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25 February 2020
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Blake Morgan—Alex Shirtcliff

Firm hires former employee as new legal director

Blake Morgan continues to expand its commercial litigation team with the hire of new legal director Alex Shirtcliff to the firm’s London office.

Alex (previously admitted in the BVI as well as England and Wales) is returning to Blake Morgan, having spent a number of years at global litigation firm Kobre & Kim. Alex has extensive experience of domestic and international cases with a focus on pursuing or defending assets in complex civil fraud situations, asset recovery and judgment enforcement, as well as commercial disputes for the technology, media and energy sectors. In the past two years, he has conducted cases across seven jurisdictions with over US$9bn in contention.

Alex has acted for energy majors, technology companies, African mineral resource investors, international law firms and individuals with enterprise level disputes. He brings with him a wealth of international experience having pursued his clients’ interests in the BVI, Cayman, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Gibraltar, France, Spain, multiple U.S. states as well as across the UK.

Commercial litigation partner Sarah Rees said: ‘Having Alex return to the team will help us continue to develop our profile as a real alternative to large City firms for commercial litigation, and we are very pleased to welcome him back.’

Alex added: ‘I am thrilled to be returning to such a high quality team. I bring with me a wealth of experience gained from five years at Kobre & Kim to help develop the high-stakes, complex commercial litigation and civil fraud practice at Blake Morgan.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

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Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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