Alex Burton

Alex has significant experience covering a wide range of industry sectors, including financial services, energy and infrastructure, aviation and professional liability.  His expertise includes matters involving commercial fraud, restructuring and asset management, in addition to disputes arising in connection with Islamic financing arrangements.  Alex represents clients in court proceedings (in particular the English Commercial Court) and arbitration references. He has represented clients in court or arbitration proceedings in several jurisdictions, and has familiarity with various arbitral rules and arbitration centres. He has considerable experience of operating in co-operation with lawyers in other jurisdictions in litigation and arbitration.  A substantial part of Alex's practice is focussed on clients who are based in or operate in the Middle East.   Alex is admitted to practice in England and Wales and in Hong Kong. He was educated in England and in Italy and is a fluent Italian speaker.  Example of some of Alex's recent experience include: Representing a Middle-East bank in substantial proceedings in the Abu Dhabi Global Market Court relating to claims in the administration of NMC Healthcare (following the discovery of a substantial fraud within the NMC Group).  Leading a team prosecuting a multi-jurisdiction asset recovery/litigation process on behalf of The International Banking Corporation, a Bahrain bank in administration, securing judgments with a cumulative value in excess of US$ 2 billion. This mandate has also involved substantial litigation in Saudi Arabia relating to the Saudi Arabian Bankruptcy Law.  Representing a Middle-East financial institution in a DIAC arbitration, seated in DIFC, arising from defaults under a murabaha facility and related security. Representing a Saudi Arabian company in High Court proceedings for enforcement of a DIFC arbitration award (Selevision Saudi Company v BeIN Media Group LLC -  [2021] EWHC 2802 (Comm)).  Advising an investment manager on a multi-jurisdictional recovery strategy in respect of losses in excess of US$ 80 million arising from a complex commercial fraud within a Sharia-compliant investment scheme.  Advising a prominent firm of architects in a Mumbai-seated arbitration arising from a major infrastructure project. Advising an aviation leasing company in connection with various claims against airline counterparties.  Representing a European manufacturing company in a GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration, seated in Bahrain, arising from termination of a distribution agreement.   Representing a European Bank in an LCIA arbitration, seated in London, arising from trade factoring arrangements.