Mark Schwenk

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Top Ranked in Legal 500 2016-2021:
Mark Schwenk is recommended as Leading Individual in the Legal 500 for his Immigration practice, "Mark has a very busy practice but is always on hand to informally discuss matters and offer practical suggestions. He has an excellent advocate with a superb knowledge of caselaw and procedure which he is able to convey to clients in a simple language. He always provides strong and reliable advice which clients trust."

Top Ranked by Chambers & Partners 2012-2020:
Capable of handling the full range of immigration and asylum matters at judicial review, the Upper Tribunal and the High Court. Schwenk is well versed in complex human rights and unlawful detention issues, and has a particular focus on EEA rights. He has experience in representing colleagues whose licence to sponsor international students has been withdrawn.
Strengths: "He is an experienced counsel who knows the law inside and out." "He is straightforward and pragmatic in his approach." "He was impressive when I opposed him recently."
Recent work: Successfully represented an EEA national in attempt to deport him following conviction for a criminal offence.

Mark's main practice areas are asylum & immigration, judicial review, civil penalties and human rights.

After training at a South London legal aid practice, Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Later that year he moved to Manchester to take up a position as a solicitor at the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, subsequently becoming senior solicitor. During his time at the Immigration Aid Unit, Mark acted for hundreds of immigrants and asylum seekers, preparing their cases and representing them before the Tribunal. 

Mark set up and obtained funding for a project to advise detainees at Manchester Airport.

In addition, whilst at the Immigration Aid Unit, Mark was involved in a number of anti-deportation campaigns in the North of England.

Mark was a founder member of the Greater Manchester Law Centre Management Committee.

Mark's experience as a solicitor in a legal aid practice, both in the private and voluntary sectors, means that he has a good understanding of the issues facing immigration solicitors, particularly legal aid practitioners. 

In 2017 Mark travelled to Greece where he took part in a project organised by ILPA to provide legal advice to asylum seekers.

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Reported Cases

• Capparrelli (EEA Nationals - British Nationality: Italy) [2017] UKUT 162 (IAC) See Case Report
• TN (Iraq) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWCA Civ 852 See Case Report
• Samadi, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWHC 1806 (Admin) See Case Report
• Carter, R (On the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 2603 (Admin) See Case Report
• R (on the application of Novoselova) v Secretary Of State For The Home Department (2014) [2014] EWHC 4274 (Admin) See Case Report 
• AS (Afghanistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWCA Civ 1469 See Case Report
• AMM and others (conflict; humanitarian crisis; returnees; FGM) Somalia CG [2011] UKUT 445 (IAC) See Case Report
• Lamrani, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2011] EWHC 3059 (Admin) See Case Report
• South Manchester Law Centre (R on the application of) v Legal Services Commission [2010] EWHC 3131 (Admin) See Case Report
• Mehari (R on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2009) [2009] EWHC (Admin) 3464 See Case Report
• AA (Language diagnosis: use of interpreters) Somalia [2008] UKAIT 00029 See Case Report
• AM (Begedi, members generally at risk) Somalia [2005] UKAIT 00107 (01 June 2005) See Case Report
• JT (Tutsi, failed asylum seekers, evidence) Democratic Republic of Congo [2005] UKAIT 00102 See Case Report
• A v Entry Clearance Officer, Pretoria (Somalia) [2004] UKIAT 00031 See Case Report
• AA (Persecution "Causing" Public Affection Religion Unmarried) Iraq CG [2002] UKIAT 07246 See Case Report
• SF (Article 3, Prison Conditions) Iran CG [2002] UKIAT 00973 (04 April 2002) See Case Report

* At the time of writing, the most recent Country Guidance case on Somalia which informs all current decisions regarding Somalia.  Described by the Tribunal hearing the appeal as: "conspicuously well-argued by Counsel".

** Challenge to the lawfulness of immigration detention.

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