Alex Francis

Alex’s employment law practice includes claims across the spectrum of employment law, with a focus on discrimination, whistleblowing and business protection cases. He has a particular interest in cases involving the misuse of confidential information, restrictive covenants and springboard relief, and claims in the team-move/conspiracy context.

His experience to date includes:

• 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 (led by Gavin Mansfield KC and Matthew Sheridan)
• JT v A firm of solicitors (2023/ 2024) – representing the Respondent firm of solicitors in complex unlawful deductions claims brought by a former equity partner (led by Gavin Mansfield KC)
• Rock Choir v Steven Brown and anor (2024) – successfully representing the Respondents to an application for interim relief to enforce post termination restrictive covenants (as sole counsel)
• CM v A firm (2023) – successfully representing a Respondent “Big Four” firm in a multi-day disability discrimination claim brought by a job applicant (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).
• Representing the Claimant in an eight day employment Tribunal hearing against the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
• Successfully representing a Claimant teaching assistant in a three day unfair dismissal hearing which involved sensitive allegations of inappropriate physical contact with a pupil.
• Advising an inter-dealer broker on the enforceability of post-termination restrictions and pleading his defence to High Court breach of covenant claims (settled before trial).
• Advising an individual in the aftermath of her departure from an international consumer goods company, where she faced claims of breach of covenants, breach of directors’ duties, and breach of confidence (settled before trial).
• Successfully representing a Respondent recruitment agency in claims of direct race discrimination and victimisation.
• Successfully representing a Respondent retailer in claims of automatic unfair dismissal and whistleblowing detriment.
• Advising the CFO of an AIM listed company on directors’ duties and potential claims of constructive dismissal.
• Drafting grounds of appeal to the EAT in a high-profile worker status case.

Alex’s commercial practice is focused on in litigation arising from commercial contracts, civil fraud, shareholder disputes and director/ senior employee relations. His experience as a solicitor means that he is often sought out for high value and complex cases.

His experience to date includes:

• Paul Ndungu v Sportpesa Global Holdings Limited and ors (2023/2024) – 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] EWHC 1119 (Comm) – assisting the Claimants in a high value Commercial Court dispute concerning claims of breach of contract, fraud and intimidation (with Stuart Ritchie KC and David Lascelles).
• Advising an individual in the aftermath of her departure from an international consumer goods company, where she faced claims of breach of covenants, breach of directors’ duties, and breach of confidence (settled before trial).
• A High Court appeal on an application to set aside a statutory demand.
• 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.
• As a solicitor advocate, drafting statements of case and conducting cross examination of a witness in an $8m ICC arbitration involving breach of contract claims.

Alex is currently instructed on the independent investigation into unlawful discrimination at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, led by Mohinerpal Sethi QC. The investigation follows 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) .

Alex’s sports law experience also includes:

• 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.
• A High Court breach of contract claim brought by a football agent against a premier league player.
• An appeal to the EAT in proceedings against the UK governing body of an Olympic sport.

Alex has a First Class degree from the University of Cambridge.

He completed the GDL and LPC with a Distinction before qualifying as a Solicitor (England and Wales) in 2015 and a Solicitor Advocate in 2016.

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