Mark Owen

Mark qualified as a Solicitor in 1987 and joined forces with the Peninsula Group in 2002, to assist with a wide range of legal issues associated with its ‘core’ services, HR, Employment and Health and Safety.

Formerly a partner with Weightmans, a top 45 law firm, Mark set up his own firm in 2002 to offer a specialised service, and since then has dedicated his time and expertise to the needs of the Peninsula Group and its clients. Latterly with Irwell Law, which took over his practice earlier this year.

For the past 19 years Mark has also been exclusively retained by Betfred and the Peninsula Group to advise on legal and regulatory issues affecting its business. During this time Mark has advised on a number of high-profile matters, including Betfred’s acquisitions of the Tote in 2011, over 300 shops from Ladbrokes/Coral in 2016/17, and the proposed William Hill acquisition in 2021.

He is regularly instructed to deal with complex high-value Employment Tribunal claims and commercial disputes, and also represents Peninsula’s clients in prosecutions brought by the HSE, Local Authorities, and the CQC. He also recently acted in an appeal to the Court of Appeal by a multi-site discount retailer on the scope and application of the Definitive Sentencing Guideline in health and safety cases.

Mark also has vast experience as a speaker, trainer and presenter, running workshops and seminars not just for the Peninsula Group and its staff, but also for its clients and prospects.

When not at work Mark can be found either exercising his RSPCA rescue Lurcher Tilly, or refereeing on a Saturday, enforcing laws of a different kind on the rugby pitch.