Overview
Alexandra is a busy specialist family law barrister, regularly providing advice and representation at all stages of proceedings involving children (both private and public), domestic abuse, divorce, and financial settlements.
Alexandra has extensive experience in the full range of family law matters, and also has the benefit of a background at the criminal bar. Her background and expertise make Alexandra well able to adapt her approach to suit different clients and situations, and she empathises and works patiently to gain her client’s confidence and to protect and promote their interests. Alexandra prepares thoroughly, gives sensitive and realistic advice, and fights her client’s corner tirelessly in court.
She is sensitive to the emotion and conflict that often accompanies family law proceedings, and understands that there is often a hugely complex history behind the issues at hand.
Alexandra has trained as a mediator with the Regents School of Psychotherapy and Counselling and with the benefit of those skills, Alexandra encourages and supports parties to reach a resolution by agreement where it is appropriate to do so.
- Alexandra accepts instructions on a direct access basis in appropriate cases.
Here’s what some of those who have worked with Alexandra have to say about her:
Family & Children
Children (Public & Private)
Alexandra represents and advises clients in the full range of private law children disputes as well as in public law proceedings.
In private law proceedings, Alexandra regularly acts for clients facing a dispute about the time their child spends with each parent, and the day-to-day logistics and practicalities of co-parenting. Alexandra brings a realistic and pragmatic approach to her advice, which often saves a good deal of heartache, time and financial cost.
Alexandra also has significant experience with complex and lengthy cases involving implacable hostility, parental alignment/alienation, mental health and allegations of domestic abuse. Those cases are often unable to be or unsuited to negotiated settlements, and Alexandra supports her clients throughout the process, ensuring they understand each stage and are working at all times towards the best chance at a favourable outcome.
Alexandra also has experience in more specialist applications, such as domestic and international relocations, school choices, medical treatment disputes and applications by grandparents for contact. Alexandra also has experience in successfully pursuing enforcement applications where a parent is in breach of a court order.
In public law proceedings, Alexandra regularly represents parents, local authorities, children and other family members. Understanding the approach to any given case from these different angles is hugely beneficial to preparing for contested hearings in particular, and to being able to anticipate the case against a client. She has appeared alone and as a led junior in complex cases involving neglect, torturous parenting, non-accidental injury, drug and alcohol addictions. Alexandra regularly represents vulnerable clients with learning difficulties, disabilities, mental health diagnoses and addictions, and has a particular interest in ensuring those vulnerable clients are able to fully participate in proceedings.
Alexandra has successfully argued in respect of legal designation in public law proceedings, and also has experience with deprivation of liberty orders.
Finances
Alexandra has broad experience in the family finance field, and she regularly represents clients across all stages of financial remedy proceedings, including at contested final hearings and in subsequent proceedings to enforce.
She has experience of cases involving intervenors, non-disclosure, non-matrimonial property, disputed foreign and company assets, as well as financial provision for children under Schedule 1 and TOLATA.
Alexandra has worked on a significant number of pre and post-nuptial agreements, both in terms of drawing up and entering into those agreements, and in terms of financial remedy proceedings which involve the question of whether to uphold or depart from them.
Domestic Abuse and Injunctions
Alexandra has been instructed in police applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and regularly appears in matters where protective Family Law Act injunctions are sought, representing those seeking or responding to Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.
International Family
Many of Alexandra’s private and public children law cases have an international element, and she also acts in international abduction cases. Alexandra has significant experience in making and opposing pre-emptive applications for permission to remove a child from the jurisdiction, both temporarily and permanently, and in relation to Hague and Non-Hague Convention countries.
Inquests & Inquiries
Alexandra accepts instructions in relation to Public Inquiries and Inquests.
Other Experience
Alexandra has been instructed to advise in respect of disclosure involving issues such as legal privilege and public interest immunity, particularly where there are parallel criminal and family proceedings.
Alexandra was junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Alexandra has a background in prosecuting and defending in criminal proceedings, including private prosecutions.
Additional information
Direct Access
- Alexandra accepts direct access instructions in relation to criminal and family law.
Professional panel appointments
- Accredited mediator (Regent’s School of Psychotherapy and Counselling).
- Qualified to accept Direct Access Instructions.
- Grade 2 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutor.
Cases of Note
Grenfell Tower Inquiry:
Alexandra has been instructed as Junior Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since January 2018.
Costs thrown away awarded:
Alexandra was privately instructed to represent a young man of good character accused of stalking, who had made admissions in interview. Alexandra argued to exclude a considerable part of the prosecution’s phone download evidence, before persuading them to add a significantly lesser charge to which a guilty plea was entered. Such was the difference, that despite the conviction, Alexandra successfully obtained a Defendant’s Costs Order, as well as recovering several thousand pounds in costs thrown away.
Designation case reported:
Alexandra was instructed on behalf of an interested party Local Authority in care proceedings, successfully opposing a designation argument by analysing and applying the “stop the clock” provisions within the meaning of section 105(6) Children Act 1989. Given the level of legal analysis, the Judgment was published as Re. Z (care orders: designated local authority) [2019] EWFC B30
High profile case in the press:
Represented “the naked gardener”, a naturist acquitted after trial in Kent of all 13 counts of public order and breaching a community protection notice
Voyeurism and Indecent Images case:
Secured a community order in a case of voyeurism and possession of indecent images of children
Sexual Assault:
Successfully defended a client charged with sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl. The client was acquitted after trial in Hertfordshire despite overwhelming evidence.
Perverting the course of Justice:
Secured a suspended sentence following a guilty plea in a case of perverting the course of justice.
