Alexander Cook KC

Examples of current and recent instructions include:

• Acting for the successful defendant in discharging a c.€85 million freezing injunction obtained in support of proceedings in Scotland following a 4-day hearing.
• Acting for the claimant in a c.€43 million commercial fraud claim in the BVI arising out of an allegedly fraudulently obtained consent order.
• Representing a director in a 3-day appeal before the Court of Appeal in an equitable compensation and dishonest breach of fiduciary duty claim concerning the diversion of a waste recycling business.
• Defending the Crown Prosecution Service on an alleged £300m+ claim for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in a public office.
• Acting for the defendant to a c.£8 million claim alleging fraud with related insolvency and unfair prejudice proceedings in Jersey.
• Representing the Claimant in a c.£6 million claim for termination of an exclusive distribution agreement for the sale and supply of high-end porcelain slabs.
• Acting for the Competition & Markets Authority in a high-profile directors’ disqualification claim concerning directors alleged to have been involved in cartel activity in the construction sector.

Alexander has significant experience acting on high-value, cross-jurisdictional, fraud claims, having conducted a number of substantial fraud cases, including obtaining and discharging worldwide freezing injunctions and other interim remedies. Examples of current and recent instructions include:

• Acting for the successful defendant in discharging a c.€85 million freezing injunction obtained in support of proceedings in Scotland following a 4-day hearing.
• Acting for the claimant in a c.€43 million commercial fraud claim in the BVI arising out of an allegedly fraudulently obtained consent order.
• Acting for the defendant to a c.£8 million claim alleging fraud with related insolvency and unfair prejudice proceedings in Jersey.
• Acting for the Serious Fraud Office in a claim against Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan, in respect of a £22 million property portfolio which is alleged to represent part of the proceeds of many millions of dollars in bribes.
• Advising the liquidator of a company alleged to have been part of a US$ 800 million multi-jurisdictional fraud.

Alexander has a substantial contentious company law practice, with particular experience in shareholder disputes, unfair prejudice petitions (s.994 petitions) and actions under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (CDDA). Examples of current and recent instructions include:

• Acting for the Competition & Markets Authority and the Office of Gas & Energy Markets on prospective and current applications under s.9A of the CDDA for the disqualification of directors of companies acting in breach of competition law.
• Acting for the defendant to a c.£8 million claim alleging fraud with related insolvency and unfair prejudice proceedings in Jersey.
• Representing a director in a 3-day appeal before the Court of Appeal in an equitable compensation and dishonest breach of fiduciary duty claim concerning the diversion of a waste recycling business.
• Representing the respondent shareholders in an unfair prejudice petition concerning a litigation law firm.
• Acting on behalf of the liquidators in a successful claim for repayment of an unlawful dividend in contravention of Part 23 of the Companies Act 2006.

Examples of current and recent instructions include:

• Advising the liquidator of a company alleged to have been part of a US$ 800 million multi-jurisdictional fraud.
• Acting for former directors/shareholders facing £multi-million preference claims and claims for misfeasance under the Insolvency Act 1986.
• Acting on behalf of the CMA in claims arising from the insolvency of the travel agencies Teletext Holidays and Alpha Rooms.
• Acting for BVI holding companies for a group of luxury hotels in Greece and Cyprus facing insolvency proceedings.
• Acting for a shareholder opposing a joint liquidator’s application for a substantial increase in the level of remuneration recoverable from the company’s estate.

Alexander has experience acting in significant institutional international arbitrations. Examples include:

• Representing the respondent wife in an ad hoc arbitration arising out of a matrimonial settlement.
• Representing the Claimants in several LCIA arbitrations concerning the affairs and control of a holding company for an open-pit coal mine.
• Representing the claimant in a US$ 35 million arbitration under the HKIAC Rules.
• Representing a FTSE 250 company in an ICC arbitration against an African government.

A significant proportion of Alexander’s practice comprises offshore work, particularly the BVI (where he has been appointed by the BVI Government to the Legal Services Panel). Current and recent cases include:

• Acting for the claimant in a c.€43 million commercial fraud claim in the BVI arising out of an allegedly fraudulently obtained consent order. Aspects of this matter are due to be heard by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.
• Representing the respondent before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerning whether an appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeal to strike out an appeal lies as of right or requires permission.
• Advising the liquidator of a company alleged to have been part of a US$ 800 million multi-jurisdictional fraud.
• Acting for BVI holding companies for a group of luxury hotels in Greece and Cyprus facing insolvency proceedings.
• Instructed by the government of Guernsey in respect of a claim under the Forfeiture of Money etc, in Civil Proceedings (Guernsey) Law, 2007 in respect of some US$ 14.4 million held in various bank accounts in Guernsey.
• Representing the beneficiaries of a BVI family trust with assets of up to £20 million against trustees who are alleged to have committed fraudulent breaches of trust.

Alexander is an experienced practitioner in the POCA and asset forfeiture field, being described in the 2024 editions of the legal directories as “recognised for his experience in high-value, precedent-setting proceeds of crime cases, and is further skilled at dealing with POCA matters relating to banking, finance and asset tracing as a result of his commercial chancery background” and having “particular experience in international civil recovery cases”. He was shortlisted for Financial Crime Junior of the Year at the 2022 Legal 500 Bar Awards.

Current and recent instructions include:

• Acting for the Serious Fraud Office in a claim against Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan, in respect of a £22 million property portfolio which is alleged to represent part of the proceeds of many millions of dollars in bribes.
• Representing the National Crime Agency obtaining a freezing order over £100 million of assets alleged to represent the proceeds of the criminal conduct of the former President of Nigeria, General Abacha.
• Acting for HMRC in relation to an intended property freezing order arising out of a £multi-million MTIC fraud.
• Instructed by the government of Guernsey in respect of a claim under the Forfeiture of Money etc, in Civil Proceedings (Guernsey) Law, 2007 in respect of some US$ 14.4 million held in various bank accounts in Guernsey.

Admitted as a Part II Practitioner with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court

Admitted to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands)

Admitted to the Bar of Northern Ireland

Admitted to the New York Bar

Rights of audience before the Court of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), Kazakhstan

Appointed to the BVI Government’s Legal Services Panel (2023-present)

Appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (A Panel) (2021-2023)

Appointed as Standing Counsel to the Competition and Markets Authority (2021-present)

Case Reviewer for Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit)

Member of COMBAR, the Chancery Bar Association (ChBA) and the Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA)

Contributor to Mithani: Directors’ Disqualification.

Chambers UK Guide (2024)

• “Incredibly efficient, works extremely hard and is very responsive to clients” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Alex is phenomenal. Not only is he technically brilliant, but also a real joy to work with. When he gives you work back, it is always in your house style, and, for an instructing lawyer, that makes such a huge difference. Not only is it technically perfect, but structurally it is spot on too” (Chancery Commercial).
• “He’s a lovely opponent, who’s really respectable and courteous in court, and excellent on the law” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Alexander Cook is incredibly responsive and very clever” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “Alexander is a very supportive counsel; you can always rely on him to be there for you” (Company).
• “Alexander is incredibly efficient and works extremely hard” (Company).

Legal 500 (2024)

• “Alexander is everything that you want in a barrister. Intelligent, responsive, clear, decisive and commercial” (Insolvency).
• “Alex is extremely thorough and also very hands on, and he grasps complex factual and legal issues with ease” (Company).
• “His written work is beyond compare – clear, lucid and persuasive. He is a client’s dream, and the best team player at the bar” (Commercial Litigation).
• “He is extremely hardworking, very intelligent, and measured in all the work and advice he produces. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of case law, and his calm manner in court comes across as mature, reliable and persuasive” (Fraud: civil).
• “Alex is hard working, conscientious and always delivers high quality work beyond his years, even when under considerable time or time difference pressures, and even when he has other commitments.  His reliability is beyond the norm.  In advocacy terms his performance is assured, secure, persuasive and beyond his years” (The English Bar Offshore).

Chambers UK Guide (2023)

• “Excellent on his feet and incredibly thorough” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Alex is calm, confident, measured and incisive in his cross-examination. He is also extremely responsive, hard-working and someone who explains complex legal issues clearly” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Eloquent and popular, he is an effective and confident senior junior” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Alexander is incredibly hard-working, and exhibits amazing attention to detail” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “He is a very able and commercial advocate” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “Alex is able to see his way through very complex facts and issues and present extremely thorough, well-rehearsed arguments which are incredibly persuasive” (Company).
• “Alex is calm yet confident, and measured and incisive in his cross-examination” (Company).
• “Dynamic, bright and astute, he knows the law well and his written work is excellent” (POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture).

Legal 500 (2023) 

• “Superb advocacy and attention to detail. Meticulous preparation he is often instructed against silks” (Insolvency)
• “He is a brilliant advocate, being extremely quick on his feet and immaculately prepared” (Company
• “Alex is a dream to work with, combining excellent legal and technical skills with a good dose of common sense. He is good at helping clients find a path through thorny issues, and does not flinch in the face of tricky or unexpected circumstances” (Commercial Litigation)
• “Alex is very measured and calm, even when working under pressure and tight timeframes. He provides clear advice on both technical legal points, as well as overall strategy. His advocacy is excellent all round, in particular his cross-examination is incisive and effective” (Fraud: civil).
• “Alex is hard working, conscientious and always delivers high quality work beyond his years, even when under considerable time or time difference pressures, and even when he has other commitments. His reliability is beyond the norm. In advocacy terms his performance is assured, secure, persuasive and beyond his years” (The English Bar Offshore).

Chambers UK Guide (2022)

• “Hard-working, thorough and personable, he’s all over the documents in a case” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Really good at breaking down complicated legal points to lay clients and willing to have difficult conversations. Client trusts him as a result” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “Alex is mature in his judgement, good at drafting and great when it comes to international matters.” “He is approachable, easy to work with and someone who understands how to work with public agencies.” “An expert in this field who is an extremely effective advocate” (POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture).

Legal 500 (2022)

• “A highly motivated and intelligent junior who can quickly get to the nub of the issue but who is not afraid to listen before stating opinions or options. His work rate is phenomenal and always of the highest standard” (Commercial Litigation).
• “Very thorough” (Company & partnership).
• “He is a solicitor’s dream counsel, definitely my junior of choice” (Offshore).
• “Extremely bright, responsive and easy to work with. Exceptionally good drafting. Very good attention to detail” (Civil Fraud).
• “Very bright, very practical, very clear” (Insolvency)

Chambers UK Guide (2021)

• “He is very hard-working and industrious – he knows every document of a case inside out, and that gives you just utter confidence. His knowledge makes him a joy to work with, and he has a calm and straightforward style of advocacy” (Chancery Commercial).
• “Really diligent, very clever and highly perceptive.” “He is responsive, hard-working, incredibly detail-oriented and someone with the ability to retain facts” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “He’s extremely hard-working, has mature judgement and is remarkable on the detail of POCA matters.” “Alexander is a powerful performer who is clever, committed and commercially aware” (POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture).

Legal 500 (2021)

• “A superb barrister, whom I found very easy to work with. He is quick to pick up on the essentials, the key issues and the details of a matter, his written work is excellent and he is a strong and determined advocate in Court” (Commercial Litigation).
• “Happy to really get involved in the case and very thorough” (Company).
• “He is calm, measured and precise and his ability to reduce complex cases to simple propositions in his written work is admirable” (Offshore)
• “Very bright, persuasive, and determined” (Proceeds of Crime Act & Asset Forfeiture)

Chambers UK Guide (2020)

• “I found him to be absolutely excellent. He is responsive and his performance is above his level in both written work and oral advocacy. We’re very impressed with him; he’s someone we would look to use in the future for sure” (Chancery Commercial).
• “His drafting is precise and to the point, he gets the job done effectively and he’s phenomenally hard-working”
• “A commercially oriented barrister who is thorough and has great understanding of the law” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “A really clever guy who’s got an excellent way about him. He produces fantastic written work and is a very competent advocate.”
• “The very commercial approach he brings to his civil recovery work is unusual and very effective” (POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture).

Legal 500 (2020)

• “An extremely safe pair of hands, very personable and very good with clients” (Commercial Litigation).
• “Knowledgeable, responsive and very easy to work with” (Company & Partnership).
• “Very bright, persuasive, and determined” (Proceeds of Crime Act & Asset Forfeiture)

Chambers UK Guide (2019)

• “Approachable and adaptable, he has a huge capacity for hard work, and he exercises good judgement.”
• “He’s meticulous in his written work and extremely good with clients” (Commercial Dispute Resolution).
• “He is an excellent tactician, who thinks things through. He also offers good accessibility and quick turnaround times.”
• “When there are complicated series of facts he dives into the law and just goes for it. His written work is excellent” (POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture)

Legal 500 (2019)

• “He is extremely good with clients and is user friendly” (Company & Partnership).
• “He acts for the NCA in politically sensitive cases” (Proceeds of Crime Act & Asset Forfeiture).