Mark F. Swanson

bio

Mark F. Swanson is an associate attorney at King Law Firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his practice focuses on criminal defense, civil rights litigation, and personal injury matters. A native New Mexican who grew up in Albuquerque before attending NMMI and NMSU, Mark has been licensed in New Mexico’s State and Federal Courts since 2013 and brings substantial trial experience, deep familiarity with local courts, and a steady, thoughtful approach to complex cases.

Before joining King Law Firm, Mark served for many years as an Assistant and Associate Public Defender in Albuquerque, handling more than 1,000 misdemeanor cases and over 200 felony matters, including numerous jury trials that resulted in acquittals and dismissals. His résumé notes that he “conducted in excess of 50 substantive motion hearings, 20 bench trials, and 15 jury trials” during his early tenure in the Metro Division, and later tried multiple felony cases in the Felony Division, including homicide matters as part of the Probation and Parole (PV) Unit.

Mark also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation and Consumer Protection Divisions, where he handled administrative prosecutions, represented state agencies and judges in high‑stakes litigation, and supervised the Charity Unit. His work included filing and litigating cases against major corporations such as Google, Facebook, and Juul, and he authored an Amici Curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 16 states in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. His résumé highlights that he “authored and filed Amicus brief in SCOTUS on behalf of several states in Goldman Sachs Grp., Inc. v. Arkansas Tchr. Ret. Sys.”

In 2023, Mark was appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Standards and Training Council, serving in the Public Defender–designated seat from June 2023 through July 2025. The attached résumé confirms that he was “appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham to the Council seat designated for a Public Defender.”

Mark also contributes to legal education in New Mexico. He serves as an adjunct professor in the UNM School of Law’s CLIP Program (2022–2025) and has delivered CLE presentations for New Mexico Christian Legal Aid and the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Clients value Mark’s calm, straightforward communication style and his ability to explain what comes next and what options are realistically available. He represents professionals, business owners, and individuals facing serious legal exposure, and is known for providing clear guidance during some of the most stressful moments they will face.

Outside the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, and he stays active by playing in local golf, tennis, and softball leagues.