Alexander Heylin

Viewing: General Profile for Alexander Heylin

Alexander Heylin is a member of the following groups at No5 Barristers’ Chambers:

• Business and Property
• Banking Finance and Financial Regulation
• Commercial Litigation
• Company and Partnership
• Insolvency
• Sports and Media Law

Year of call:

• 2000 England and Wales
• 2011 Turks and Caicos
• 2015 Cayman
• 2016 British Virgin Islands

Alexander has broad commercial and insolvency litigation experience covering a wide range of contractual, property and regulatory disputes.

His work includes an emphasis on civil fraud, white collar fraud, company, insolvency and regulatory matters, as well as complex commercial disputes generally.

Alexander regularly advises shareholders in joint venture disputes and acts in contentious matters involving trusts and involuntary liquidation. He has been the lead counsel in several long, complex, document heavy cases.

Alexander has conducted a considerable amount of complex contested trials and hearings and therefore is an experienced advocate and cross examiner in highly contentious and hard-fought cases in England and overseas.  Alexander has appeared numerous times in the highest courts and appellate courts of multiple jurisdictions.  

Alexander has substantial experience in cross-examination and is well used to coping with the challenges presented by trials and major applications.

Alexander has not only practised at the Bar but also as a partner in an offshore law firm and as a Principal in a New York Law firm. Alexander is therefore used to taking a client friendly and pragmatic approach to cases with an emphasis on providing optimal solutions to client’s problems. Alexander’s international experience makes him particularly well suited to cases involving cross border issues and has substantial experience working with other legal teams in multiple jurisdictions on the same case.

Please see his specialist areas for more information.

Rankings in 2022 Legal 500

https://www.legal500.com/firms/9355-chambers-of-adrian-keeling-qc-and-jonathan-jones-qc/9363-london-england/lawyers/643273-alexander-heylin/

Company and Insolvency – Tier 1

Commercial Litigation – Tier 2

‘Alexander is very approachable and delightful to work with. His knowledge of the offshore financial industry and the US financial industry is a real asset.’

Chancery, Probate and Tax - Tier 2

 ‘Alex is very likeable and delightful to work with. He has a broad experience, but really excels in complex disputes involving fraud or breach of duty. His knowledge of the offshore financial industry and US financial industry is a real asset.’

Offshore – Tier 3

 ‘He contributes extensive knowledge regarding Offshore having, practiced overseas, bringing added value.’

Examples of Notable Cases Alexander has appeared in:

• Lead Counsel successfully defending two Respondents in a 10 day High Court trial in response to a £3 million claim from a Liquidator for several allegations including Fraudulent Trading and Dishonest Assistance. (2021)
  
  
• Junior Counsel in a Joint Venture dispute in the High Court in excess of £100 million. (2021)
  
  
• Lead Counsel in 994 Petition for Unfair Prejudice around £10 million claim. (2021)
  
  
• Lead Counsel for Russian Company in English High Court trial against English defendant with successful judgement for several million GBP. (2020)
  
  
• ‘Ex Parte’ Freezing order in English High Court followed by claim for breach of fiduciary duties and restitutionary claim for Chinese Clients. (2020)
  
  
• Lead Counsel acting for IP’s representing victims of $300 million Ponzi scheme operated out of Dubai. Cross border issues on insolvency law in several jurisdictions with a vast amount of documentation to be analysed. (2018)
  
  
• Lead Counsel for Investment Fund in derivative action against ‘vulture funds’ seeking to take control of Fund and its significant portfolio of assets. (2018)
  
  
• Counsel acting for leading Chinese Industrialist in an unfair prejudice action brought by an American Hedge Fund claiming damages in excess of £50 million. (2017)
  
  
• Counsel in civil fraud and recovery case valued at several 100 million (GBP) acting for a well-known Billionaire financier. (2014)
  
  
• Counsel acting for music legend Prince in dispute over property in excess of £15 million. (2014)
  
  
• Lead Counsel for purchasers of Ritz Carlton (West Caicos) in insolvency action relating to the collapse of Lehman Brothers, (2014)
  
  
• Lead Counsel for high profile industrialist and property developer in accusations of bribery and government corruption. (2013)
  
  
• Acting for a number of international banks and other financial institutions in cross border disputes and enforcement actions.

Commercial Litigation and Civil Fraud

Alexander has extensive experience in complex and highly contentious cases and civil fraud. Many of his cases arise in the context of claims against directors, partners and former senior employees and joint venture disputes. Alexander has conducted many injunction hearings related to these cases including freezing orders, Norwich Pharmacal applications and other injunctive relief.

Cross Border Disputes

With globalization has come increased legal, regulatory, financial and reputational complexity and risk for international businesses and investors.  Alexander has over eight years’ experience concentrating on cross border disputes with a focus on the offshore financial industry and the US Financial Industry particularly relating to Funds. 

Alexander also studied for a Masters (LLM) in International and US Corporate law at NYU Law, one of the top 5 law schools in the US.

Alexander has been called to the Bar and appeared in the Courts of multiple jurisdictions and has considerable experience working with international legal teams.  He is particularly experienced in high value and complex joint venture disputes.

Trusts and Estates, Inheritance Disputes, Wills

Alexander is a member of STEP having completed his 4 STEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner) examinations with distinction.  He has acted in many trusts matters particularly offshore trusts in a variety of contexts both for the trustees and beneficiaries.  He is particular experience dealing with Cayman, BVI and Turks and Caicos Trusts.

Alexander acts in both contentious and non-contentious probate claims, including advising on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Alexander’s practice involves claims for the removal of Executors and Trustees, and for breaches of their duties.

Examples of areas covered include -

• Claims for financial provision pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
  
  
• Disputes as to the substantial and procedural validity of wills
  
  
• Applications for the removal of executors and trustees
  
  
• Applications for the rectification of wills
  
  
• Breach of trust/breach of fiduciary duty claims
  
  
• Administration actions in particular disputes as to the construction of wills or directions from the court
  
  
• Proprietary estoppel, undue influence and constructive trust claims

Regulatory Law and Corporate Governance

Alexander has unique perspective and experience on regulatory issues having both advised funds and other financial institutions including global banks for many years.  He has also worked inside a fund dealing with regulatory issues in multiple jurisdictions.  Corporate Governance been a particular interest of Alexander,

Alexander has represented companies and individuals in regulatory matters both contentious and non-contentious including making presentations and direct representations to the relevant regulator.  Alexander has been involved in many regulatory matters that have been directly tied to parallel regulatory issues in the US including SEC and DOJ investigations.

Alexander has acted for both Companies and individuals in regulatory matters that also involve criminal allegations including MLAT requests, POCA and money laundering allegations.

Some examples of the areas Alexander can advise on include –

• Financial Services Regulation (including FCA)
  
  
• Suspicious Activity Reports in the Financial Sector
  
  
• Corporate Governance and Reporting (including POCA)
  
  
• Reports to Money Laundering Officers and POCA / money laundering regulations
  
  
• Directors Duties and Fiduciary Duties (including representation at Tribunal)
  
  
• Professional Conduct particularly concerning those regulated in the Financial Services Sector
  
  
• Bribery Act

Internal Investigations

Alexander has acted for major Financial Institutions and Global brands in relation to their internal investigations on issues ranging from financial and sexual misconduct to an arson investigation.  Alexander has also acted for individuals who have been caught up in internal investigations.

Notable English Cases

Green v Daws Queen's Bench Division [2021] 4 WLUK 29 13 Apr 2021

Biscoe v Milner Chancery Division [2021] EWHC 763 (Ch) 30 Mar 2021

Parry v Parry Chancery Division [2005] EWHC 3284 (Ch) 16 May 2005

Yorke v Katra  Court of Appeal (Civil Division) [2003] EWCA Civ 867 9 Jun 2003

Languages

English

Basic French

Memberships

Chancery Bar Association

COMBAR

Qualifications

BA Newcastle University

CPE / BVC College of Law

LLM Surrey (part time) – Employment Law

LLM NYU Law – Corporate Law

TEP – Trust and Estate Practitioner as designated by STEP