Mark Summers

Year of Call: 1996

“…absolutely exceptional…a genuinely clever lawyer…a stunning addition to any team...” (Chambers and Partners)

Extradition

Mark Summers is a specialist in all areas of extradition proceedings. He is recommended as a leading junior in extradition in Chambers & Partners 2008.

Mark regularly appears on behalf of individuals and foreign governments in respect of 1989 Act and 2003 Act proceedings.

In addition to the kidnap of a piglet, and possession of a sleeping pill, Mark's recent cases have included:

• Terrorism: The Madrid train bombings - the 9/11 attacks - the ‘fertiliser’ bomb plot - the 2001 US anthrax bio-terrorism attacks
• Serious fraud: The financial collapse of Enron - the Elf Oil Co. political corruption trial - $15million German SWIFT fraud - $18million US advance fee fraud - $31million US 'ponzi scheme' advance fee fraud - $55million New Zealand derivatives fraud - $60million German cheque fraud - $300million US ‘pump and dump’ stock fraud - £8billion South African government bonds fraud
• Serious violence: The murder of Theo van Gogh,
• Cross-jurisdictional crime: Drugs importations shipwrecked in international waters - the sale of decommissioned radioactive metals
• Espionage: KGB espionage in the former Soviet bloc - the creation of the 'Trojan Horse' commercial espionage computer virus - treason - Official secrets
• Two defendants on the FBI "10 most wanted" list
• Impairing the battle-readiness of the US Atlantic fleet
• The youngest defendant ever to face British extradition proceedings

Mark appeared on behalf of the Government of Spain in the first contested case to be conducted under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003.

Mark is experienced in the drafting of European Arrest Warrants / non-EU requests in relation to extraditions to the UK, and also been retained to advise in extradition cases in Caribbean jurisdictions.

Mark is presently instructed in extradition proceedings concerning:

• Hacking into the Pentagon, Pearl Harbour and NASA computer networks
• $55million securities fraud
• Possession of weapons of war
• $210million collapse of a foreign state bank
• Theft of armoured vehicles and aircraft
• An alleged mafia godfather

Anti-Terrorism                                                                               < back

Mark’s non-extradition practice is primarily focused on anti-terrorism and cases concerning complex cross-border and jurisdictional issues. Mark has conducted cases concerning:

• R v Tsouli (aka "terrorist007" - reputed to be Al-Qa’eda's 'webmaster', 'internet conduit' and 'cyber-Muhajid') watch Newsnight
  
• The Stansted Afghan Airlines hijacking
• Offences under the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006
• Production of Chemical Weapons and explosives
• International economic sanctions freezing orders

Mark’s ongoing terrorism cases include:

• 'Operation Overt': the 2006 alleged Heathrow airline bombing plot
• 'Operation Vivace': the 21/7 London bombing attempts

Serious Crime                                                                               < back

For the fourth year, Mark is ranked as a leading junior in Crime (Chambers & Partners 2005-2008).

• In 2006, Mark was described as “…a criminal practitioner destined to go all the way to the top…”.
• In 2007, he was ranked amongst the top 15 juniors in London and was noted as having “…been attracting attention from colleagues and judges alike, due to the quality of his performances. Those who have led Summers, for example, consider him to be absolutely exceptional, a genuinely clever lawyer…”.
• In 2008, he is again ranked amongst the top 15 juniors in London and is noted as having "...handled high-profile cases...a stunning addition to any team - with pep and industry to spare..."

Mark has been instructed in criminal courts at all levels, including the Divisional Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords, Privy Council and European Court of Human Rights (Mark has experience of emergency Article 34 applications to the ECHR, including applications for interim measures under rule 39).

Mark has represented senior judiciary in proceedings before the Privy Council.

Mark is experienced in the conduct of abuse of process submissions in domestic cases concerning defendants brought before the jurisdiction by irregular means and in circumvention of extradition procedures.

Mark's trials have included:

• Murder (including the defence of supergrasses)
• Human trafficking
• Child abduction
• Perverting the course of justice
• Serious fraud
• The Burnley and Bradford 2001 race riots

Mark’s pro-bono work includes Criminal Cases Review Commission miscarriage of justice cases

Mark conducted the very first live TV link hearing to be held at the Central Criminal Court.

Publications                                                                                   < back

Co-author: Corker & Young on Abuse of Process in Criminal Proceedings, 2nd ed., 2003, Butterworths.