Alex graduated with a First Class Degree, after which he studied for a Masters at the University of Oxford. He has particular expertise in banking, finance and financial regulation. Before becoming a barrister, Alex gained experience in the financial world. He worked for JP Morgan Chase in the remediation project, based in Canary Wharf and the City of London. He worked closely with investment and merchant bankers, so understands the financial world. He also was at Lloyds Bank, dealing with Interest Rate Hedging Products, under a Financial Conduct Authority mandated review. Through this he has a detailed knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and also COBS rules.
Due to this experience, Alex is adept at advising both banks and other creditors, as well as debtors faced with enforcement action. Recent instructions include:
- Contesting the enforceability of a guarantee agreement;
- Enforcing loans secured against residential properties;
- Advising spouses about their interest in mortgage backed-securities;
- Advising finance brokers on the enforceability of broker fees.
Alex’s financial work sits within his broad business and property practice, advising large corporations and businesses, as well as individuals. He has experience of running high value cases in the High Court and the County Court, as well as appearing in the First Tier Tribunal. Additionally, Alex advises in conferences or in writing, drafts statements of case, and provides strategic advice about the conduct of cases generally.
During Bar School Alex was a paralegal in a leading London criminal law firm, which meant he has represented individuals accused of criminal offences across London police stations. Much of this work was about criminal financial fraud cases, which has much application to his business and property practice.
Outside of the Bar, Alex is a Trustee of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, and the Leader of Birmingham Central Read Easy, an organisation that teaches adults to learn to read. He also runs, with the Barcelona Marathon being his most recent achievement.
Reported Cases
Lee Jones v Shropshire Council (2021) unreported
Duchy Farm Kennels Limited v Graham William Steels [2020] EWHC 1208 (QB)
The leading case on the consequences of breaching a confidentiality clause of an employment settlement agreement.
Ceredigion County Council v Robinson & Ors [2020] EWHC 3425 (Admin)Case summary – click here to enter text
R v Hilson & McCarthy [2019] EWHC 1110 (Admin)
A case about the sufficiency of evidence to found a conviction for harassment
Awards
Middle Temple Lord Diplock Scholar, 2012
Coleshill Foundation Award 2012
Middle Temple Queen Mother’s School, 2014
Kaplan Advocacy Scholar 2014
Memberships
Middle Temple
Qualifications
Master of Studies, Oxford University, 2011
BA(Hons) First Class, Newcastle University, 2009
