Alex Jakubowski

Alex became accredited by the ADR Group in 2006 and has been mediating since then.

He is a solicitor and partner at Clarke Willmott LLP, where he has worked since 2000, and leads their commercial litigation team in Bristol.

Alex has had a varied litigation career. He has acted for private individuals, manufacturers, retailers, public sector, banks, building societies, sports clubs and insurers.

He has particular experience of contractual disputes, energy, real estate finance, commercial finance, breach of warranty, financial services disputes, professional negligence, agency, commission and IT disputes.

Alex also has a good understanding of litigation funding, insurance, solicitors’ retainers and costs law. Indeed, he has advised ATE insurers and funders on case assessments and their own documentation. He therefore understands the effect that these factors can have on a negotiation.

He is recommended for his commercial litigation and professional negligence expertise in both Legal 500, which places him in its Hall of Fame, and Chambers and Partners, in which he is ranked in Band 1.

Style

With a career in litigation for private and corporate clients under his belt, Alex understands the dynamics of a dispute and its impact on those involved.

Courteous, sympathetic and respectful at all times, he can be assertive when required and will challenge entrenched positions where need be.

Alex encourages parties and their representatives to focus on what can be agreed rather than what is in dispute.

He is patient and tenacious throughout.

Examples of mediation experience

• Multi party dispute relating to the dissolution of a partnership and the valuation and distribution of assets.
• Multi party dispute involving allegations of financial misselling, fraud and misappropriation of client funds.
• Professional negligence against a veterinary practice arising from the examination of a race-horse prior to purchase.
• IT contact dispute between IT company and hotel group arising from the installation of a booking system.
• Claim by an architecture business brought against a bank in connection with the payment out of cheques written by a former employee as part of a fraud.
• Claim brought by liquidator against for directors for c£6,300,000 plus interest arising from payments made out as part of reliance on an Employer-Financed Retirement Benefit Scheme.
• Claim for c£600,000 arising from the supply of energy to a multi tenanted site through a wrongly connected meter.
• Claim by solicitors against former clients for the payment of invoices involving a cross claim for negligence.
• Various professional negligence claims against solicitors arising from property advice, commercial advice and employment advice.
• Claim brought by commercial finance company in connection with debts owed in connection with the supply of agency staff under haulage contracts. Involved allegations of fraud.
• Professional negligence claims against accountants.
• Negligence claims against financial advisers.
• Claims arising from the supply of energy to various commercial premises.
• Claim for clawback of commission by an IFA network from a former member.
• Disputes arising from hire purchase agreements.
• Franchise agreements.
• Breach of contract.
• Disputes arising from sponsorship contracts.
• Dispute arising from a private development loan.

Reviews

‘His approach to everything has been incredibly professional and polished’
(Head of legal at a large corporate)

‘Very many thanks for your perseverance and insight yesterday. Until the last hour of the mediation I feared there would be no settlement.‘
(Partner with conduct of a financial services dispute)

‘Thank you for your sterling efforts‘
(Solicitor acting for a house builder in a commercial dispute)

“Your input and mediation skills were extremely helpful and appreciated, in bringing this matter to an amicable settlement. I think you handled the mediation very well, particularly as you were appointed at such short notice”
(Partner with conduct of a lease hire dispute)

“Alex was very helpful, realistic and focused on getting a settlement. His ability to understand both parties’ positions and to guide them to a sensible settlement was key in achieving a settlement. He has an extremely practical approach.”
(Partner of firm defending a professional negligence claim)

“Alex Jakubowski is phenomenal; direct, intelligent and an exceptional strategist.” Legal 500 2024