Experience And Practice

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Alexandra has broad and extensive experience in civil and commercial law, having obtained a Masters Degree at University College, London in Shipping, International Trade, and International Law of Natural Resources. 

 

Alexandra regularly appears before the High Court, County Courts and Tribunals in England & Wales, and has appeared before the Court of Appeal. She also undertook research in and prepared for a number of leading House of Lords and Court of Appeal authorities, as a pupil barrister and junior barrister in the city -cited below.

 

Her experience includes undertaking work in civil law, commercial litigation and arbitration, shipping, and insurance and reinsurance at Clyde & Co. Solicitors, London, and subsequently at Holman, Fenwick & Willan Solicitors.

 

Alexandra also has experience and undertakes work in Public Law, including acting for Her Majesty’s Government Departments - including the MoD, DCLG and Defra under the baby-barrister scheme.

She also has corporate experience having worked as in-house counsel for AEGON, and Calyon (a French Investment bank).

 

Set out below is a list of practice areas in which Alexandra is experienced:

 

• Civil and Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

• Insolvency – (including presenting uncontested and disputed winding up petitions for HMRC)

• Environmental (including drafting work for DEFRA)

• International Law (including comity and jurisdictional issues)

• Property

• Oil and Gas

• Drafting, advising and negotiating commercial contracts (including but not limited to Joint Venture Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Software License Agreements, Leases, Charterparties)

• Banking

• Insurance and Reinsurance

• Public Law (including work for Her Majesty's Government – for the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the MoD)

• International Family Disputes

 

Notable Cases Include:

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• Pubic law: Kuddus v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary - (2001) House of Lords – whether exemplary damages were an adequate remedy for misfeasance in public office; Maya Evans v Secretary of State for Defence (on the legality of the government’s policy to detain Afghan nationals upon arrest, pursuant to Nato’s policy).

• Tax: Eastbourne Radio Car Association v Commissioner for Customs & Excise - (2000) House of Lords. Issue: whether an unincorporated association is distinct from the sum of its members, thus liable for VAT pursuant to the Sixth Directive.

• Reinsurance: Murray Scott v Copenhagen Re – Court of Appeal (2002) - test case on aggregation of loss of British Airways aircraft and spare parts resulting from the first gulf war; HiH v Axa Court of Appeal (2002) – film finance litigation on issues of non-disclosure, warranties, and admission of fresh evidence.

• Banking and Insurance: Lloyds TSB v Abbey National - CA (2001) - test case on aggregation of losses arising out of pensions mis-sellings by independent financial advisers' failure to give "best advice".

• International Matrimonial Finance: Otobo v Otobo (2001 – before Johnson J. – whether W could present petition in England in a marriage conducted in Nigeria, forum non conveniens, jurisdiction, lis alibi pendens, comity); A-M v A-M (2001 – before Hughs J. - jurisdiction in Islamic marriage, pronouncement of the “triple talaq”).

 

Interests

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Alexandra is a devoted Christian with a keen interest in the history of the church, and the work of the early Apostles and Emperor Constantine in the spread of the gospel. She also enjoys music, sailing, travel, theatre, and undertakes pro bono work at a legal advisory centre, and for the Bar Pro bono Unit.

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Education And Training

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• Call: 2000 - The Honourable Society of Inner Temple 

• Scholarships and Awards: Inner Temple Major Award.

• University of London - LL.B. Honours (Laws); LL.M. Honours Laws (1999)

• Inns of Court School of Law – Bar Vocation Course (2000)

• Pupillage: One Crown Office Row Chambers (Robert Seabrook QC.); Fountain Court Chambers, Temple (Michael Brindle QC.)

• Professional Memberships: Bar Pro bono Unit; Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship

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