Personal profiles, professional insights: Meet Alex Lepretre, Commercial Litigation Associate

“Back in September 2022 I received my first call up,” said Alex. “It was something I had been trying to achieve for a while. I was on the cusp of being selected then there was Covid, which meant a break for competitions. Being on that team with someone who had represented GB in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games was quite the experience.”

Alex runs for Highgate Harriers and did complete the London Marathon in 2:15:01 in 2023, which was even more impressive considering there were no pacers at the speed he was doing. He was isolated from packs either side so had to keep going and dig deep. Despite being a lonely run, there was the plus side of knowing that the cheers of the crowd were for him.

How do you balance work with training?

To be able to run a marathon in just over two hours takes dedication to a training programme. Just completing a marathon is an achievement, according to RunRepeat just 0.01% of the world’s population has achieved that feat. Anyone who has finished the 26.2 miles knows how hard it is and how much training is required to do so.

When asked about how he fits in the training needed, the reply was ‘early mornings’. He was quick to praise flexible working at Blake Morgan and the support of his team.

“I can start work at 9am at home and still get in a 10 or 12 mile run beforehand, whereas if I was going into the office, I would have to start really early! I can also pop out for a quick run in the evening,” remarked Alex. “Sometimes I run twice a day then came back and carry on working, whereas if I was in the office it would be a lot trickier.

“I am also lucky that my team are very supportive. My team know how I work and that I run at a decent level so are very supportive of me to allow me to train and go to races. I am very grateful to them.”

Training cranks up for Alex before races, depending on the competition he could be running 100 miles a week, especially if he is deep in a training block to try to peak at the right time.

What does it take to be successful?

“Resilience is an important characteristic in work and running,” stated Alex. “In litigation cases can last years rather than months so resilience can come in handy.

He remarked with a glint in his eye.

“It’s a job that I definitely enjoy but it can be quite stressful, particularly when you’re up against a court deadline. But then everything always seems more manageable when you’ve already been up and running 10 or 12 miles before work!”

Training rather than races was where Alex cited the importance of resilience and determination.

“Getting up early in the morning in the winter when it is still dark, cold and wet is not easy,” he said. “But you know you have to go out and train whatever is going on if you are going to be successful.”

There was a clear drive to succeed for his running club, his family, himself and his clients in the courtroom.

Success isn’t restricted to the track or roads, with Blake Morgan’s Commercial Litigation team being consistently ranked in the legal directories. The 2024 Legal 500 guide states that ‘the team at Blake Morgan has a deep understanding of all types of commercial disputes, allowing them to navigate even the most challenging problems with finesse and precision.’

Early inspirations

Alex did cross country running at school where rugby was the main focus but he did represent his school in the Barnet Schools Competitions. Serious running didn’t start until after university. He graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Law before completing the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, achieving a Distinction. As well as working hard academically, he began to get into running. After a few parkruns, Alex was persuaded to go to his local running club, and his athletics career took off from there.

However, his legal interest started much earlier. “My grandpa played quite a big part in me becoming a lawyer,” remarked Alex. “He was a district auditor and studied the law degree part-time whilst working. I got into it from there and liked a courtroom drama. When I began to show an interest in becoming a lawyer, he was incredibly supportive. He was always offering to help when I started studying at uni.”

Alex has certainly made his family proud of his legal and athletic achievements to date.

Next on the horizon for Alex is representing England in the Home Nations 5K on 24 August in Cardiff. He is one for four to be chosen for the senior men’s team.

For more information about Alex’s professional profile, click here.