LAWYER PROFILE
Mike Schwarz

Mike Schwarz

UK 2026

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Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 3 practice areas

Contributions and articles

1 Articles, Press releases, highlights

About

Provided by Hodge Jones & Allen

UK

Practice Areas

Mike Schwarz is a pre-eminent Criminal Defence, civil liberties, protest, fraud and public inquiries lawyer.

Mike has nearly three decades of experience in defending those facing the most serious and complex criminal offences, including murder, white-collar crime and multi-party proceedings.

Mike is well-known for representing high-profile political activists and campaigners fighting for progressive issues such as animal rights, pacifism and racial equality. He is particularly well known for representing, for 3 decades, environmental campaigners on diverse threats to the planet such as climate change, biodiversity, GM crops, incinerators, fishing.

He is the co-author of a leading textbook on protest and public order, and is an expert in the protection of citizens’ freedoms of expression and assembly under Articles 10/11 of the ECHR .

Mike has been involved in the investigation and exposure of misconduct by the state – by, for example, giving evidence to parliamentary committees on alleged police misconduct and corruption.

He currently represents over 100 ‘core participants’ in the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry (the Mitting inquiry) and some of the 100s of sub-post masters / mistresses victims of the Horizon IT scandal, who are core participants in the Post Office Inquiry (the Williams inquiry).

Mike also regularly acts for professionals in trouble with the criminal law and regulators. For example, he acts for journalists facing serious and diverse allegations, including terrorism and harassment. He acts is key prosecutions under fraud and corruption legislation of accountants and other professionals.

Publications

Mike is joint author of The Law of Public Order and Protest (Oxford University Press, March 2010)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Protest Law - UK-wide

Star Individual
Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Mike Schwarz is an experienced criminal defence practitioner who focuses primarily on representing protesters in highly publicised trials. He also has significant experience in bringing claims against the police for misconduct or neglect.

Public Inquiries - UK-wide

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial
Mike Schwarz is an experienced lawyer who often acts on behalf of core participants in public inquiries. His recent instructions include representing clients in the Post Office Horizon IT and Undercover Policing inquiries.

Crime - London (Firms)

Band 4
Band 4

Individual Editorial
Mike Schwarz focuses his practice on cases relating to undercover policing and political protest, bringing to bear his additional expertise in civil liberties and human rights.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Mike is a careful hand who has the trust of his clients.

    Protest LawChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • Mike Schwarz is among the cleverest lawyers I have worked with.

    Protest LawChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • Mike understands protest law extremely well and has been involved in some of the leading cases that have gone to the High Court.

    Protest LawChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • Mike has looked after me in a variety of circumstances and has always combined kindness and professionalism to an exceptional degree.

    Public Inquiries Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • Mike brings all his expertise and is trusted by clients.

    Public Inquiries Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • I am impressed by his dedicated approach to client care.

    CrimeChambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Ranked Individuals at Hodge Jones & Allen (41)

London (Firms)

UK-wide

Articles, Highlights and Press Releases

1 item provided by Hodge Jones & Allen

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