Mark has experience in public law proceedings arising from prison law, immigration, human rights, criminal and quasi-criminal matters. He regularly advises on the merits of claims in the public law sphere.
In the context of prison law, Mark has been instructed to both draft the necessary paperwork and appear in hearings before the Administrative Court. He has experience in the emergency judicial review procedure required in the most pressing of cases. Recent matters have included utilising judicial review to attempt to secure release on temporary licence for a prisoner to visit a dying relative.
Mark regularly appears at inquests on behalf of the family of the deceased or other interested parties.
Mark is actively involved in matters relating to the complex and burgeoning area of information law. More so now than ever before, rights of access to the data held about individuals or by public bodies in the discharge of their functions are of great importance to ensuring openness and transparency and preserving civil liberties. Mark’s caseload includes advising public authorities on their obligations under data protection and freedom of information legislation. He also has experience in assisting members of the public with the formulation of requests for information from the State. His knowledge of tribunal procedure and advocacy is valuable in relation to challenges to the decisions of the Information Commissioner’s Office via the General Regulatory Chamber of the Tribunal (Information Rights), as well as in the higher courts.
Appearing on behalf of a Local Authority, Mark recently succeeded in resisting an appeal before the First-tier Tribunal brought by a member of the public to challenge a decision of the Information Commissioner. The Local Authority’s decisions on disclosure relating to past planning matters were found to be in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Appointments
Recorder
Fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
Awards
Prince of Wales Scholarship from Gray’s Inn
Memberships
Midlands Circuit
Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA)
Association of Prison Lawyers
Qualifications
LLB (Hons)
The Tribunal’s determination is available:
