Profile
Alex specialises in public law and private client work, with a particular focus on mental capacity. His practice spans complex Court of Protection health and welfare proceedings, property and affairs disputes, and related public law challenges.
Alex has extensive experience advising on cross-border mental capacity issues, including deputyship, powers of attorney and jurisdictional disputes. He has provided legislative and policy advice to overseas territories and Crown dependencies in relation to their mental capacity and mental health frameworks. He also has particular expertise in end-of-life planning, including wills and lasting powers of attorney.
Alongside his practice, Alex is pursuing a part-time PhD examining the impact of the Liberty Protection Safeguards on vulnerable people.
Alex is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. He regularly advises and represents government departments and public bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, and the Department for Education, in matters ranging from litigation to policy development.
Alex is ranked as a leading junior for combining clear, strategic advice with a practical understanding of the complex legal and personal issues that arise in cases involving vulnerable individuals.
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Peter Campbell
Director of Clerking
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Peter Campbell
Director of Clerking
Areas Of Expertise
‘Alex produces very good quality work and is very good on his feet.’ Chambers and Partners, 2025 (Court of Protection: Health and Welfare)
‘He is thorough, he looks for issues and he advises accurately and comprehensively.’ Chambers and Partners, 2024 (Court of Protection: Health and Welfare)
Alex is ranked in Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Best Lawyers for his Court of Protection work. He is regularly instructed in complex health and welfare proceedings, including cases involving deprivation of liberty, serious medical treatment, and cross-border issues. His practice includes disputes under both the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the inherent jurisdiction, often with overlapping public law or human rights issues. Alex acts for public bodies, the Official Solicitor, and family members, bringing clear strategic advice and a sensitive approach to cases involving vulnerable individuals. He also advises on property and affairs matters with welfare dimensions.
Cases of Note
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v HER & Anor [2024] EWCOP 25 – The Court investigated whether or not it is in her P’s best interests to be given medical care and treatment recommended by her clinicians at University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
- ML v (1) Priory Healthcare Ltd (2) SSJ [2023] UKUT 237 (AAC) – A mental health tribunal case involving the interaction between the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983 in the context of restricted patient (a prisoner).
- AA v London Borough of Southwark [2021] EWCA Civ 512 – A Court of Appeal case giving authoritative guidance on the approach required of Court of Protection judges under Article 6 of ECHR when considering excluding a party from proceedings.
‘Alex produces very good quality work and is very good on his feet.’ Chambers and Partners, 2025 (Court of Protection: Health and Welfare)
‘He is thorough, he looks for issues and he advises accurately and comprehensively.’ Chambers and Partners, 2024 (Court of Protection: Health and Welfare)
Alex regularly acts in complex property and affairs matters in the Court of Protection, representing public bodies, financial deputies, attorneys, and family members. He has particular expertise in cases involving the scope of a deputy’s authority, the validity and operation of lasting powers of attorney, statutory wills, and allegations of financial abuse. Alex has appeared in two guidance cases concerning the operation of deputyship and lasting powers of attorney in England and Wales. His practice includes cross-border disputes involving property and affairs, and he is frequently instructed by the Office of the Public Guardian in contentious and non-contentious matters.
Cases of Note
- BR v NAR & Ors [2022] EWCOP 57 – ‘Trailblazer’ case in which Alex represented the Public Guardian. The case involved a 96-year-old woman with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Her six children and one of their spouses were all parties to the proceedings.
- Re Various Lasting Powers of Attorney [2019] EWCOP 40 – Case involving Lasting Power of Attorney instruments that purport to give the attorney(s) the power to provide financial assistance and maintenance to a person other than the donor. The case is intended to provide guidance for future LPAs.
- Office of the Public Guardian v PGO & Ors, Re: BGO [2019] EWCOP 13 – Guidance on the validity of Lasting Power of Attorney instruments and when they can be treated as being in their prescribed form.
Alex has a broad public law practice with experience in tribunals, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. He is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown and regularly advises and represents government departments and public bodies. His work often involves mental capacity, education, and prison law, as well as judicial review challenges arising from these areas.
Alongside litigation, Alex has provided policy and legislative advice to the Ministry of Justice, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Department for Education, and Ofqual, drawing on his expertise in complex statutory frameworks.
Cases of Note
- R (ECPAT UK) v Kent CC, SSHD [2024] EWHC 1353 (Admin) – A judicial review case involving the treatment of newly arrived unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Junior for Joanne Clement KC.
- Kousar & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWCA Civ 2462 – Junior Counsel in this Court of Appeal case seeking an extension of the principles established in the earlier immigration case of Basnet.
