Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Alexandra is an employment lawyer with a specialism in the financial services sector, often acting for PRA and FCA regulated individuals and companies.
She is highly experienced in advising on all employment-related claims for both individuals and companies, including whistleblowing, discrimination, and equal pay. She also advises on High court litigation including breach of contract, post-termination restrictions, and shareholder and board disputes.
Alexandra also assists with the employment-related elements of corporate transactions such as collective redundancies and TUPE.
Expertise
Alexandra advises on all aspects of employment law, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, equal pay, TUPE, collective redundancies, restrictive covenants, and boardroom disputes, with expertise in shareholder and unfair prejudice claims.
Experience
- Acted for FCA-regulated high-profile individuals where there are allegations of “non-financial misconduct” which could result in reports to the FCA.
- Acted for numerous employees involved in LIBOR and FX trading scandals. In addition to the employment law implications, this also involved regulatory (FCA and PRA) and criminal law issues.
- Acted against major international financial institutions in claims for breach of contract, unfair dismissal, equal pay, and sex discrimination.
- Advised on TUPE in a multi-party cross-border acquisition.
- Advised an AIM listed company on a boardroom dispute.
- Acted for a global FCA-regulated IM firm on a cross-border TUPE transfer.
- Acted for a global IM firm in respect of breach of post-termination restrictions by two employees involving potential breaches of their obligations to the FCA.
- Acted for senior executive in claims arising against a US bank from an alleged “spoofing” allegation.
- Advised numerous SMCR individuals on contracts of employment including FCA remunerations codes.
- Acted for an investment firm in Employment Tribunal proceedings for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.
- Acted for senior partners in respect of potential SRA investigations.
Alexandra advises financial services clients on all aspects of employment law, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, equal pay, TUPE, collective redundancies, restrictive covenants, and boardroom disputes, with expertise in shareholder and unfair prejudice claims.
Experience
- Acted for FCA-regulated high-profile individuals where there are allegations of “non-financial misconduct” which could result in reports to the FCA. In all cases, entirely successful result as the employer did not make report to the FCA.
- Acted for numerous employees involved in LIBOR and FX trading scandals. In addition to the employment law implications, this also involved regulatory (FCA and PRA) and criminal law issues.
- Advised an AIM listed company on a boardroom dispute.
- Acted for a global FCA-regulated IM firm on a cross-border TUPE transfer.
- Acted for a global IM firm in respect of breach of post-termination restrictions by two employees involving potential breaches of their obligations to the FCA.
- Acted for a senior executive in claims arising against a US bank from an alleged “spoofing” allegation.
- Advised numerous SMCR individuals on contracts of employment including FCA remunerations codes.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers UK for Employment: Senior Executives 2016, 2021–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment: Senior Executives 2020–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment: Employers 2015–2020, 2022, 2026
Acknowledged by Chambers UK 2025 for her expertise in the financial services sector.
Member of the Employment Lawyers Association
“I can tell you confidently that she is fabulous.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Alexandra gets the law and has great client relationships. ”
Chambers UK 2025
“She is great.”
Chambers UK 2025
“She has extensive and deep knowledge which she applies in a deeply practical and commercial approach.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Alexandra is always available and adaptable, as well as very commercial and understanding of commercial considerations.”
Chambers UK 2024
“She is diligent, determined and committed. You want Alexandra on your side.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Alexandra has really excellent knowledge of the law. She is responsive and very commercial as well as being solution-focused and
empathetic.
”
Chambers UK 2024
“Alexandra is an excellent lawyer. She has the ideal combination of technical expertise and creativity, combined with the ability to give practical advice and be empathetic.”
Chambers UK 2023
“She is really strategic, she has great knowledge of the law and she gets great results for clients.”
Chambers UK 2022
“She is great to work with, she is very focused and she makes sure that the client realises how the matter will play out.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Alexandra Carn is exceptionally attuned to the needs of the client, particularly in difficult situations where there really aren’t many options- excellent client manner- she has a style of dealing with opposing firms that is assertive but low key and is very effective in practice.”
The Legal 500 2022
“She’s very bright, committed and calm under pressure.”
Chambers UK 2021
“She has a very deep knowledge of employment law and is definitely someone that you want on your side.”
Chambers UK 2021
“She does a fantastic job.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Alexandra Carn goes the extra mile for the clients. She combines empathy with competence and extraordinary strategic thinking.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Alexandra Carn is excellent. Very client focussed, incredibly bright, negotiates and communicates fantastically well, always gets a brilliant result.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Alexandra Carn is calm, down to earth but confident and therefore inspires confidence that you are being looked after.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Most recently I have dealt with Alexandra Carn, in relation to problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, including furlough agreements and pay reduction agreements. She responds very quickly, which is great when you need to deal with matters speedily there and then within your own workforce.”
The Legal 500 2021
Alexandra qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, she worked at the following firms:
- Edwin Coe