Profile
Alex has prosecuted and defended in the most serious cases, including terrorist bomb plots, international fraud, multi-handed rape cases and murder.
Instructing solicitors have included the Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority, and Alex has provided pro bono advice – including to Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prisoner of conscience held captive in Iran.
Alex previously served as Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice, and HM Solicitor General for England & Wales.
Expertise
Alex prosecutes and defends in cases of homicide. He has appeared in several Operation Trident cases at the Central Criminal Court, including a double murder relating to targeted executions in south London. Other cases have included gang murder, and drug-related shootings. In this context he has developed experience in handling sensitive disclosure issues, assessing material ranging from covert human intelligence source reports to prison surveillance recordings.
As Defence Counsel Alex has successfully defended clients charged with murder and attempted murder arising out of serious gang violence in London, as well as gun crime.
Alex is instructed to advise and defend corporate clients. In relation to media investigations, he has acted for a number of prominent journalists in proceedings arising out of Operation Weeting (phone-hacking) and Operation Elveden (corrupt payments to public officials). He has, in addition, represented corporate clients in relation to proceedings brought by the Environment Agency as well as under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991. He has also acted on behalf of company directors accused of offences under the Insolvency Act 1986.
In addition he has prosecuted privately on behalf of an internet company in proceedings alleging the criminal misappropriation of online metadata.
Alex is instructed in the most serious terrorism cases.
He previously acted in the prosecution of six defendants accused of planning an extremist terrorist atrocity in the UK, using an improvised explosive device (IED), firearms and swords. He also has experience in prosecuting offences under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 – including possession of documents useful to those seeking to manufacture IEDs and evade detection. Alex is used to dealing with highly sensitive material, as well as advising on complex disclosure issues. He is familiar with marshalling large volumes of documentation, and advising on electronic trial presentation.
Alex accepts instructions to appear at inquests and public inquiries. He has previously been instructed in the inquest arising out of the murder of two private security contractors, shot dead by a colleague in Iraq. The case has attracted considerable press attention.
- Kings Counsel (2021)
- Magdalen College, Oxford, BA (Hons) Modern History, 2:1;
- City University, London (CPE/Diploma in Law) Distinction;
- Inns of Court School of Law (BVC) very competent.
- Conversational French and Russian
- Member of Criminal Bar Association
- Member of the South Eastern Circuit
To view Alex Chalk KC’s Privacy Notice, please click here.
