Frequently sought out by high-profile companies, directors and individuals, Matrix Chambers fields extensive experience in advising clients on all stages of criminal proceedings. Members of the set continue to act in ongoing proceedings arising from the SFO's multi-million-pound bribery prosecution of Glencore, with Clare Montgomery KC advising Glencore on the prosecution of individuals following on from corporate guilty pleas, and Alex Bailin KC and 2025 silk appointment Edward Craven KC representing a former Glencore executive and a former Glencore employee respectively; both clients have been charged with bribery offences. Vedrana Pehar is well regarded for her expertise in advising on insider trading, money laundering, and bribery and corruption cases.
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Profile
Work Department
Practice Area
Position
Alex’s practice centres on financial and business crime, all aspects of criminal law, and extradition. His work also involves public law, human rights, media law and public international law.
Instructed in a wide variety of business crime cases: corporate manslaughter, corruption, cartels, frauds of all kinds, insider dealing. He represents a wide range of clients: senior business executives, regulators, prosecuting authorities, multinational corporations, banks, hedge funds, private equity groups, fintechs, government departments, family offices. Sought after for his advice during the investigatory stages and for heavyweight trial or appellate work.
A wealth of financial services experience; acted in a number of complex regulatory investigations by the FCA and PRA before the RDC, EDMC and Upper Tribunal.
Acted in a number of high profile extradition cases, particularly from the US.
Commercial work often has a criminal aspect to it e.g. Commercial Court litigation with parallel criminal proceedings.
General criminal work ranges from murder and gross negligence manslaughter to interception of communications and official secrets.
See further https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/alex-bailin/
Career
Previously a derivatives trader in the City
Deputy High Court Judge (Administrative Court)
Recorder (Crown Court)
Clooney Justice Foundation – Advisory Board
Called 1995, Silk 2010
Memberships
Bar Human Rights Committee
Foreign Office pro bono lawyers’ panel
ALBA
Criminal Bar Association
Education
Cambridge University (Mathematics)
Sussex University (Law)
Content supplied by Matrix Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'All aspects of the clerking are truly exceptional - friendly, helpful, efficient, professional, astute, engaged in the work.'
- 'Matrix has a fund of very able counsel.'
- 'I would go to Matrix for business crime above all other sets.'
- 'Matrix is at the top of its game.'