Alexander has a strong interest in cases from the CIS. He speaks and reads Russian fluently and regularly uses Russian in his practice. CIS cases in which he has acted include:
- Gorbachev v Guriev (2022-) (led by Paul Stanley KC) acting for a Russian businessman in a multi-billion dollar civil fraud claim to recover his assets in a Russian business listed on the London Stock Exchange, involving claims of fraudulent breach of trust
- Alimov v Genesis Digital Assets (2022-) (led by Charles Samek KC) acting for a Kazakh businessman claiming a shareholding interest in one of the world’s largest bitcoin mining projects from his former fellow joint venturers, and tracing the bitcoin generated by the project
- National Bank Trust v Yurov [2020] EWHC 100 (Comm): acting for defendants (led by Paul Stanley KC and Tom Poole KC) in a nine-week Commercial Court fraud claim brought by a Russian bank alleging misappropriation of $900 million against its former directors and shareholders, raising complex issues of Russian law on directors’ and employees’ liability and involving detailed scrutiny of forensic accountancy evidence. The case was listed as one The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases
- VTB Bank v Laptev [2020] EWHC 321 (Ch): acting (as sole counsel) in bankruptcy proceedings for £25 million brought by a Russian bank against a Russian-domiciled individual who is already in Russian bankruptcy proceedings, successfully securing the dismissal of the petition for lack of jurisdiction and based on expert evidence of Russian law
- AOS Holdings v Korotkov (2020): acting (led by Rupert D’Cruz KC) in a Commercial Court contract and fraud claim for US$150 million arising out of the purchase of a new cryptocurrency, Grams, launched by the social media app Telegram, before the issue of the Grams was blocked by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US District Court. The case featured a jurisdiction challenge in the English court and freezing injunction proceedings in Cyprus before a confidential settlement
- Sheianov v Sarner International [2020] EWHC 1214 (QB), [2020] 1 WLR 3963: as sole counsel, successfully obtained summary judgment for delivery up of a Russian-owned historic collection of Second World War motorcycles held by an exhibition design company, which was claiming a lien for unpaid fees. The judgment is reported in the Weekly Law Reports and contains the first modern analysis of the principles of the common law lien
- Fintech Decision v Platio (2021): as sole counsel, obtained worldwide freezing and proprietary injunctions in a fraud claim against an online payment aggregator and its directors, for misappropriation of customers’ money from their online accounts, revealed by a former employee whistle-blower
- Russian Airline v Seychelles Company (2019): acting (as sole counsel) for a Russian airline in an LCIA arbitration concerning an attempted corporate raid on a Russian airline by a former joint venture partner, claiming debts of US$180 million
- Nescare Group v Global Trade Export (2019): acting (as sole counsel) in a Commercial Court claim on a loan agreement arising out of the acquisition of Kazakhstani agricultural companies, raising allegations of illegality under Kazakhstani law
- Cossac Holdings v Preferred Management (2019): acting (as sole counsel) in a shareholders’ dispute between two rival factions for control of a major Russian insurance company, in which the minority shareholders accuse the majority of wrongfully taking control of the company, and embezzling money from the company
- Re Trefilov (2016): acting (led by Thomas Roe KC) in the bankruptcy of a Russian businessman, concerning his alleged entitlement under a multi-million-dollar settlement agreement relating to interests in Russian commercial property
- Denisov v Ukraine (2017): acting in an application and hearing in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of a senior Ukrainian judge who was dismissed for political reasons, raising issues of breach of the right to a fair trial, reputation and political interference in the judiciary. The Grand Chamber gave judgment in his favour, finding a large number of violations of the right to a fair trial.
- Re Bennet Invest; Hniazdzilau v Vajgel [2016] EWHC 15 (Ch) acting for the defendant (led by Thomas Roe KC) in a dispute over the beneficial ownership of Belarusian assets held through an English corporate structure and the effects under Russian, Belarusian and English law of illegal transactions.
- Barber v Rasco International [2012] EWHC 269 (QB): acting for the claimants (led by Thomas Roe KC) in a dispute concerning a partnership to operate an oil and gas pipeline protection contract in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
- Expert opinions on English law (on issues of jurisdiction, contract and sale of goods, company and trusts) for proceedings in the Russian Arbitrazh (Commercial) Court, the Ukrainian and Belarusian Economic Courts, and in the Irish High Court in a dispute between CIS parties.