Alexandra is a Partner in the Construction Disputes team in the Real Estate Department.
She has over 15 years' experience advising a range of clients across numerous sectors including contractors, developers and occupiers on litigation, arbitration and adjudication matters. She has particular experience in mixed use schemes, offices, student accommodation, high-end residential, and retail.
Alex spends much of her time helping her clients avoid disputes on live projects, giving pragmatic advice and seeking practical solutions. Where disputes cannot be avoided, she guides her clients through often complex and high value disputes, providing clear strategic guidance and robust analysis. She has a strong grasp of technical issues and uses alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation to obtain excellent outcomes for her clients.
Alex has expertise in claims relating to building safety, and in particular disputes concerning defective external wall systems. She is a trusted advisor on the new building safety regime and has provided strategic advice on this complex area of law to some of the UK's leading developers.
Alex is a member of the Technology and Construction Solicitor's Association and the Society of Construction Law. She is recognised in Chambers and Partners as an 'Up and Coming' Partner.
Key Experience
- Advising a developer backed by a middle eastern real estate fund on claims arising out of the refurbishment of existing buildings into ultra high-end residential units in Westminster. The claims (including adjudication) related to delay and disruption for Covid, various defects (including leaks, flooding and dry rot), insurance issues and misrepresentation.
- Acting for one of the largest national retailers on multi-party claims worth over £50m concerning combustible cladding and fire safety issues at a number of properties. Claims were commenced by 90 leaseholders in the TCC for breach of the Defective Premises Act and arbitration notices served under the sale contracts.
- Advising a major French contractor in respect of a dispute about termination under a FIDIC contract in relation to a large container port in the Middle East. This dispute raised issues of delay and concurrency, and was arbitrated through the ICC.
- Advising a developer on delay and disruption claims brought by a build only contractor in relation to the refurbishment of a landmark building in central London from office use into a high-end hotel. The claims concerned design changes related to the installation of the M&E systems.
- Advising an energy company in relation to various contractual issues in relation a new build power project. Alex represented her client in an adjudication arising out of a major earthworks contract, and provided detailed legal advice in relation to disputes concerning the design and engineering of the nuclear island.
- Representing an Indian developer on numerous adjudications arising out of the development of a high-end luxury residential development in central London. The project was procured on a construction management basis and our client commenced adjudication claims against the construction manager and various trade contractors.
- Providing strategic advice to a developer in relation to the allocation of responsibility for fire safety defects on the sale of its residential portfolio. This included advising on the options for recovery of the costs of remedial work against the original contractors, and the residual risks under the Building Safety Act following the sale.
- Advising a developer/owner/operator in relation to a central London development (containing student accommodation, apartments, build to rent and retail) in relation to recovery of the costs of remediating external wall systems with fire safety defects.
- Acting for an owner in an adjudication dispute with a developer under a Development Finance Agreement in relation to delay claims concerning two purpose built student accommodation developments in Scotland.
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Senior Associate, Berwin Leighton Paisner
University of Birmingham, Law, LLB
Articles and Publications