Alex has extensive academic and practical experience of public and administrative law. As a judicial assistant to Lord Reed, she was involved in high-profile public law cases, including the challenge to Northern Irish abortion law on human rights grounds, and the second benefit cap case.

Since becoming a tenant, she has been instructed in a number of judicial reviews and Human Rights Act claims as both joint and sole counsel. Highlights of her current and recent cases include:

• Acting for the claimant in a successful judicial review of a local authority’s decision to increase council tax contributions for taxpayers on a low income.
• Advising in relation to the human rights implications of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Acting in a successful disability discrimination and Human Rights Act claim in relation to a local authority’s decision to register a child on the child protection register.
• Acting for a young person with special educational needs in a successful appeal against their EHC Plan in the SENDist Tribunal.
• Acting for the claimant in a Human Rights Act claim in relation to a local authority’s failure to secure educational provision for a young person unable to attend mainstream school for mental health reasons.

Alex is regularly instructed as junior counsel in high-profile and complex competition litigation, including in two of the Lawyer’s “Top 20 cases for 2019”.

Cases

Highlights of her current and recent cases include:

• Trucks: Acting as junior counsel for a major European truck manufacturer in the Trucks litigation. Alex is involved in both the individual claims and in the claims under the collective proceedings regime.
• NHS v Servier: Acting as junior counsel for NHS Scotland and Northern Ireland in the NHS’s “pay-for-delay” claims against Servier.
• Justin Gutmann v First MTR South Western Trains Limited and others: Acting as junior counsel for the proposed class representative in collective proceedings claims against the operators of the South Eastern and Southwestern rail franchises.

Alex is rapidly gaining experience of sports law and has been instructed in a number of high-profile matters. She has particular expertise in matters relating to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations. She also has experience in contractual disputes between players and agents.

Alex was instructed by the National Infrastructure Commission in connection with its study into the UK’s model of regulation for energy, water and telecoms (led by Julian Gregory). The Commission’s report was published in October 2019. Advising on this wide-ranging review has provided Alex with a broad understanding of UK economic regulation.

Alex’s other recent regulatory work includes acting for the Civil Aviation Authority in a number of regulatory investigations.

As a pupil to Valentina Sloane QC and Philip Woolfe, Alex gained extensive experience of public procurement across a range of sectors, including health, defence, travel and culture. She is a member of the Procurement Lawyers Association.

Alex frequently acts in matters concerning freedom of information and data protection, and was until recently a contributing author to the Freedom of Information Journal. She recently acted for the Commissioner in its successful appeal to the Upper Tribunal in Information Commissioner v Driver [2020] UKUT 333 (AAC).

Cases

Education and scholarships

• BA in Law and French Law, Brasenose College, Oxford, First Class Honours
• BCL, Brasenose College, Oxford, Distinction
• BPTC, City Law School, Outstanding

Alex has been awarded a number of scholarships, including:

• Lord Mansfield Scholarship (the highest BPTC award from Lincoln’s Inn)
• City Law School Scholarship for Academic Excellence
• Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
• Barry Nicholas Scholarship for the BCL, Brasenose College, Oxford
• Buchanan Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
• Phoenicia Scholarship, Bar European Group

Pro bono

Alex has worked pro bono for a number of organisations, including the Free Representation Unit and Oxford Legal Assistance.

Memberships

• Administrative Law Bar Association
• Bar European Group
• Procurement lawyers Association

Up and Coming in Competition: “She is incisive and willing to debate issues and work through the issues with the firms in a collaborative manner.” “Really enthusiastic, dedicated and hard-working. She has a strong grasp of the law.” “Alexandra has been responsive and has good attention to detail.” – Chambers UK, 2022

Rising Star in Competition: “Alex is hard working, careful and thoughtful. Her drafting is clear.” – Legal 500, 2022