Alexander Heylin

Year of Call: 2000

Education / Qualifications

Eton College

Newcastle University BA (hons)

College of Law CPE / BVC

Specialist practice areas

Contract and Commercial
Employment
Crime

Profile

Criminal practice

Alexander defends and prosecutes. He has been trial counsel in cases ranging from murder and serious sexual offences to robberies, drug importation and fraud.  Several of these cases have been the subject of national and international media attention.

Alexander has particular experience in relation to Fraud and Serious Organised Crime, especially in relation to ‘white collar fraud’ and organised importation of drugs. 

He has particular experience of the financial and banking industry as a criminal litigator and in his employment practice.

Alexander is experienced in cases with complex disclosure issues, cross-jurisdictional issues and Public Interest Immunity applications.

Alexander has been appointed to the C Panel of the Attorney General’s List of Prosecution Advocates. He prosecutes such cases for the NHS and DWP particularly relating to ‘fraud’ concerning Public Funds.  He also appears in POCA and Confiscation matters.

Alexander is instructed by the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office and Serious Organised Crime Agency in relation to large scale importations of narcotics, customs evasion and tax and VAT fraud.

Alexander undertakes a significant amount of privately funded criminal advisory work and advocacy, particularly in traffic cases which have a ‘human rights’ element.

Employment

Alexander acts in a wide range of employment matters including redundancy, unfair and wrongful dismissal, all forms of discrimination and breach of contract.  He deals with employment proceedings both in the Employment Tribunal and High Court and County Courts and has particular experience of employment law in relation to “City” positions.

The bulk of his employment work is in relation to acting for Claimants who are professionals: mainly investment bankers, solicitors and finance professionals.  He has particular experience dealing with high value claims both in relation to bonuses and serious discrimination.  He also acts for employers. 

Alexander is registered under the Direct Access Scheme and regularly deals with employment matters under this arrangement, particularly in relation to redundancy and compromise agreements in the investment banking industry.

Alexander advises employers in non contentious work in relation to their contracts and dismissal procedures and in relation to large redundancies and TUPE transfers.

Alexander also has particular experience of restrictive covenants such as restraint of trade and industrial secrets and injunctive relief in the High Court in relation to them, both for employers and employees.

Civil practice

Alexander undertakes general commercial and contractual work in the High Court and County Court.  This includes Injunctive relief, winding up orders and general debt recovery.

Alexander also has experience in relation to Defamation and “soft” Intellectual Property rights, normally in relation to copyright in the media industry.

Direct public access

Yes

Cases of note

Yorke v Katra [2002] EWCA Civ 867 (Court of Appeal)
Authority on instructions to joint experts

Preston v Parry Chancery Division (High Court)
Recoverability of costs where the respondent in bankruptcy proceedings is partially legally aided

R -v- Roy Barber [2008] EWCA Crim 963 (Court of Appeal)

R -v- Derek Symmons T2006 (Crown Court)

R v Simpson and Hinds T2004 (Crown Court)