Alexander practises across a broad range of areas in commercial and international law. He is well known for his work as a specialist junior acting in complex cases in private international law, jurisdictional immunity, and sanctions.
In his commercial work, Alexander keeps a wide practice. He acts in general commercial disputes, fraud, maritime law and international trade, insurance (in particular P&I Club and marine insurance), aviation, joint ventures, and company and insolvency disputes. Alexander is listed as a “Rising Star” for shipping in The Legal 500 directories.
He appears in international arbitrations including under ICC and LCIA Rules and has been instructed in cases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy, including the High Court (Commercial Court and Chancery Division), Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the European Union.
Increasingly Alexander is developing a practice in cross-border IP disputes involving difficult questions of conflict of laws in copyright, patent and related claims in the Intellectual Property List.
Alexander is an adept linguist and has extensive experience working with underlying documentation in French, Spanish and Italian. He has particular experience of working with Spanish and Latin American clients, as well as with teams of foreign lawyers and experts in issues of foreign law.
Together with Professor Andrew Dickinson (Oxford University), Alexander is the author of The State Immunity Act 1978 (OUP, forthcoming), a new edition based on one of the leading texts in the law of jurisdictional immunities.
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Example cases
- The Prestige – Alexander is junior counsel (with Christopher Hancock QC) for the P&I insurer in this long-running dispute against the Kingdom of Spain and the French State in relation to claims for c.€4.5 billion arising out of one of the largest oil spills in recent times. The case raises a number of issues in private international law, arbitration, and state immunity. The Commercial Court has recently handed down a number of important judgments on different preliminary facets of the litigation, including in relation to disclosure in Brussels enforcement proceedings, the appointment of arbitrators, jurisdiction and state immunity: see [2020] 1 WLR 1538 (Teare J); [2020] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 223 (Henshaw J); and [2020] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. Plus (Butcher J).
- Lifestyle Equities CV et anor v Hornby Street et others [2022] EWCA Civ 51 – Alexander is instructed (with Lindsay Lane QC of 8 New Square) for the Respondents in a dispute between the Beverley Hills Polo Club and the Santa Monica Polo Club as to a stay of English claims for trade mark infringement and passing off. The case raises a novel issue as to the applicable law governing the effectiveness of a Californian arbitration clause, in a co-existence agreement entered into by the original proprietor of the marks, as against assignees of the marks. Alexander has been instructed for the purposes of proceedings before the Supreme Court.
- TOT v Vodafone (2021) – acted (with Thomas Raphael QC) for Vodafone in the Court of Appeal in relation to a complex jurisdictional dispute concerning inter-related patent litigation concerning mobile phone technology in Spain and England (settled day before appeal).
- Ablynx NV et anor v Unilever [2019] EWHC 792 (Pat); [2019] EWCA Civ 2191 – Junior Counsel (with Lindsay Lane QC of 8 New Square) for the Unilever defendants in a substantial jurisdiction challenge in respect of patent litigation in the Netherlands, the UK, and Belgium. The case raises a number of novel issues on the proper construction and inter-relationship between articles 24(4), 25 and 31(2) of the Brussels Recast Regulation in patent infringement cases under patent licences with exclusive jurisdiction clauses. Alexander acted at first instance, before the Court of Appeal, and is instructed for an appeal before the Supreme Court in Autumn 2021.
- Deutsche Bank AG v Alexander Vik – acting for Mr Vik (in a counsel team led by Duncan Matthews QC) in relation to committal proceedings brought against Mr Vik arising out of Deutsche Bank’s attempts to enforce a c. US$300 million judgment against Sebastian Holdings Inc.
- Jakob v Mazur – acted for two Russian defendants in a substantial action in the Chancery Division, including trust claims over property situate in England, claims for freezing injunctions and relief under s 423 Insolvency Act 1986 (with Blair Leahy QC).
- Re four concurrent arbitrations – Alexander was junior counsel (with Julian Kenny QC) in arbitrations worth c US$40 million in a dispute concerning the termination of lease finance arrangements over four very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs). The dispute centered around the restructuring of a substantial shipping business and its flotation on a public exchange.
- Cole and Martin v (1) IVI Clinic Madrid and (2) Zurich Insurance Plc – acted as sole counsel in the High Court on behalf of liability insurers in respect of a direct-action claim brought under Spanish law due to the alleged negligence of the first defendant in Spain.
- Asefa Yesuf Import and Export v AP Moller-Maersk [2016] EWHC 1437 – represented the defendants in a successful Part 11 application to challenge the jurisdiction of the English court.
- NTS v Erushi – Alexander acted (with Julian Kenny QC) on an application for an urgent freezing injunction and disclosure order to secure payment of a substantial arbitration award, including orders restricting the sale of certain vessels.
- Re two arbitrations – acting (with Timothy Hill QC) in an international trade dispute arising out of the declaration of a public emergency in certain Russian ports.
- Re an arbitration – acting as sole counsel in claims for an indemnity up to US$6m in respect of tax liabilities incurred in Mexico.
- Re an arbitration – acted as sole counsel in an international trade arbitration related to the sale of petroleum coke in Latin America.
- A v B – acted (with Thomas Raphael QC) on section 68 and section 69 challenges to a commodities arbitration award.
- Re a Debtor – acting for a Danish individual resident in England in relation to a statutory demand based on a Danish judgment debt. The case raises questions regarding recognition in English bankruptcy proceedings of foreign judgments under the Recast Regulation.
- Funding Circle Ltd v Sporting Apex Ltd – Counsel for one of the leading business loan market place companies in London on an application for default judgment under CPR 12.10 and the CJJA 1982 against defendants served without leave outside the jurisdiction.
- MLML v Universal – acted for a London recording studio in a claim in the Chancery Division against a global music distributor.
- A Company v B Company – advised a Nigerian supplier on questions of applicable law and jurisdiction under a letter of credit issued by a German bank.
- Glencore Energy UK Ltd v Topoil AB – advised on issues relating to service of High Court proceedings under the EU Service Regulation.
- Company X v Y – acted for and advised a large company in enforcing a substantial multi-million euro judgment against assets in the UK.
- Re an arbitration – acted for owners in a multi-million euro arbitration in respect of various claims under a newbuilding construction contract (with Timothy Hill QC).
