients but get results … an amazing jury advocate … he has brilliant charm … an exceptional barrister …”
Chambers & Partners 2022 describes him as “operating at silk level – he is fantastic”.
Mark is in high demand and is currently instructed to represent/advise in relation to some of the country’s leading health & safety investigations, including the Grenfell fire investigation and a number of forthcoming manslaughter trials.
Mark has advised on several issues relating to the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, including assisting two organisations being investigated for suspected Covid breaches and providing advice to companies on steps necessary to comply with the Government’s “Covid-19 Secure” guidance.
Mark is a guest lecturer in health & safety on the King’s College Construction Law and Dispute Resolution Masters.
View full profile »Awards
News
- Mark Balysz KC, co-defending with James Buchanan, secures the acquittal of paramedic charged with Gross Negligence Manslaughter
- Mark Balysz to be appointed King’s Counsel
Events
Qualifications
- Criminal Bar Association
- Health & Safety Lawyers Association
Recommendations
“A really strong junior operating at silk level – he is fantastic.”
Star Individual, Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Mark is extremely sharp and decisive. Mark is silky smooth with his advocacy and doesn’t shirk from a fight. Mark mitigates with panache and humanity.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A go-to barrister – he is a smooth operator who is strong on the law and always fully prepared.”
Star Individual, Chambers & Partners, 2022
“A superb advocate. He has a real depth of technical knowledge, commitment to strategy that is key in cases of this nature and has very persuasive advocacy skills that not only reassure clients but get results.”
Legal 500, 2021
“An amazing jury advocate – he has a brilliant charm and he’s very personable. He really empathises with clients.”; “Mark is an exceptional barrister. Clients really like him and he delivers a high-quality client service.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“He is fantastic in terms of his ability to cut through the issues and explain matters to clients in a very easy to understand manner.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“A great junior with solid criminal knowledge and an impressive manner in court.”
Legal 500, 2018
“An utterly reliable advocate with a great understanding of the law.”
Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2018
“He has excellent technical skills and a real ability to read clients’ expectations.”
Legal 500, 2017
“Health & Safety Junior of the Year”
Chambers & Partners, 2017
