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Areas of Expertise

Alex Burrell

Call 2014
Telephone 020 7831 0222
Email Alexander.Burrell@42br.com

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Introduction

Alex is currently on secondment to the international arbitration team of a leading law firm in Dubai. In this role, Alex works as lead counsel on a number of multi-million dollar commercial arbitrations, with an emphasis on complex construction disputes throughout the Middle East. His cases involve a number of high-profile property development projects, and his clients include major building contractors and developers in the Dubai construction sector. His work includes advising on complex jurisdictional and procedural issues within the arbitration process, including enforcement of awards.

Before Alex commenced his secondment, he had a busy court and paperwork practice, covering a range of civil and common law matters, though increasingly with a focus on commercial and contractual disputes, and property litigation.

Commercial and Insolvency

Alex represents clients in a wide range of commercial and general contractual disputes, acting for individuals, companies and partnerships, including in contentious chancery cases, TOLATA cases, Consumer Credit Act (CCA) and Consumer Rights Act (CRA) claims and interlocutory matters, appearing in both Multi-Track (MT) and Fast-Track (FT) trials concerning such matters. He also regularly advises and drafts pleadings in such cases, including on misrepresentation, interpretation of contracts, construction, CRA claims, sale of goods/services, agency and cases concerning Trading Standards.

Alex also accepts instructions in personal and commercial insolvency. He has appeared in the Companies Court and in winding up petitions. He has experience in bankruptcy petitions, applications under the Insolvency Act/Companies Act, charging orders and orders for sale, as well as cases concerning commercial and personal debt recovery, including applications for committal. He also has experience drafting and advising in these areas.

During his pupillage Alex worked for 5 months in-house on a multi-million Euro commercial case (Al Nehayan v Kent [2018] EWHC 333 (Comm)) concerning a complex contractual dispute between an Emirati Royal and a Greek businessman following the failure of a joint business venture. Alex’s work included assisting with a range of commercial litigation issues, including specific disclosure, preparation of witness statements, amending statements of case and dealing with the significant volume of correspondence and procedural points raised by the opponents, who were aggressive litigators. The work also included the use of sophisticated electronic disclosure platforms and bundle preparation software.

Property and Housing

Alex regularly attends, advises on, and drafts pleadings/applications in a variety of commercial property disputes, acting for both landlords and tenants. This includes forfeiture (and relief) claims, claims for accounts of profits, arrears, disrepair/dilapidations, compensation and interim rent (under the L&T Act 1954).

Alex also have considerable experience representing and advising in residential property cases. This ranges from representing management companies in service charge disputes and related forfeiture actions, to advising on collective enfranchisement cases, boundary disputes, nuisance claims and enforceability of guarantees. Alex also represents both private and social landlords and tenants in possession and related claims, including regarding continuation of secure tenancies, unauthorised subletting, procurement by fraud, claims for account of profits, AST possession, trespass and disrepair, including in FT trials.

Alex is also regularly instructed to advise and draft pleadings in cases concerning the sale of land, including regarding misrepresentations made before and after exchange, proprietary estoppel and collateral contracts.

Inquiries

Alex recently assisted the Government Legal Service with the Grenfell Inquiry. This included working with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office.

Recent Cases

W v J & L (Ongoing) – Successfully represented C in an appeal before a CJ against a three-fold strike out judgment, re-listing the case for trial. The appeal included setting precedent regarding whether there was a need to re-seal a claim form post-issue pre-service after amendments and the granting of relief in such circumstances.
C v M (2019) – Successfully represented D resisting C’s application to amend a part 8 TOLATA claim to include representations of undue influence, subsequently obtaining summary dismissal of the claim and an order of indemnity costs against C.
N v J (2018) – After successfully obtaining permission, represented C in an appeal before a CJ against a trial judgment on the ground of excessive judicial intervention leading to an unfair trial.
A v D & S (2018) – Successfully obtained the discharge from proceedings of a new commercial tenant who rented a property following the subsequently contentious peaceful forfeiture of the property by the landlord.

Articles

Alex Burrell, ‘5 tips for relief in small claims trials’ – itsalawyerslife.com

Accreditations

“He was, as usual, absolutely brilliant and achieved a fantastic result which I felt was unlikely to be possible.”
“He really put himself out to make sure that he went the extra mile in his preparations and I’ve started the weekend with an extremely happy client”
“Alex did a superb job under pressure”

Education

LLB, University of Bristol
BPTC, Kaplan Law School (Very Competent

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