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Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

alexandra.vonwesternhagen@keystonelaw.co.uk

“Very knowledgeable”

- Mr Morar, Jisc

Based in Brussels, London and Berlin, Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen advises UK and international businesses on the strategic implications of EU and UK regulatory and policy developments in a post-Brexit environment.  

She brings over 20 years’ experience across private practice, including over 15 years’ advising from the UK, international institutions (European Commission and OECD), and academia, and previously served as Head of EU and Competition at a major UK law firm for more than a decade. 

Her work focuses on how EU regulatory and policy direction in areas such as sustainability and ESG, digital and AI governance, competition and market regulation, and EU industrial policy affects business strategy, governance, and decision-making for UK companies with EU exposure. She also advises on corresponding UK regulatory frameworks, including national security and investment aspects, and on aligning UK sustainability and digital strategies with evolving EU policies. 

In addition to advisory work, Alexandra delivers strategic briefings and tailored internal sessions for leadership teams and boards, translating complex EU and UK regulatory developments into clear, decision-relevant insight.  

She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and Germany and holds several postgraduate qualifications in EU law, including a PhD in digital competition policy (summa cum laude). 

Alexandra works with clients across the UK, EU and internationally, advising in English, German and French.

Expertise

Alexandra advises on EU and UK regulatory and policy developments and their strategic implications for organisations, including through tailored briefings for leadership teams and boards:

Experience

  • Delivering strategic briefings on EU regulatory and policy developments for in-house legal and compliance teams, including for the BBC Legal Division, focusing on governance, regulatory direction, and decision-making implications. 
  • Advising Royal Mail Group on the regulatory and competition law implications of over 50 business proposals, supporting senior decision-making on market conduct, pricing and regulatory risk in a changing UK–EU environment. 
  • Advising Jisc, the UK’s largest provider of digital solutions for education and research, on the governance and strategic implications of post-Brexit regulatory change affecting digital services and cross-border operations. 
  • Delivering leadership-level briefings for financial services organisations, including Barclays Wealth Management Limited, on the strategic implications of EU regulatory developments for cross-border operations and governance. 
  • Advising the British Business Bank on the structuring of an £80 million public funding vehicle and related schemes, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme, with a focus on EU policy alignment, state support and governance considerations. 
  • Providing strategic guidance on EU sustainability and ESG policy developments, including the Green Deal and related regulatory initiatives, to support governance, reporting oversight and value-chain decision-making. 
  • Advising North East Access to Finance on the launch of a second-generation EU-backed SME investment fund, including strategic considerations arising from EU structural funding, public grants and European Investment Bank financing. 
  • Delivering tailored strategic sessions for multinational organisations across sectors including facilities management and services, including Sodexo, focusing on EU sustainability, digital policy and regulatory alignment in a post-Brexit context. 
  • Initiating and leading a landmark case before the Court of Justice of the European Union challenging the loss of EU citizenship following the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement, raising fundamental questions of EU institutional and constitutional policy. 

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Vice-Chair of the European Board of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), 2025 to date (Board member since 2024) 

Chair of the Global Education Committee of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), 2025 to date   

Recognised by The Legal 500 for EU and Competition 2020 

Recognised by Chambers for EU and Competition 2015 & 2017 

“Diverse knowledge of EU law.”

The Legal 500 2020

Alexandra qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2011 and in Berlin, Germany, in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2021, she worked at the following firms and international institutions: 

  • DAC Beachcroft (London 2009–2021; Brussels 2006–2009) 
  • Latham & Watkins (Brussels) 
  • European Commission (DG Competition) 

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