Alex Francis

Alex’s employment law practice includes claims across the spectrum of employment law. He has a particular interest in cases involving the misuse of confidential information, restrictive covenants and claims in the team-move/conspiracy context. He also appears in discrimination, whistleblowing and other claims in the Employment Tribunal.

Featured cases:

High Court/ International

• Guy Carpenter and Company Limited & ors v Willis Re (UK) Limited & ors (2025) – representing Willis Re and associated defendants in heavy “team move” litigation involving allegations of conspiracy (led by Jonathan Cohen KC and Matthew Sheridan)
• JB Drax Honore vs Ferri-Ricchi (2024) – representing the employer in what is understood to have been the highest value bonus claim ever to have been brought before the DIFC Court of First Instance (settled during trial) (led by Gavin Mansfield KC and Graeme Anderson).
• Guy Carpenter and Company Limited & ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & ors (2023) – representing two departing executives in heavy “team move” litigation involving allegations of conspiracy (settled during trial) (led by Gavin Mansfield KC and Matthew Sheridan)
• Alesco & Ors v Ardonagh & Ors (2019) – assistance at the trial of high-profile insurance sector ‘team move’ claim (with Gavin Mansfield KC, Craig Rajgopaul and Graeme Anderson)
• Numerous applications for interim injunctive relief, including for claims of breach of restrictive covenant, misuse of confidential information, breach of directors’ duties and springboard relief (led and as sole counsel).

Statutory

• Representing a Claimant investment banker in high value claims of whistleblowing detriment and dismissal (settled before trial) (2024) (led by Edward Brown KC)
• Representing an asset management firm in high value claims brought by the former co-head of its convertible bonds team (settled before trial) (2024/2025) (led by David Reade KC)
• Successfully representing a firm of solicitors in high value unlawful deductions claims brought by a former equity partner (2024) (led by Gavin Mansfield KC)
• Successfully representing a national news media organisation in multi-day sex and age discrimination and trade union detriment claim brought by a reporter (2025) (as sole counsel)
• Successfully representing a “Big Four” firm in a multi-day disability discrimination claim (2023) (as sole counsel)
• Representing the Claimant in a ten day Employment Tribunal, concerning claims of sex discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation (against a silk and junior counsel).
• Successfully representing a Claimant teaching assistant in a three day unfair dismissal hearing which involved sensitive allegations of inappropriate physical contact with a pupil.

Alex is instructed in a wide range of business protection cases. Many of these arise in the the financial/ professional service industries, but he acts also for small to medium sized businesses across a range of sectors. Alex’s combined employment and commercial experience gives him a particular understanding of the issues raised in civil claims for breach of duty against senior executives, directors and partners. He is also instructed in disputes relating to business protection in the post-sale/aquistion context and has acted for sellers and purcahsers alike. His business protection cases typically involve the misuse of confidential information, breach of contractual or fiduciary obligations and claims in the team-move/conspiracy context.

Alex is regulalry instructed in urgent applications for interim injunctive relief in the High Court, where he has appeared led and as sole counsel.

Featured cases:

• Guy Carpenter and Company Limited & ors v Willis Re (UK) Limited & ors (2025) – representing Willis Re and associated defendants in heavy “team move” litigation involving allegations of conspiracy (led by Jonathan Cohen KC and Matthew Sheridan)
• Spill Bidco Limited & Ors v Wishart & Ors (2025) – representing the successful Claimants in expedited claims against a disloyal director for breach of fidcuciary and contractual duties (led by Jonathan Cohen KC): [2025] EWHC 2513 (Comm)
• Guy Carpenter and Company Limited & ors v Howden Group Holdings Limited & ors (2023) – representing two departing executives in heavy “team move” litigation involving allegations of conspiracy (settled during trial) (led by Gavin Mansfield KC and Matthew Sheridan)
• Numerous applications for interim injunctive relief, including for claims of breach of restrictive covenant, misuse of confidential information, breach of directors’ duties and springboard relief (led and as sole counsel).

Alex’s commercial practice is focused on in litigation arising from commercial contracts, civil fraud, shareholder disputes and director/ senior employee relations.

Featured cases:

• Spill Bidco Limited & Ors v Wishart & Ors (2025) – representing the successful Claimants in expedited claims against a disloyal director for breach of fidcuciary and contractual duties (led by Jonathan Cohen KC): [2025] EWHC 2513 (Comm)
• Advising a European technology and manufacturing company (2025) on its pre-action response to c.£7 million claims for breach of contract (unled)
• Paul Ndungu v Sportpesa Global Holdings Limited and ors (2024)– representing the Claimant in ongoing claims in the Chancery Division, including a petition for relief under s.994, claims under s.561-563 Companies Act 2006 (led by David Lascelles)
• LCIA arbitration (2023)– Representing an insolvent CIS Bank (now managed by its regulator) in a series of arbitrations for claims relating to the validity of contractual agreements entered into by the bank, including claims under s.423 Insolvency Act 1986 (led by Rupert D’Cruz KC)
• Augusta Ventures (2023)– Acting for a litigation funder in claims of breach of contract and breach of trust arising out of construction disputes in Bahrain and Hong Kong (as sole counsel) 
• Global Display Solutions Limited v NCR Corporation (2021) – assisting the successful Claimants in a high value Commercial Court dispute concerning claims of breach of contract, fraud and intimidation (with Stuart Ritchie KC and David Lascelles): [2025] EWHC 2513 (Comm)

As a solicitor, advising clients in disputes before the High Court and in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations. Clients included a major investment bank, in respect of allegations of professional negligence, an oil and gas company, in a dispute arising out of a Production Sharing Agreement, and an oil exploration company in claims against a CIS state.

Alex accepts instructions in international and offshore disputes relating to his core practice areas.  He has a been instructed to act in claims brought in Bermuda, the DIFC and the Channel Islands, and in various institutional and ad hoc arbitrations.

Alex has a keen interest in sports law and in sports/employment crossover disputes. He is a member of Sports Resolutions’ Safeguarding Panel of counsel.

In 2021/ 2022 he was appointed to the independent investigation into unlawful discrimination at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, led by Mohinerpal Sethi KC. The investigation followed widespread media coverage of the club’s mishandling of its own investigation into allegations of discrimination and harassment brought by former player Azeem Rafiq (see here and here).

Featured cases:

• Appointment to the independent investigation into unlawful discrimination at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, led by Mohinderpal Sethi KC.
• Representing a racehorse trainer in a 3-day disciplinary hearing before a panel convened under the Rules of the British Horseracing Authority.
• Drafting the statement of case for an arbitration under the Procedural Rules of the National Safeguarding Panel.
• Drafting an appeal to the EAT in proceedings against the UK governing body of an Olympic sport.

He has lived in Moscow and practised in Paris, where he worked in the International Arbitration team at his former firm (from 2015 to 2017). He has a good working knowledge of French.