Alexander Heylin

Alexander has a broad commercial litigation practice covering a wide range of contractual, property and regulatory disputes. His work includes an emphasis on civil fraud, company, insolvency and regulatory matters, as well as complex commercial disputes generally.

The primary focus of Alexander’s banking and finance practice is:

• Claims involving civil fraud in lending facilities and securities
• The enforceability and construction of guarantees and indemnities.
• Asset recovery domestically and globally Judgment enforcement
• Production orders and Norwich Pharmacals

Alexander has unique perspective and experience on regulatory issues having both advised funds and other financial institutions including global banks for many years. He has also worked inside a fund dealing with regulatory issues in multiple jurisdictions. He has acted on matters in this area both in England as well as in Cayman, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos.

Alexander has also worked on many matters touching on the US. Having studied US Corporate and securities law at NYU Law.

Along with working for a New York based law firm, Alexander is in a unique position to work with US based lawyers on these matters where they impact on English common law jurisdictions.

Alexander has represented companies and individuals in regulatory matters both contentious and non-contentious including making presentations and direct representations to the relevant regulator. Alexander has been involved in many regulatory matters that have been directly tied to parallel regulatory issues in the US including SEC and DOJ investigations.

Alexander has acted for both Companies and individuals in regulatory matters that also involve criminal allegations including MLAT requests, POCA and money laundering allegations.

Some examples of the areas Alexander can advise on in regulatory law include

• Financial Services Regulation (including FCA)
• Suspicious Activity Reports in the Financial Sector
• Corporate Governance and Reporting (including POCA)
• Reports to Money Laundering Officers and POCA / money laundering regulations
• Directors Duties and Fiduciary Duties (including representation at Tribunal)
• Professional Conduct particularly concerning those regulated in the Financial Services Sector
• Bribery Act

Commercial dispute resolution is the core part of Alexander’s practice, often with a cross border and international aspect. Alexander is known for his pragmatic advice, along with having commercial objectives premeditated for the client from the outset. Alex has excellent communication skills combined with well prepared and uncompromising advocacy.

Alexander has substantial experience in acting in misrepresentation claims. A reported case is Biscoe v Milner 2021] EWHC 763 (Ch) containing allegations of fraudulent misrepresentations to investors of several million pounds . It resulted in a 10 day high court trial where Alex successfully represent two defendants.

Alexander advises and appears in complex, high-value disputes in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, and in numerous overseas jurisdictions.

Alexander has extensive experience in complex and highly contentious cases and civil fraud. Many of his cases arise in the context of claims against directors, partners and former senior employees, and joint venture disputes.

Alexander has advised and appeared on cases concerning the misappropriation of company assets and unlawful share support operation, the investment of monies in bogus investment schemes, or simple theft amongst others. Given the nature of the allegations made in fraud cases, much of the work in this field is advisory remaining out of the public domain.

Alexander has considerable experience in interlocutory applications and conducted many injunction hearings related to these cases including freezing orders, Norwich Pharmacal applications and other injunctive relief both in England and overseas.

Examples of areas where Alexander advises and appears on:

• Asset Recovery
• Banking and Finance disputes
• Conflicts of law issues
• Contract disputes
• Cross Border disputes particularly ‘offshore’
• Fraud matters
• Jurisdictional disputes
• Privilege issues
• Tax Tribunals
• Unfair Prejudice (994’s) Petitions

Alexander has extensive experience in complex and highly contentious cases and civil fraud. Many of his cases arise in the context of claims against directors, partners and former senior employees, and joint venture disputes. Alexander has conducted many injunction hearings related to these cases including freezing orders, Norwich Pharmacal applications and other injunctive relief.

Alexander’s contentious company law work primarily focuses on shareholder disputes including unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up and derivative claims and claims against directors for breaches of duty and civil fraud.

Corporate Governance is a long standing interest of Alexander’s and he has considerable experience advising in this area both in England and internationally. Alexander does understand that the administration and governance of a company can be time consuming and sometimes difficult but is fundamental to the structure and culture of a company. A robust corporate governance framework is essential to help improve your organisation, and make it more attractive to banks, potential investors or in the event of sale.

Alexander not only advises on English Company law but also in respect of British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and Cayman. Alexander also has experience of Delaware / US corporate law having studied it in a Corporate Law LLM at NYU Law and worked in a New York Law firm. Though he does not practice US law, it gives Alexander a unique perspective in dealing with issues of a cross border and international nature., especially in relation to Funds and other Financial Services companies.

Some of the areas Alexander can advise on include –

• Companies House filing requirements
• Compliance with the Companies Act 2006
• Constitutional document reviews
• Directors’ duties and conflicts of interest
• Drafting articles of association
• Preparing for and running board and general meetings
• Provide legal advice on all areas of company law and corporate governance
• Shareholder consents and voting rights
• Share capital matters including allotments
• Regulatory compliance
• Removal of directors

There is overlap between Alexander’s company law practice and his partnership law practice. He has acted on matters ranging from pre-emptive applications for injunctions to restrain expulsion; to disputes as to the existence of the partnership; to dissolution and the taking of accounts.

Alexander’s contentious company law work primarily focuses on shareholder disputes including unfair prejudice petitions, just and equitable winding up and derivative claims and claims against directors for breaches of duty and civil fraud.

Corporate Governance is a long standing interest of Alexander’s and he has considerable experience advising in this area both in England and internationally. Alexander does understand that the administration and governance of a company can be time consuming and sometimes difficult but is fundamental to the structure and culture of a company. A robust corporate governance framework is essential to help improve your organisation, and make it more attractive to banks, potential investors or in the event of sale.

Alexander not only advises on English Company law but also in respect of British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and Cayman. Alexander also has experience of Delaware / US corporate law having studied it in a Corporate Law LLM at NYU Law and worked in a New York Law firm. Though he does not practice US law, it gives Alexander a unique perspective in dealing with issues of a cross border and international nature., especially in relation to Funds and other Financial Services companies.

Some of the areas Alexander can advise on include –

• Companies House filing requirements
• Compliance with the Companies Act 2006
• Constitutional document reviews
• Directors’ duties and conflicts of interest
• Drafting articles of association
• Preparing for and running board and general meetings
• Provide legal advice on all areas of company law and corporate governance
• Shareholder consents and voting rights
• Share capital matters including allotments
• Regulatory compliance
• Removal of directors

There is overlap between Alexander’s company law practice and his partnership law practice. He has acted on matters ranging from pre-emptive applications for injunctions to restrain expulsion; to disputes as to the existence of the partnership; to dissolution and the taking of accounts.

Alexander is experienced in many areas of insolvency law both domestic and international both advising companies and conducting the hearings. These areas include:

• Administrations
• Administrative receivers
• Asset-tracing and recovery
• Bankruptcy
• Cross-border (including EC Regulation, the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations and UNCITRAL model law)
• Directors’ disqualification
• Liquidation (including application for appointment of provisional Liquidator)
• S.423 applications
• Voluntary arrangements and ‘pre-packed’ liquidations
• Winding up in the public interest

With globalization has come increased legal, regulatory, financial and reputational complexity and risk for international businesses and investors. Alexander has over eight years’ experience concentrating on cross border disputes with a focus on the offshore financial industry and the US Financial Industry particularly relating to Funds.

Alexander also studied for a Masters (LLM) in International and US Corporate law at NYU Law one of the top 5 law schools in the US.

Alexander has been called to the Bar and appeared in the Courts of multiple jurisdictions and has considerable experience working with international legal teams. He is particularly experienced in high value and complex joint venture disputes.

Alexander is a member of STEP having completed his 4 STEP (Trust and Estate Practitioner) examinations with distinction. He has acted in many trusts matters particularly offshore trusts in a variety of contexts both for trustees and beneficiaries. He has particular experience dealing with Cayman, BVI and Turks and Caicos Trusts.

Alexander acts in both contentious and non-contentious probate claims Including advising on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Alexander’s practice involves claims for the removal of Executors and Trustees, and for breaches of their duties.

Examples of areas covered include –

• Claims for financial provision pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
• Disputes as to the substantial and procedural validity of wills
• Applications for the removal of executors and trustees
• Applications for the rectification of wills
• Breach of trust/breach of fiduciary duty claims
• Administration actions in particular disputes as to the construction of wills or directions from the court
• Proprietary estoppel, undue influence and constructive trust claims

Alexander has unique perspective and experience on regulatory issues having both advised funds and other financial institutions including global banks for many years. He has also worked inside a fund dealing with regulatory issues in multiple jurisdictions. Corporate Governance is a particular interest of Alexander.

Alexander has represented companies and individuals in regulatory matters both contentious and non-contentious including making presentations and direct representations to the relevant regulator. He has been involved in many regulatory matters that have been directly tied to parallel regulatory issues in the US including SEC and DOJ investigations.

Alexander has acted for both Companies and individuals in regulatory matters that also involve criminal allegations including MLAT requests, POCA and money laundering allegations.

Some examples of the areas Alexander can advise on include –

• Financial Services Regulation (including FCA)
• Suspicious Activity Reports in the Financial Sector
• Corporate Governance and Reporting (including POCA)
• Reports to Money Laundering Officers and POCA / money laundering regulations
• Directors Duties and Fiduciary Duties (including representation at Tribunal)
• Professional Conduct particularly concerning those regulated in the Financial Services Sector
• Bribery Act