Mark was born in Clinton, N.C., on August 27, 1974. He graduated from North Carolina State University where he received an undergraduate degree in history. Mark received his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
Mark is a partner in the firm's litigation department where he spends a great deal of time representing clients charged with criminal offenses in both state and federal courts. Mark has experience in dealing with all criminal offenses ranging from traffic and DWI to narcotics, firearms offenses, and white-collar matters. Mark also devotes a large portion of his practice to general civil litigation matters including contract disputes, domestic matters, personal injury, and administrative legal matters.
Mark is admitted to practice before the United States District Court—Eastern District of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mark is also a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel of attorneys for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Mark is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Eighth Judicial District Bar Association (past president), as well as the Lenoir County Bar Association (past president).
Prior to entering private practice at White & Allen, P.A., Mark was an assistant district attorney for the 4th Judicial District of North Carolina (Sampson, Jones, Duplin and Onslow counties) where he negotiated and tried hundreds of cases.
Mark, a member of the Kinston Rotary Club, has been a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Lenoir County, the United Way of Lenoir County and a member of the Caswell Center Human Rights Advocacy Board. Mark was selected to the Kinston Free Press' 20 Under 40 2010. 20 Under 40 is a select list of 20 outstanding professionals under age 40 who actively participate in bettering the community.
Currently, Mark serves as chairman of the Pride of Kinston Board and is a member of the Lenoir Committee of 100. He is also an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of Kinston.
Recent cases/transactions of note:
• Obtained favorable outcomes for several clients charged with various crimes, ranging from narcotics violations to firearms charges.
• Successfully assisted an Eastern North Carolina business owner avoid a federal grand jury indictment.
• Handled a federal criminal appeal through briefing in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and petition to the United States Supreme Court.
