Alex is an approachable and empathetic barrister, who is frequently instructed in high-profile and sensitive privacy matters, often with data protection or defamation dimensions. His skills in these areas are recognised by his appointment to the Attorney General's B Panel of Counsel and ranking as Leading Junior in Legal 500 (2024): "Alex provides clear and practical advice with detailed knowledge of complex legislation such as the Data Protection Act."
Alex is regularly instructed by charities, educational institutions, healthcare organisations, government departments, police forces, companies and private individuals in both contentious and non-contentious privacy and data protection matters.
Alex is instructed in high-value and complex private and public law cases with data protection, privacy and freedom of expression dimensions. He has a particular interest in the impact of emerging technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence) on individuals’ data protection and privacy rights as well as on the future of law. He advises on the legal risks and implications of major, national digital projects. As a member of the Society for Computers and Law, he is at the cutting edge of legal developments in this area. Alex has also delivered talks about the global regulation of new technologies and their impact on legal practice in the future.
Alex frequently advises private and public sector organisations on data breaches (including claims), data sharing and steps necessary to ensure compliance with the data protection regime. Alex regularly advises the Charity Commission on privacy/data protection implications of major projects.
Alex is the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s data protection/information law counsel.
He has particular expertise in dealing with complex and high-value data protection claims arising in the context of employment and/or involving alleged psychiatric injuries (rather than claims where ‘distress’ damages are claimed).
Alex also has significant experience of litigating cases involving broader challenges to how personal data is retained and used, for example with references to Articles 8/10 ECHR (R (Miller) v College of Policing [2020] EWHC 225 (Admin)) and claims involving defamation, privacy and breach of confidence.
Alex successfully represented several government agencies in High Court data protection claims. He has particular experience of dealing with persistent litigants who make repeated information/subject access requests, followed by litigation.
As a qualified mediator, Alex can also assist with privacy/data protection disputes being dealt with via ADR.
Alex is a member of the Society for Computers and Law.
About me
Before joining the Bar, Alex worked within the asylum/human rights litigation sector for several years.
He is fluent in Ukrainian and speaks Russian.
What my clients say
Legal 500 (2024): "Alex provides clear and practical advice with detailed knowledge of complex legislation such as the Data Protection Act."
Clients in High Court claim (2024): “Mr Ustych is not solely a Barrister with a wide spectrum of legal knowledge, procedural insight and strategic case management approach to handling claims. He is fundamentally a unique, down to earth people person, who takes into consideration a Client’s personal circumstances, disabilities, emotional stresses and requirements to ensure, not only that he and his services provide the important details required at all stages of a claim and/or hearing, but also ensures his Client is not placed in any distress prior, during or after the claim ends.
Throughout our time communicating with Mr Ustych, we felt he genuinely cared about us as people as much as succeeding in the hearing and he did not want to place us in any jeopardy more than anything else. We genuinely thank Mr Ustych for all his assistance, effort and support plus highly recommend him to anyone seeking a Barrister with high legal intelligence, professional approach and primarily, an understanding towards his client’s needs.”
Professional & academic
- 2010 – Called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn – Awarded the Inn’s Bedingfield Scholarship as well as an LLM scholarship 2010 – Bar Vocational Course at BPP (London)
- 2010 – (BPP) LLM (distinction) – dual focus on disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 – and Coroners’ Inquests involving police/public authorities
- 2008 – Durham University, LLB (First)