Mark Stiebel

Mark Stiebel is a Partner at Smith Hamilton, bringing decades of experience across family law, art law, and commercial law.

With a reputation for providing exceptional legal advice and representation, Mark is a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex legal challenges across multiple sectors.

In family law, he specialises in high-value financial cases, often involving offshore trust assets and complex financial structures. He is highly regarded for his strategic, client-focused approach, combining a deep understanding of the law with a calming and reassuring presence during times of crisis. Mark’s practice also includes relocation cases, Schedule 1 children matters, pre-nuptial agreements, and cases involving allegations of alienation and abuse. His ability to handle even the most intricate and challenging cases has earned him recognition in Chambers 2025, Legal 500 2025, and Spears 500 2024 as a Recommended Family Lawyer.

Mark’s international experience, having practised in South Africa, Singapore, and now the UK, allows him to offer comprehensive advice to clients across multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and beyond. He regularly instructs top chambers, ensuring his clients receive the highest quality representation possible.

In addition to his family law expertise, Mark is a trusted solicitor in the art world, advising collectors, galleries, and artists on a range of art law disputes. He handles matters related to provenance, attribution, sale and purchase, ownership, auction house conduct, fraud, fakes, and forgeries. Mark also provides guidance on art fairs, art insurance, art storage, intellectual property rights (especially in photography), and disputes arising from commissions. His vast experience in international art law has made him a key advisor to clients across jurisdictions including Dubai, the Middle East, India, and Europe. He is ranked in the Art and Cultural Property section of Legal500 and is a member of organisations such as The Professional Advisors to the International Art Market (PAIAM), the Institute of Art Law (IAL), and the Art Lawyers Association (ALA).

Mark also has significant expertise in commercial and contract law, providing strategic advice on business transactions, contractual disputes, and corporate governance. His extensive knowledge of commercial law, alongside his experience in managing high-value financial cases in family law, ensures that Mark offers a holistic approach to both individual and corporate clients.

Known for his calming demeanour and his ability to guide clients through even the most complex and emotionally charged legal challenges, Mark is a trusted advisor to clients globally. Outside of his legal practice, Mark enjoys sailing, photography, travel, and wildlife, and is a passionate supporter of the Springboks, particularly when they are victorious at Twickenham.

Chambers 2025 – Ranked Family/Matrimonial Financial: High Net Worth

“Mark has a good profile among high net worth international families.”
“Mark is a very reassuring presence and on top of the detail.”
“Mark is strategic but also very much on the side of the client; they’ll feel exceptionally supported.”

Legal500 2025 – Recommended lawyer

“Mark Stiebel’s approach is very professional, but with a calming effect. This is very important in times of stress and confusion when you need someone to take you by the hand and walk you through this process step by step.” (2024)

Spears500 2024: Recommended Family Lawyers

“Mark Stiebel has extensive knowledge of complex financial cases, particularly where offshore and onshore trusts are involved. With decades of private client experience, the partner has dual qualifications to practise in both South Africa and England and Wales.

Stiebel is a strong proponent of applying out-of-court alternatives in cases, and only uses litigation as a last resort. He views mediation as a powerful method of resolution where appropriate.

He also has practices in trust and private client litigation, commercial litigation and art law, which he is immensely proud of.”