“Mark Harper is an exceptional international family lawyer whose mastery of complex trust, wealth and cross-border family disputes places him among the most authoritative figures in elite family law. His rare combination of technical brilliance, strategic judgement and reassuring client care makes him a trusted adviser in the most sophisticated global family matters.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Mark Harper is one of London’s most respected international family lawyers, widely recognised for advising high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals on some of the most sophisticated divorce and family law disputes in England and internationally.

A Partner at Hughes Fowler Carruthers, Mark is particularly renowned for his exceptional expertise in international trusts, cross-border divorce and complex financial disputes involving substantial wealth, offshore structures and multi-jurisdictional family issues.

What Mark Harper does

Mark specialises in complex family law matters, with particular expertise in:

• International divorce and cross-border family disputes
• Trusts and divorce litigation
• High net worth and ultra-high net worth financial remedy claims
• Offshore trust and asset protection disputes
• Prenuptial and pre-civil partnership agreements
• International child relocation cases
• Complex private children disputes
• Jurisdiction disputes involving multiple countries
• Asset tracing, including hidden and difficult-to-structure wealth

His practice frequently involves globally mobile families, substantial business wealth, sophisticated trust arrangements and highly sensitive family disputes requiring deep technical expertise and strategic judgment.

Why Mark Harper stands out

Mark is widely regarded as one of the UK’s foremost technical family lawyers, particularly where international trusts and divorce intersect.

Chambers High Net Worth described him as “He absolutely knows more about the nuances of international trusts and divorce than anyone else.”

Clients and peers consistently praise his combination of intellectual depth, strategic clarity and calm reassurance. Despite handling exceptionally complex matters, he is known for giving clear, practical and commercially sensible advice.

His Court of Appeal case K v K helped shape the law on child relocation, underlining his influence in both financial and children law matters.

Trust markers and recognition

• Partner at Hughes Fowler Carruthers
• Band 1 ranked by Chambers UK
• Leading Individual, Legal 500
• Top 10 Family & Matrimonial Lawyers, Citywealth Leaders List
• Top Flight Family Lawyer, Spear’s Family Law Index
• Featured in Tatler Address Book Advisory
• Former European Chapter President, International Academy of Family Lawyers
• Named in The Lawyer Hot 100

Recent Chambers feedback includes:

“A fantastic lawyer and a very kind and empathetic one too. He is hugely intelligent and reassuring.”

“Extremely experienced and a good strategist.”

“Highly professional and pre-eminent on trust issues.”

Thought leadership and authority

Mark is a recognised thought leader in family law and the co-author of three leading legal textbooks, including International Trust and Divorce Litigation, considered essential reading for practitioners dealing with trust-based divorce disputes.

Former President of the Family Division Sir James Munby described that work as a book that needs to be in the briefcase of everyone handling trust-related divorce cases.

Mark is also a regular commentator in the national media, including appearances on BBC News, Radio 4’s Today programme, and commentary in major publications such as the Financial Times.

Career and background

Mark studied at Pembroke College, Oxford and Guildhall University, London. He qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and spent many years as a partner at Withers before joining Hughes Fowler Carruthers in 2014.

His decades of specialist experience place him among the most experienced family lawyers operating in the international private wealth arena.

Approach

Mark combines first-class technical expertise with strategic pragmatism and reassuring client care.

For clients facing complex international divorce, trust disputes or cross-border family litigation, he offers elite-level representation grounded in experience, discretion and exceptional judgment.