Alex is a Managing Associate in the Family department. He specialises in all aspects of Family Law and is known for his proactive and conscientious approach with clients. Alex has been involved in some of the department's biggest cases involving complex, multi-jurisdictional issues within the context of divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships; financial remedy proceedings and enforcement and private law children matters including contact arrangements and applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction. He has significant experience dealing with offshore trust structures and other disclosure issues. His reported cases include: Estrada v Al-Juffali [2016] EWHC 213 (Fam); FW v FH [2019] EWHC 1338 (Fam); C v C [2019] UKPC 40; and R v R [2021] EWHC 195 (Fam).
He has a busy practice advising in relation to pre- and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation matters and has also acted for clients in the Court of Protection and in relation to claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Beyond the regular work of the department, Alex is involved in pro-bono initiatives around open justice. Previously he helped manage the Firm's Pink Law programme, a legal advice service for the LGBT community run jointly with Queen Mary's University. More recently, he has worked with JUSTICE, the legal form charity, conducting research for their working party "Improving Access to justice for Separating Families". The working party's full report is published in Autumn 2022.
Alex regularly writes about Family Law matters in both professional and lay publications - particularly in relation to the intersection of family law and education matters, in relation to which he is developing his practice as a member of the Firm's Education Group. He has been published in Family Law Report in relation to Daniels v Walker applications.
Alex supervises trainee solicitors within the Family Department. In 2022 he was listed in eprivateclient's Top 35 under 35.
Key Experience
- Estrada v Al-Juffali [2016] EWHC 213 (Fam) – High Court: Part of the legal team acting for the husband in an application to strike-out the wife's claim for financial relief under Part III of the Matrimonial & Family Proceedings Act 1984 on the basis that his diplomatic immunity protected him from civil claims.
- C v C [2019] UKPC 40 – Represented a Jersey-based client in his appeal to the Privy Council from the Jersey Court of Appeal, in a matter relating to child maintenance and the legal definition of "parent".
- FW v FH [2019] EWHC 1338 (Fam) – Acted for a HNW husband in a case involving the instruction of three separate expert accountants in the contested valuation of a high value but illiquid business asset. The Court accepted the husband's argument that he should not be forced to sell his shares, and he was given a lengthy 4-year period to meet his lump sum obligations.
- R v R [2021] EWHC 195 (Fam) – Represented a HNW wife in an extremely complex and fast-moving dispute involving highly contested children and financial proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. The reported judgment dealt with "a raft of applications" involving interim maintenance, legal services funding, an Hemain injunction, specific disclosure and the assessment of a costs order.
Career History
Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Trainee Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya LLP
BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course
City University, Graduate Diploma in Law
Durham University, BA Geography