Alexander Robson

Alexander’s commercial litigation practice covers the range of business disputes including contractual disputes, commercial fraud, shareholder disputes, disputes between directors/senior employees, disputes arising out of JVAs, agency disputes (including under the Commercial Agents Regulations), and franchising disputes.

He has experience across a range of industries with particular recent expertise in the IT, banking, recruitment, telecommunications, sports and me­dia sectors. Recent cases include:

• AC Ltd v Lim [2019] 8 WLUK 15 (QB). Acted for successful claimant casino in its application for worldwide freezing injunction against foreign national. Subsequent successful application for finding that defendant was in contempt of court for non-compliance with disclosure and other provisions of the freezing order.
• AC Ltd v Al Sari (2019). Successful application for worldwide freezing injunction against foreign national. 
• Iberia Lineas v Arik Air Ltd (2018). £Multi-m claim by Spanish national carrier, Iberia, against the Nigerian national carrier, Arik Air. Addressed novel points about when currency fluctuations might amount to an event frustrating a contract. Successful application for strike out of the Defence.
• Brainbox Digital Ltd v Backboard Media GmbH [2017] EWHC 2465 (QB). High-value international fraud dispute in IT sector, including freezing injunction. Successful application for security for costs. The Judgment gives important guidance on security for costs and the scope of the undertaking in damages at the injunctive stage. Alexander was led by David Reade QC.
• Gashi v Waves Consultancy Limited (2016) 5 day trial; successful defence of claim under franchising agreement alleging fraud and breach of contract.
• Hills v Niksun Inc [2016] EWCA Civ 115. Court of Appeal decision on scope of an employer’s discretion under bonus agreements after Braganza v BP Shipping Limited.
• Premier League Club X v Premier League Club Y (2015) Multi-day arbitration regarding proper construction of sales contract.
• National Housing Trust v YPSAC Limited [2015] UKPC 43 Successful appeal to Privy Council re construction dispute. The Board gave important guidance upon: (i) the court’s power to interfere with arbitrator’s award and (ii) an arbitrator’s power to award compound interest. Led by Stuart Ritchie Q.C.
• AmTrust Europe Limited v Trust Risk Group SpA Long-running dispute between insurer and broker. Application for anti-arbitration injunction in relation to a Milan arbitration successfully resisted (see [2015] EWHC 1927 (Comm)). Led by Charles Samek Q.C.
• Farnan v SAFC [2015] EWHC 3759 (QB) Successful defence to contractual claim by former director against Sunderland AFC. Led by David Reade Q.C.
• Sanders v Bluebeard Pictures Limited (2015) Successful representation of claimant in Mercantile Court claim arising out of a dispute in the film industry.
• Daad Sharab v HRH Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdal-Aziz-Al-Saud [2013] EWHC 2324 (Ch). High profile trial relating to the sale of a private jet to Colonel Gaddafi by Saudi Prince Al-Waleed. Extensive press coverage. Led by Clive Freedman Q.C. Succeeding in recovering US$10m.

Alexander is co-author, with Charlotte Davies, of the PLC note on Conspiracy in Commercial Fraud.

Alexander has extensive experience of employment litigation, and he is regularly instructed in cases of extreme com­mercial and/or reputational importance. He has particular expertise in cases involving businesses in IT and financial services.

His practice covers the range of industrial issues, including discrimination, whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, redundancy (individual and collective) and TUPE. His EAT experi­ence includes important cases on the effect of s.111 ERA 1996 and Joao v Mesh Computers, in which guidance was given by Cox J on the proper approach to amendment applications.

Recent cases in include:

• Forse and others v Secarma Ltd and others [2019] EWCA Civ 215. Successful application for springboard and other relief in complex team move case. The Court of Appeal decision, upholding the relief ordered, is now the leading case on springboard relief. Alexander was led by Gavin Mansfield QC.
•  Wollenberg v Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Limited UKEAT/0053/18/DA. EAT decision on proper approach to and reasons for application for interim relief under s.128 ERA.
•  Upton-Hansen Architects v Gyftaki (2019). EAT decision on proper approach (i) to assessment of fairness of a constructive dismissal; and (ii) proper approach to assessment of compensation pursuant to causation under s.123(6) ERA.
• Secretary of State for Justice v Prison Officers Association (2018). Urgent interim application to restrain 5000 prison officers from striking. Led by Jonathan Cohen QC.
• ICAP Management Services v (1) Berry and (2) BGC [2017] I.R.L.R. 811. Speedy trial of a high-profile claim for a garden leave injunction which included the application of TUPE to the sale by share acquisition by ICAP of its inter-dealer broking business to Tullett Prebon Plc. Alexander was led by Matthew Sheridan.
• M v Citibank N.A. Acted for Claimant in claim for unfair dismissal arising out of the FX price-fixing scandal (2017).
• Hills v Niksun Inc [2016] EWCA Civ 115. Court of Appeal decision on scope of an employer’s discretion under bonus agreements after Braganza v BP Shipping Limited.
• Acting for global IT giant in successful defence to claim by senior business executive for constructive unfair dismissal (2016).
• Acting for global telecommunications giant in successful defence to claim for whistleblowing, disability discrimination and unfair dismissal (2016).
• Farnan v SAFC [2015] EWHC 3759 (QB) Successful defence to contractual claim by former director against Sunderland AFC. Led by David Reade Q.C.
• De Vere Holding Company Ltd v Belgravia Wealth Management Europe Kft [2014] EWHC 3189 (QB). Multi-jurisdictional team move case, led by Selwyn Bloch QC.
• Acting for leading international IT company defending a claim for equal pay (2015).
• Gebremariam v Ethiopian Airways Limited [2014] UKEAT 0439_12_0402: important EAT decision on the scope of the implied duty of trust and confidence.
• Advising a major international airline on the TUPE implications of a cross-border £multi-billion merger.
• Successfully defending a major airline in claims for race discrimination. The case received substantial press coverage in the Independent, the Telegraph and BBC News. Judgment reported at [2013] EqLR 552.
• Successfully acting for a number of claimants in a complex TUPE claim against a leading financial services provider.

Alexander has extensive experience of injunctive applications and consequent speedy trials in QB and Chancery. These include freezing orders, anti-arbitration injunctions, as well as enforcement of restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duties, confidential information and economic torts. Recent cases include:

• Forse and others v Secarma Ltd and others [2019] EWCA Civ 215. Successful application for springboard relief and other relief in complex team move case. The Court of Appeal decision, upholding the relief ordered, is now the leading case on springboard relief. Alexander was led by Gavin Mansfield QC.
• Brainbox Digital Ltd v Backboard Media GmbH [2017] EWHC 2465 (QB). High-value international fraud dispute in IT sector, including freezing injunction. Successful application for security for costs. The Judgment gives important guidance on security for costs and the scope of the undertaking in damages at the injunctive stage. Alexander was led by David Reade QC.
  
• ICAP Management Services v (1) Berry and (2) BGC [2017] I.R.L.R. 811. High-profile claim for a garden leave injunction which included the application of TUPE to the sale by share acquisition by ICAP of its inter-dealer broking business to Tullett Prebon Plc. Alexander was led by Matthew Sheridan. Opposing counsel were Daniel Oudkerk QC, Jane McCafferty and Edward Brown; BGC was represented by Paul Goulding QC, Diya Sen Gupta and Kerenza Davis.
  
• AmTrust Europe Limited v Trust Risk Group SpA [2015] EWHC 1927 (Comm) Application for anti-arbitration injunction in relation to a Milan arbitration successfully resisted. Led by Charles Samek Q.C.
• Application for enforcement of post-termination restraints in board-room bust-up in the property sector.
• Application for interim relief to restrain post-termination competition in the financial services sector (QBD). Led by Gavin Mansfield QC.
• De Vere Holding Company Ltd v Belgravia Wealth Management Europe Kft [2014] EWHC 3189 (QB). Multi-jurisdictional team move case, led by Selwyn Bloch QC.

Alexander has extensive expertise of the nexus between commercial and employment law. His High Court employment practice covers all aspects of commercial employment disputes including wrongful dismissal, employee competition, economic torts, director disputes and shareholder disputes. He is equally at home acting as sole counsel or as part of a team.

Recent cases include:

• Forse and others v Secarma Ltd and others [2019] EWCA Civ 215. Successful application for springboard relief and other relief in complex team move case. The Court of Appeal decision, upholding the relief ordered, is now the leading case on springboard relief. Alexander was led by Gavin Mansfield QC.
• ICAP Management Services v (1) Berry and (2) BGC [2017] I.R.L.R. 811. High-profile claim for a garden leave injunction which included the application of TUPE to the sale by share acquisition by ICAP of its inter-dealer broking business to Tullett Prebon Plc. Alexander was led by Matthew Sheridan. Opposing counsel were Daniel Oudkerk QC, Jane McCafferty and Edward Brown; BGC was represented by Paul Goulding QC, Diya Sen Gupta and Kerenza Davis.
• Hills v Niksun Inc [2016] EWCA Civ 115. Important case on scope of an employer’s discretion under bonus agreements after Braganza v BP Shipping Limited.
• Farnan v Sunderland Association Football Club [2015] EWHC 3759 (QB) Successful defence to contractual claim for bonus by former director against Sunderland AFC. Led by David Reade Q.C.
• Acting for global IT giant in successful defence to claim by senior business executive for constructive unfair dismissal (2016).
• Successful defence of application for interim relief in board-room bust-up in the property sector. Sole Counsel.
• Successful defence to claim by senior executive under bonus provisions.

Alexander appears regularly in the High Court, the employment tribunal and arbitration in sports disputes. He has particular expertise in sports litigation in relation to contractual or employment disputes, including Rule K Arbitrations.

Recent cases include:

• Acting for a sports agency in respect of its claim for damages and/or restitution against a Premier League footballer.
• Premier League Club X v Premier League Club Y. Representing a PL football club in a Rule K arbitration turning on the construction of a player transfer agreement.
• Agent A v Club B. Acting for football agent in his claim for commission.
• Farnan v Sunderland Association Football Club [2015] EWHC 3759 (QB) Successful defence to contractual claim for bonus by former director against Sunderland AFC. Led by David Reade Q.C.

Alexander has a particular interest in arbitration. His recent experience includes:

• Representing football agents in claims against clubs.
• Representing a Premier League Football Club in a Rule K arbitration on the construction of a player transfer agreement.
• Advising the claimant in a claim in arbitration for breach of contract arising out of the supply of military equipment to the UAE.
• Successful appeal to Privy Council concerning: (i) the court’s power to interfere with arbitrator’s award and (ii) an arbitrator’s power to award compound interest. Led by Stuart Ritchie Q.C. National Housing Trust v YPSAC Limited [2015] UKPC 43.
• Acting for the successful respondent in an application for anti-arbitration injunction in relation to a Milan arbitration. Long-running dispute between insurer and broker. Led by Charles Samek Q.C. AmTrust Europe Limited v Trust Risk Group SpA [2015] EWHC 1927 (Comm).
• Acting as Secretary to the Tribunal in an ICC Arbitration concerning an energy dispute in Oman.

Alexander is an experienced advocate at an appellate level. He has appeared in the Privy Council twice (led by Adam Solomon and Stuart Ritchie Q.C. respectively), and alone in the Court of Appeal and in the EAT.

Alexander is a contributor to Termination of Employment and co-author, with Georgina Wolfe, of The Path to Pupillage, now in its third edition.He is a contributor to the leading text on employment covenants and confidential information, Bloch & Brearley on Employment Covenants and Confidential Information.

He regularly writes articles for publications and gives seminars on a range of commercial and employment law issues. Please contact Alexander’s clerks for all enquiries.

Education and Awards:

• BA Hons Law (Pembroke College, Cambridge)
• BPTC (Nottingham Law School)
• Harold G. Fox Scholarship (6 months working in the litigation of a top Canadian law firm)
• Winner of Middle Temple Mooting Competition, judged by the then Lord Chief Justice
• Middle Temple Student of the Year
• Queen Mother Scholar, Middle Temple
• Harmsworth Exhibitioner, Middle Temple
• The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators President’s Prize for Excellence in the Study and Application of ADR