Date of Birth: 1977Date of Call: 2001
Languages: French, Spanish (Basic)
General Information
BA (Cantab.), 1st class; LL.M
(
Pre-pupillage and Major
Scholarships,
Part-time Supervisor in Contract and European Law,
Practice
Alexander MacDonald specialises in all areas of commercial law, particularly international arbitration, insurance and reinsurance, international trade, private international law, shipping and professional negligence.
Alexander has experience appearing as an advocate in the County Court (in both trials and interim hearings and applications), the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has also appeared as a junior in the High Court, and in the House of Lords. In addition, he has acted in a wide range of arbitrations, including under ICC, LCIA, LMAA, GAFTA and RSA terms.
Amongst other things, Alexander is currently acting for American Reliable Insurance Company and Bankers Insurance Company in connection with their claim against Willis Limited in connection with losses arising out of the reinsurance market for US Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
Other Selected Cases
LMAA arbitration between Korean Shipyard and French shipowners (2008, appeal pending)
Claim under novated shipbuilding contract for damages arising out of a breach of an arbitration agreement (led by Christopher Butcher QC).
Dalian Fuhaichang Aquatic Product Co. Ltd and ors v. Adris (Commercial Court, March-October 2007)
Successfully obtained freezing order, and subsequently summary judgment, in claim for over US$2 million under Bills of Exchange Act 1882.
Shell UK Ltd v. Acergy UK Ltd (Technology and Construction Court, June 2007)
Acted for defendant engineering company resisting application for injunction enjoining company from departing FLAGS Hot Tap Project to carry out work on another North Sea Project (led by Gavin Kealey QC).
Halifax Life Ltd. v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society [2007] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 528
Case concerning a challenge to an expert determination made as to the premium payable in connection with the reinsurance by Halifax Life of The Equitable Life’s unit linked and non-profit business (led by Christopher Butcher QC).
ICC arbitration between English reinsurers and South American reassured (2006)
Claim under reinsurance of a Bankers’ Blanket Bond policy insuring a State Central Bank (led by Gavin Kealey QC and Julia Dias).
Rosewood Trucking Ltd v. Balaam [2006] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 429 (CA)
Successfully resisted claim for indemnity under Art 37 of the CMR after two-day trial. Case subsequently went to Court of Appeal.
Arbitration between English reinsurer and US reassured (2005)
Large reinsurance (retrocession) dispute arising out of the PA LMX spiral, culminating in a five-week arbitration (led by George Leggatt QCand Simon Picken).
JI MacWilliam & Co inc v. Mediterranean Shipping Co SA [2005] 2 A.C. 423
Appeal to the House of Lords concerning whether a "straight" bill of lading was a "bill of lading or similar document or title" under the Hague-Visby Rules (led by Alistair Schaff Q.C.).
(1) Interpart Comercio E Gestao SA (2) Longen SA v. Lexington Insurance Co [2004] 1 Lloyd's Rep IR 690
Successfully resisted (led by Dominic Kendrick QC) reverse summary judgment application brought by insurer.
Arbitration between insured and various London Market insurers (2002-2004)
Acting (led by Gavin Kealey QC and Paul Stanley) for US insured under a product liability policy (governed by New York law) in respect of losses arising out of the US silicone gel breast implant litigation
