Alec is an Associate in our Commercial Disputes team, advising private and public sector clients and individuals on a wide range of disputes.

These include disputes connected to corporate and personal insolvencies, insolvency applications, the breakdown of business relationships and shareholder and partnership disputes, directors’ duties and director disqualification, debt and asset recovery, banking and finance disputes, commercial contracts, and real estate. Alec also has experience of representing clients in proofs, debates and other hearings in the Sheriff Courts.

Alec has undertaken secondments with regulated entities (a large energy company and a national sport governing body), and so understands the regulatory issues and different commercial factors that are important to a client's decision making during the course of disputes.

Areas of practice include:

Sector experience includes:

Sport

Admitted

2020: Scotland
2024: England and Wales

Relevant experience

Acting for insolvency practitioners and third-party funders in relation to a range of claims against directors of insolvent companies, including for breaches of fiduciary duties, repayment of unpaid director’s loan accounts, and recovery of assets.
Successfully acting for Trustees in Sequestration in a defended action for recovery of possession of heritable property from two related debtors, involving issues regarding the statutory definition of “family home” and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Advising the liquidator of an insolvent company on the recovery of assets owned by the company from a third party in possession, obtaining an urgent interim interdict to prevent the third party selling or disposing of the assets.
Advising a third-party funder on interpretation of bankruptcy and debt payment programme legislation in context of a dispute with directors of an insolvent company regarding their directors’ loan accounts.
Acting for a company in dispute with a former finance director regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, accounting errors and associated tax liabilities.
Successfully acting for a director in defending disqualification proceedings brought by the Insolvency Service which resulted in the proceedings being discontinued.
Advising a US client on proceedings for the enforcement of an arbitration award in Scotland, which involved questions of applicable jurisdiction and choice of law, and the interpretation of the Scottish and English and Welsh Arbitration Acts.
Advising bank pursuing a high-net-worth customer for sums due under a facility agreement, including advising on possible “unfair relationship” claim under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Managing a volume caseload for national highway maintenance company seeking damages from drivers and insurers, advising on the European Communities (Rights Against Insurers) Regulations 2002, and successfully representing the client at an evidential hearing in the Sheriff Court.
Recovering a large disputed debt owed by a business customer in full on behalf of an energy supplier, advising on applicable industry regulations and Covid-19 customer relief legislation.
Advising a business on a dispute regarding the terms of a banking facility, including the assignment of the facility and enforcement action by the creditor.
Acting for an individual in a contractual dispute regarding a consultancy agreement and unpaid fees.
Advising on a dispute concerning the operation of the Supplier of Last Resort regime, challengeable transactions under the Insolvency Act 1986 and the interpretation of contracts entered into by an insolvent supplier.
Advising an energy supplier on dispute regarding charges under the Independent Gas Transporters’ Uniform Network Code.
Acting for a commercial landlord in a disputed action to enforce the irritancy of a lease, and ultimately agreeing a voluntary surrender of the lease and an arrangement for payment of the outstanding sums to the landlord in full.
Acting for individuals in respect of a claim against their neighbour for damage caused by encroaching buildings and associated water damage.