07-07-2025
Domestic abuse conviction ends legal career dreams for Luxford Burgers boss Alexander Galpin
Edinburgh 'burger king' Alexander Galpin's dreams of a high-flying legal career are in tatters after one of the world's top law firms confirmed his trainee solicitor position has been axed following a conviction for domestic abuse.
Galpin boasted on social media that he had secured a coveted post and was due to start a full-time trainee role in August with Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance – one of the UK's most prestigious legal firms which has an annual £2 billion turnover.
But following his conviction for domestic abuse and aggressive behaviour against his former partner and mother of his 19-month-old daughter, Clifford Chance has confirmed Galpin's traineeship offer has been withdrawn.
The Edinburgh Reporter revealed Galpin, 24, owner of two Luxford Burgers restaurants in Edinburgh and a 'dark kitchen' Deliveroo operation, was convicted under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 23 June.
Galpin repeatedly pressurised his pregnant partner to have an abortion against her wishes, leading to confrontation and furious arguments.
Shamed Alexander Galpin leaves Edinburgh Sheriff Court after being convicted of domestic abuse – Pic by Stephen Rafferty
In one text message – seen by The Edinburgh Reporter – Galpin told the stressed woman: 'You've had no right to hold this over me every day and watch me squirm, you had no right to force me to look at pictures of a scan of kid that I view as a cancer, nothing more nothing less.'
The court heard that following one row over the pregnancy the would-be lawyer drove his car at speed with his pregnant partner in the passenger seat while the door was open. The vehicle struck a post and Galpin later tried to pull her from the car, causing bruising to her arm.
During a campaign of abuse, which included him sending hundreds of text messages, Procurator Fiscal Peter Finnon told the court that one offensive message stood out. The woman, who suffered mental health issues, was on the phone to her doctor seeking help, when Galpin messaged: 'Ask if you can get medication for malicious parent syndrome'.
In court Galpin admitted that he did repeatedly act in an aggressive manner, and encourage his victim to make representations to the court in support of removal of bail conditions. He admitted that on one occasion, he seized her by the body, pulled her and caused her to fall on a bed, and that he repeatedly contacted her and made offensive remarks.
Following the final break up of the relationship in July 2024, Galpin is said to have engaged in an 'extreme form' of behaviour which included repeatedly phoning and messaging his ex-partner at all hours of the day.
Galpin has been championed by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as an exemplary businessman – winning the Chamber's 2024 'Rising Star' award and being nominated for the 2025 High Growth Business Award – despite the Edinburgh Reporter making the organisation aware of a business failure which left debts of almost £120,000.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's Rising Star, Alexander Galpin, (centre) has crashed and burned.
We revealed in February how Galpin put Luxford Burgers' parent company, Secure Kitchens Ltd, into liquidation, leaving a trail of debts due to small local businesses, while UK tax payers were left to pick up an £80,000 bill in unpaid VAT, PAYE and corporation tax.
Galpin then 'phoenixed' the failed business, setting up a new company Got Buns Ltd in June 2024, and continues to operate the Luxford Burgers restaurants in St Leonard's Street and Brandon Terrace.
On his LinkedIn profile, Galpin claims he is 'Executive Director of Galpin Group, a hospitality management business that owns and operates a portfolio of restaurants across the UK, with a combined gross turnover of £6m+ per annum.'
He previously stated on his profile: 'I am an incoming trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance, one of the world's leading law firms, where I will start me legal career in August 2025', but that has now been deleted.
Galpin has deleted his LinkedIn post boasting about joining law firm Clifford Chance
The Edinburgh Reporter contacted Clifford Chance on 28 February and 4 March informing the firm of Galpin's business failure and questioned if it was appropriate that he should be offered a trainee solicitor position.
It was only after his conviction for domestic abuse last month that Clifford Chance confirmed the traineeship had been axed. A spokeswoman said: 'As a policy we do not comment on individual applicants to the firm, but I can confirm this individual will not be a future trainee or join Clifford Chance.'
Galpin, of Salvesen Crescent, Edinburgh, did not respond to a request for comment. He will be sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 1 August.
Galpin enjoying La Dolce Vita in Florence but he is in the frame for domestic abuse and due to be sentenced on 1 August.
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