Profile
Alexis Hearnden is an experienced advocate with a successful regulatory and public law practice. She acts for regulators and those they regulate across a range of professions including solicitors, doctors, dentists, fertility clinics, architects, members of the clergy, vets, and osteopaths before tribunals, in judicial review proceedings and in statutory appeals. In the world of sport, she advises sport national governing bodies, particularly in safeguarding matters.
Alexis regularly represents family members, local authorities, health authorities and the Official Solicitor in the Court of Protection, which complements her broader public law work in the areas of mental health, community care and healthcare.
She is recommended as a leading junior by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in the areas of Professional Discipline and in the Court of Protection. Alexis was nominated for Professional Discipline Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2020 and 2025.
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Areas Of Expertise
Alexis is recognised as a leading practitioner in this area. She acts for a range of professional regulators and professionals across a range of sectors including, but not limited to, those regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC), the Professional Standard Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA), the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board, the Architects Registration Board and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Her work for lawyers facing disciplinary action includes a range of conduct issues (e.g. social media, sexual misconduct, account rules breaches, whistleblowing, non-disclosure agreements and convictions) as well as interventions and injunctions.
Recent cases of note
- Sidhu v Bar Standards Board [2026] EWHC 25 (Admin) – Led by Vikram Sachdeva KC Alexis acted for Jo Sidhu KC in his appeal against disbarment following findings of sexual misconduct in relation to a mini-pupil. Judgment
- GMC v Konthala [2025] EWHC 1550 (Admin) – Alexis acted for the GMC in a section 40A appeal where the court accepted that the tribunal had been wrong to impose a suspension where the doctor had abused a female patient’s trust and conducted an inappropriate physical examination for his own sexual gratification. The court directed that erasure was the only sanction capable of protecting the public. Judgment
- James v General Medical Council [2025] EWHC 2049 (Admin) – Dr James challenged a finding of fact that he had slapped a patient during an operation. Alexis acted for the GMC. The Court of Appeal has given permission to appeal in relation to the question of relief in the event of a successful appeal.
- PSA v GDC, Patel [2024] EWHC 243 (Admin) – Alexis acted for the GDC in a PSA challenge to the imposition of a reprimand, where the dentist had been convicted of a criminal offence and subject to a suspended sentence, requiring consideration of the principles in the Fleischmann case. Judgment
- White v General Medical Council [2021] EWHC 3286 (Admin) – A GP challenged interim conditions which were imposed after a video which went “viral” in which he expressed anti-mask views and raised concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. The case turned on arguments made in reliance on articles 8 and 10 of the ECHR and section 12 of the HRA 1998.Judgment
- Sastry v General Medical Council [2021] EWCA Civ 623 (Admin) – Led by Ivan Hare KC, Alexis acted for the GMC in the Court of Appeal in a decision giving important clarity on the nature of appeals under s40 and s40A of the Medical Act 1983.Judgment
- Neumans v Solicitors Regulation Authority [2018] EWCA Civ 325 – As junior counsel to Fenella Morris KC acting for a firm appealing against a decision of the High Court not to withdraw a notice of intervention, where procedural unfairness was alleged against the SRA.Judgment
Alexis advises law firms in the context of large-scale investigations into compliance obligations and assists with reporting obligations in the event of breach. Previous work includes advising on conflicts of interest, the use of technology, regulatory considerations across a large firm/group structure, as well as issues arising under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations.
She is member of the editorial board of the Law Society’s “Legal Compliance Bulletin”.
In the healthcare sector Alexis advises on the interpretation of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act as well as broader regulatory matters, e.g. published guidance on consent to treatment and capacity to engage in sexual relations.
Alexis regularly represents local authorities, the Official Solicitor and families in health and welfare cases. She is experienced working with vulnerable clients and witnesses, as attested to by Chambers and Partners “her forte is dealing with lay clients. She is very skilled in this area of work”. Her welfare cases include forced marriage, capacity to engage in sexual relations, residence, care, deprivations of liberty (including damages claims) and medical treatment. She also advises and acts in proceedings in relation to vulnerable adults and the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.
Cases of Note
- Lewisham LBC v SL [2025] EWCOP 51 (T3) – Alexis acted for a young autistic woman SL (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) in long running litigation concerned with safeguarding SL in circumstances where epilepsy, a history of absconding and substance abuse, put SL at real risk of harm. Judgment
- NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board v Gardner [2025] EWCOP 34 (T3) – Led by Victoria Butler-Cole KC (instructed by Advocate) Alexis acted for the partner of Mr Gardner where an advanced directive was said to have been fraudulent and/or produced by undue influence. The case gives important guidance about disclosure of position statements and the duration of an transparency order. First judgment Second judgment
- Local Authority v MF [2022] EWCOP 54 – Sir Jonathan Cohen concluded that it was in the best interests of MF, who had been diagnosed with a moderate learning disability and schizoaffective disorder, to move from his home (against his family’s wishes). Alexis acted for MF.Judgment
- PH v Brighton and Hove City Council [2021] EWCOP 63 – The BBC and Sky applied to lift reporting restrictions to be able to report on the case of Tony Hickmott, who has remained in a secure unit years past the point where doctors advise that he is fit for discharge. Alexis acts for Mr Hickmott (by his litigation friend, the Official Solicitor) in the long running welfare proceedings. JudgmentBBC NewsSky News
- Croydon LBC v KR, ST [2019] EWHC 2498 – Mrs Justice Lieven held that an application brought by the local authority under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court – to ensure that husband and wife lived separately – was a “colossal interference” with their Article 8 rights and was neither necessary nor proportionate. Alexis acted for the wife of the patient.Judgment
- Luton Borough Council v (1) SB, (2) RS [2015] EWHC 3534 (Fam), [2017] 4 WLR 61 – Alexis acted for the local authority in a forced marriage case where a young man with autism underwent a marriage ceremony in Pakistan and the court declared that – by virtue of his incapacity – the marriage was not recognised in England and Wales.Judgment
Alexis acts for individuals, local government and healthcare organisations in judicial reviews across a range of areas including healthcare, mental health, prisons, childcare and community care. She has particular expertise in relation to the judicial review of regulatory bodies.
Alexis’s mental health work includes representing patients and local authorities in applications to displace nearest relatives and in habeas corpus proceedings with Alexis’s tribunal experience focusing on high or medium secure patients.
Alexis’s recent work has a particular focus on safeguarding and fairness in disciplinary proceedings. She is a member of the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel and is involved in the National Safeguarding Pilot. Alexis is a Specialist Member of the Sport Resolutions Arbitration panel. She was selected to be part of an ad hoc panel providing advice and representation to athletes and officials at the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships.
Recent Sports safeguarding advisory work has included:
- Acting as an independent supervisor of a major investigation by a national governing body into alleged sexual misconduct by a coach.
- Advising a National Governing Board (NGB) Safeguarding Officer on the conduct of a safeguarding investigation.
- Drafting charges against coaches and advising on issues concerning confidentiality, disclosure and fairness.
- Advising on data protection issues arising in a safeguarding investigation.
- Advising an NGB in a case concerning allegations of historic child sex abuse.
She has written in the Sports Resolution Newsletter about the IAAF Regulations on hyperandrogenism from a human rights perspective (with Fenella Morris KC) and on athlete human rights (with Ian Brownhill).
Alexis acts in a broad range of property and affairs matters. She is able to draw on a background in personal injury litigation in order to advise property and affairs deputies where there is a cross over with Court of Protection and civil proceedings.
Her extensive experience in relation to professional discipline and in particular the regulation of the legal profession, assists in complex Court of Protection matters. Alexis has particular expertise in cases where the appointment or removal of a deputy or attorney is controversial and on the proper construction of the terms of an appointment, e.g. acting for the Public Guardian in an appeal concerned with two lasting powers of attorney and whether the appointment could properly be construed as “hybrid”(Miles v Public Guardian [2015] EWHC 2960 (Ch)).
Alexis is experienced in a wide range of medial treatment cases including those concerning obstetrics, sterilisation, anorexia nervosa and atypical eating disorders. She also has experience in advising upon the interface between the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act and the role of advanced decisions.
Recent cases include:
- NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board v Gardner [2025] EWCOP 34 (T3) – Led by Victoria Butler-Cole KC (instructed by Advocate) Alexis acted for the partner of Mr Gardner where an advanced directive was said to have been fraudulent and/or produced by undue influence. The case gives important guidance about disclosure of position statements and the duration of an transparency order. First judgment Second judgment
- Livewell Southwest CIC v MD [2020] EWCOP 57 – An application for orders permitting sedation, transfer by ambulance to hospital, general anaesthesia and the complete extraction of all teeth.Judgment
