About Lexmark Legal
A London law firm advising on human rights, civil rights, civil litigation, injunctions, international child abduction and immigration.
Human rights, civil rights and public law
We help individuals protect their rights and challenge decisions or conduct by public authorities. Our work includes judicial review, human rights claims and civil claims for unlawful detention or false imprisonment.
Civil litigation and injunctions
We advise individuals and businesses on civil disputes, from assessing the case and exploring settlement to conducting court proceedings. We act for clients seeking or opposing urgent injunctions, including orders to preserve assets or evidence, protect confidential information or prevent a disputed share transfer.
International child abduction under the Hague Convention
We advise parents and families in cross-border cases involving the alleged wrongful removal or retention of a child. We assist with applications for a child’s return and with responding to those applications under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
If a child has been brought to or kept in England or Wales and the Convention applies, you can instruct us privately to apply directly to the High Court under Article 29. We can prepare and file the application without waiting for a referral from the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) or the Central Authority in your country.
Where immediate protection is needed, we can seek an urgent interim order to locate the child, secure their passport or prevent further removal. The High Court determines when the application will be heard and whether to grant an order.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law’s global study of return applications made in 2021 recorded an average of 81 days from receipt by the Central Authority in the country where the child was located to referral to court. In one case involving a child brought to England, 107 days elapsed between the parent’s application to the Italian Central Authority and the issue of proceedings in England (GP (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 1677, paragraph 18). Timings vary by country and by case.
If you wish to apply for legal aid, you can approach ICACU directly from abroad.
Immigration and asylum
We advise individuals, families and businesses on immigration applications, asylum and human rights claims, and appeals against decisions affecting the right to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. We also act in immigration bail applications and advise on challenges to detention and removal.
How we work
We explain the available options, agree the scope of the work and discuss costs at the outset. We keep clients informed as the matter progresses.