Mark Clews Managing Director, Digital Forensics & eDiscovery
Twenty-five years ago, Mark Clews started pulling on a thread most people never even see: the digital evidence hiding inside the machines, drives, and data systems that run modern business. He has not stopped pulling since.
At iDS, Mark is the expert clients rely on when the legal and technical complexity runs deep. His practice spans the full arc of digital forensics and eDiscovery, from the moment a legal hold is issued to the moment evidence is produced in court. He has led hundreds of engagements: single-machine forensic investigations, multi-jurisdictional class actions spanning hundreds of custodians, and everything in between. He has testified as an expert, been appointed as an independent forensic examiner, and built the operational infrastructure, evidence rooms, chain-of-custody protocols, and standard operating procedures, that makes defensible work possible at scale.
The nature of his work has put him in front of nearly every major regulatory body in the country: the SEC, the DOJ, the FTC, FINRA, the EPA, the CFPB, and state attorneys general. He has investigated illegal cartels, securities fraud, accounting irregularities, theft of intellectual property, and whistleblower matters. In one case, his forensic work contributed to a $300 million SEC penalty settlement.
Mark came to iDS after building and leading digital forensics practices across some of the most respected consulting firms in the country, most recently establishing a digital forensics service line from the ground up in 2025. What he brings to every matter is not just technical depth. It is judgment: the ability to look at a complex data environment and know what matters, where it lives, and how to get to it in a way that holds up. That is the work. He has been doing it since 2000.
Beyond his professional work, Mark serves on the board of The Priority Center, a charity dedicated to breaking the generational cycle of child abuse, and regularly volunteers at Second Harvest of Orange County, which works to ensure food and nutritional security for the community.
Education & Credentials
- Magnet Certified Forensics Examiner (MCFE)
- EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE)
- Certified Cyber Forensic Professional (CCFP)
- Member, The Sedona Conference Working Group 6
Recognition
- Who’s Who Legal: recognized among the world’s leading digital forensics experts every year from 2016 through 2024
- Who’s Who Legal: Global Thought Leader, 2023 and 2024
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
iDS’ team of experts is at the forefront of the ever-evolving industry that is eDiscovery and Data Analytics. In this digital world of evolving technology and AI innovation, it is more important than ever to learn from and stay connected with these experienced specialists.
From forensic accountant to court-appointed examiner: Mark on context as evidence, defensible process, and why the biggest discovery risk is collecting everything.