I would like to add how impressed I am with Alexa. A cliché - but she truly went above and beyond for our client (and me!). Her attitude is fantastic, she is friendly, approachable and undoubtedly has a strong knowledge of housing law.
Alexa joined chambers as a tenant in October 2024 after completion of her pupillage. She has a busy multi-disciplinary practice across her core areas of social security, housing, prisons, and public law.
Before coming to the Bar, Alexa spent several years in the charity advice sector, working as a specialist FCA-regulated debt adviser at Citizens Advice Bureaux, and as a Housing and Welfare Rights Worker for a mental health charity. She also completed an internship with a US-based forensic genetics firm where she worked with forensic geneticists who advise on DNA evidence in criminal defence cases, including post-conviction reviews and death row cases. Building on her previous work, Alexa is experienced in working with vulnerable clients and adopts a trauma-informed approach throughout her work.
Alexa graduated with a first-class degree in Theological Studies in Philosophy and Ethics, for which she received the Deans’ Award for Achievement. She was awarded a full-fee scholarship from her university and a Princess Royal Scholarship from the Inner Temple to fund the GDL; she received an Exhibition Award to fund her BTC. Alexa has an LLM in International Human Rights Law (Dist.) and in her thesis examined the role of human rights law in the repatriation of cultural heritage objects.
Alexa is care-experienced and an active campaigner for reform to the children’s social care system and for challenging the differential treatment that care experienced people face, including by strengthening their legal rights. Outside the Bar, she is a Trustee of the Care Leavers Association.
She is on the Editorial Board of Nearly Legal, and is a Digest Editor of the Journal of Social Security Law (Sweet & Maxwell).
Alexa is committed to pro bono work and accepts pro bono instructions where appropriate.
Alexa’s multi-disciplinary practice enables her to accept public law instructions across her core areas of practice in social security, housing and homelessness, and prison law. She is eager to develop her public law practice and is particularly interested in cases involving human rights and discrimination.
She recently acted for the successful claimant in R (on the application of Taylor) v Parole Board and Secretary of State for Justice [2024] EWHC 1363 (Admin) where she appeared, unled, in the High Court at a substantive judicial review hearing. This case concerned a challenge to the Parole Board’s refusal to convene an oral hearing in respect of a recalled IPP prisoner who sought re-release.
Alexa is a member of the Administrative Law Bar Association.
Alexa accepts instructions across the full spectrum of social security law and at all stages of proceedings, including statutory appeals in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, judicial review claims in the High Court, and discrimination claims in the County Court or Employment Tribunal.
She has particular experience of acting for claimants who are affected by the consequences of migration to Universal Credit, including in cases concerning their entitlement to transitional protection and in challenges to local authority council tax reduction schemes. She is happy to advise on litigation options at an early stage.
Some of Alexa’s current cases include:
Other notable cases:
Alexa is a Digest Editor of the Journal of Social Security Law (Sweet & Maxwell).
Alexa has a busy housing law practice and accepts instructions across a wide spectrum of housing and homelessness law. She represents tenants and mortgagors in possession proceedings brought by private and social landlords, as well as mortgage lenders, at all stages. She has particular experience of defending claims on the basis of public law, human rights, and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. She also accepts instructions to act for tenants in claims for unlawful eviction. Her understanding of the social security system is particularly useful in her housing practice.
Alexa also acts for homeless persons seeking to challenge local authority decisions by judicial review and by pursuing statutory appeals in the County Court. She is keen to develop her homelessness practice.
Alexa is particularly interested in cases that involve aspects of licensing, planning, and mobile homes law.
In June 2026, Alexa delivered training as part of Garden Court North’s seminar on the Renters’ Rights Act, and is available to advise on the consequences of the changes in legislation. She also sits on the Editorial Board of Nearly Legal, the highly regarded housing law blog founded by Giles Peaker. Read her article, ‘On the interlocking requirements of suitability’.
Alexa accepts instructions in prison law and is keen to expand her prison law practice. She has experience of acting for prisoners before the Parole Board in applications for initial and re-release and for progressive moves to open conditions. Alexa also has experience of public law challenges in the context of prison law. She recently appeared, unled, before the High Court in a successful judicial review concerning the Parole Board’s failure to convene an oral hearing in respect of a recalled IPP prisoner, contrary to the Osborn principles: R (otao Taylor) v Parole Board and Secretary of State for Justice [2024] EWHC 1363 (Admin).
Alexa accepts instructions to act for prisoners seeking to pursue discrimination claims for damages. She has experience of pursuing discrimination claims (including counterclaims) in both her social security and housing practice areas. She is particularly interested in human rights claims in the context of prison law, including cases involving unlawful detention and delays.
Alexa is a member of the Association of Prison Lawyers.
Alexa accepts instructions to act for appellants in immigration law proceedings. Owing to her prison law practice, she is particularly interested in deportation matters.
She completed her pupillage under the supervision of Mikhil Karnik, in which she was exposed to a broad range of immigration and asylum proceedings. She observed R (otao AM (Belarus)) v SSHD [2024] UKSC 13 before the Supreme Court, which concerned the application of article 8 ECHR in ‘limbo’ cases where a deportation order remains in place, but the person cannot be removed.
Alexa has experience of acting for appellants in the First-tier Tribunal in asylum appeals.
She is particularly interested in cases involving EU/EEA law, owing to her experience of cases involving residence rights in her social security practice where she has argued, successfully, that claimants have had a qualifying right to reside for benefit entitlement, in accordance with material provisions of EU law and/or separation agreement law.
She is also interested in business immigration, including challenges to civil penalties, owing to her previous work in debt advice.
Alexa accepts instructions to act for claimants in discrimination claims concerning breaches of the Equality Act 2010. She has experience of bringing discrimination claims for damages against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the County Court and Employment Tribunal.
Alexa deploys her knowledge of discrimination law throughout her practice areas. In her housing practice, she is keenly alert to discrimination defences and counterclaims that may be raised at an early stage and has experience of advising and representing tenants in pursuing the same. She adopts a trauma-informed approach throughout her work.
Examples of Alexa’s work includes:
Alexa accepts instructions to act in civil actions against the police and public authorities and is eager to expand her practice in this area. She has experience of advising on civil claims against the Ministry of Justice arising from her prison practice, including common law claims in negligence, assault, and battery, and under the Human Rights Act 1998. She also has experience of advising on discrimination claims against public authorities and bringing claims against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in her social security practice.
Alexa sits on the Editorial Board of Nearly Legal, the highly regarded housing law blog. Read her latest article, ‘On the interlocking requirements of suitability’.
Alexa has written about the implications of SSWP v AT and Jwanczuk v SSWP in the context of social security law. Her note on ‘Universal Credit, transitional protection and temporary accommodation’ concerning SSWP v JA (2024) UKUT 52 (AAC) was featured on the Nearly Legal blog.
Alexa has published case summaries in the Journal of Social Security Law (JSSL) editions J.S.S.L. 2024, 31(1) and J.S.S.L. 2023, 30(3).
Alexa’s Privacy Notice may be viewed by clicking here
