Profile

Since 1999 he has worked in London for Hextall Erskine and DLA before joining Kennedys in 2009. He became a Partner in 2011. Prior to his move to London he trained and became a partner in regional practice ASB Law where he enjoyed an all-round commercial litigation, advocacy and personal injury education.

The focus of Mark’s practice is the defence of insurers in relation to third party claims. He has acted for a range of insurance companies over a number of years but in the last 10 years has focussed upon the London Market, catastrophic injuries arising from employer’s liability and public liability motor and product liability claims in addition to coverage issues and third party property damage. He is particularly versed in acting for SMEs in various industries but particularly the construction, agricultural and leisure sectors. He has handled high value and complex subtle brain injury cases against market renowned claimant firms.
After being located in our London office for many years Mark has now moved to our Taunton office and is able to manage and run cases based either in London or the south-west given the location of his team members. Indeed he has built up a large road traffic accident criminal practice with assistants in both London and Taunton offering country wide coverage in serious injury collisions. In that regard he advises clients at the police station on a regular basis and has recorded a number of trial successes.

Mark handles multiple brain injury and spinal injury cases as well as a range of serious orthopaedic injury and fatal accident claims and he is accustomed to early involvement and the formulation of strategy aimed at avoiding proceedings or identifying evidence required before it becomes stale or lost. He aims always to give frank advice and to reserve realistically.

Mark is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers.

Mark is an author of Kennedys’ Claims Handling Law and Practice Guide, the fourth edition of which was published in February 2021.

Praised for his ‘technical knowledge‘, Mark Skinner is the key contact and is noted for his expertise in public liability cases.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Qualified as a solicitor in the UK in 1993

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defendant (South West)'
    "Praised for his ‘technical knowledge‘, Mark Skinner is the key contact and is noted for his expertise in public liability cases".
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defendant (South West)'
    "The key names at Kennedys' Taunton office include Mark Skinner, who focuses on the defence of insurers in relation to third party claims".
    The Legal 500 UK 2023
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury: defendant (South West)'
    "Mark Skinner leads the team by example. His analysis of the legal issues is always very strong and he runs a tight ship with his very reliable associates and maintains excellent relations with his key insurer clients."
    "Mark Skinner is a highly experienced litigator on behalf of a wide range of defendant clients. He is tactically astute and has an eye for the detail."
    "...'highly experienced' and 'tactically astute' Mark Skinner."
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence (South West)'
    Chambers UK 2021
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (South West)'
    "Mark Skinner is [a] name to note for large loss liability work"
    The Legal 500 UK 2021

Work highlights

  • Secker v Fairfield Property Services and Goulding [2017] High Court trial win where a catastrophic spinal injury claim seeking several million pounds alleging breach of contract, collateral contract and breach of Defective Premises Act was successfully defended on behalf of a builder and property developer who sold a house to the Claimant.
  • Sutton v Syston Rugby Football Club Limited [2011] Court of Appeal. After failing at first instance we successfully appealed a case where the Defendant club was alleged to have negligently allowed a danger within the grass on the pitch to cause a serious knee injury to the young Claimant. The defence was run on the basis of causation as even a sufficient inspection would not have revealed the defect which was within the long grass.
  • Gray v Fire Alarm Fabrication Services (1) EH Humphries (2) Thistle Hotels(3)[2011] Court of Appeal. This was a successful appeal from a first instance High Court ruling apportioning the third defendant client liability arising from a fatal fall through the roof of Victoria station. We appealed on a mixed basis of fact and breach of duty and were successful in having the case dismissed.
  • Lee Austin v High Sports Group [2017] Exeter County Court (unreported) where a claim against a company operating a bouldering wall was dismissed at trial.
    Current cases include a brain injury case arising from an alleged assault during the course of work on a building site, catastrophic spinal injuries allegedly caused by breach of duty to an intoxicated trespasser, catastrophic spinal injuries caused when a client allegedly gave a misleading signal causing a collision with an innocent pedestrian knocked from a bridge, brain injuries arising from a fall through the roof of agricultural premises, amputation arising from operation of farm machinery and severe head injuries following a zip wire accident in a play park.