ABOUT
Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen
I am an EU law strategic advisor with 20+ years experience gained in seven jurisdictions (including Brussels, the UK and Germany). My work focusses on human-centered policies (sustainability, digital regulation and competition law) & supra-national citizenship.
Currently Partner/Head of Sustainability with Brussels-based EU Regulatory Law Firm Liberius Legal, as well as EU/UK Regulatory Partner with UK-based Keystone Law, I am a strategic advisor to a multitude of EU & non-EU based companies, and have excellent presenting, training and public speaking credentials.
I believe that the times we are living both enable and require from people, wherever they are based in the world, to come together, learn from each other and, together, make this world a happy place. I am committed to doing my bit through teaching about what I know and bringing together those who know and/or want to know about the topics that enable us to achieve this goal.
Read more about my professional & educational background and how I implement a human-centered focus in my work as a legal adviser, trainer and speaker.
A HUMAN-CENTERED FOCUS
It is not only policies which call for a human-centered focus — in our globalised and digitalised world, which is at the same time as divided as rarely before, a genuine focus on people across all aspects of our lives is required to understand, embrace and positively challenge ourselves and others so as we can truly collaborate to bring about positive change.
With my years of professional experience as a lawyer, gained through a variety of roles and responsibilities in business, law, academia and international organisations, obtained in seven jurisdictions, and having travelled between Brussels and London on a weekly basis during “Brexit”, I have had a front-row seat to the obstacles that repeatedly get in the way of people achieving the best outcomes, even though they come together with the best of intentions.
Influenced by our unconscious biases, our own egos, and a lack of genuine connection with and compassion for our authentic self and the people around us, it is our very “humanness” which is proving detrimental to us achieving a greater good together. I have witnessed first-hand how the change needs to come from within each of us as individuals for us to able to meet one another in true collaboration and, in turn, to work towards an equal, fair, just and therefore joyful world.
Education & Justice
Only with improved technical knowledge can we fully understand our rights and obligations across our whole life, including in business.
Self-actualisation
To authentically share the very best version of ourselves with the world, we first need to understand, (re)connect and empower our inner being state, equipped with the right cognitive and emotional understanding & tools.
Connectedness
By knowing who we are as individuals, we can foster genuine and empathetic connections with others, enabling stronger collaboration and ultimately “next level” results.
PROFESSIONAL & EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Partner – EU Competition & Regulatory
Aug 2021 – Present ·
London, United Kingdom
Partner – EU Competition & Regulatory
Head of Sustainability
Dec 2022 – Present ·
Brussels, Belgium
Partner/Practice Head (London, UK) – EU/Competition
Sep 2006 – August 2021
London, United Kingdom / Brussels, Belgium
Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen previously worked at the European Commission (DG Competition), the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Latham & Watkins LLP, as well as the German-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.
EDUCATION
- 2024 – Formation Res Urbis of the Marcel Hicter Association for Democratic Culture
- 2023 – ESG Diploma (Distinction), Corporate Governance Institute
- 2022 – Certificate of Excellence, Sectoral Challenges in the Digital Economy, Florence School of Regulation
- 2016 – Formation EcoInnove, Sustainable food production & distribution
- 2011 – Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales, Kaplan Law School
- 2006 – PhD (“The EU Microsoft Case”, Summa cum Laude), Lausanne University
- 2001 – Qualified Solicitor, Prosecutor and Judge (Specialisation: EU & Competition Law, Unfair Trade Law), Berlin High Court of Justice
- 1999 – Post-graduate diploma in EU & French commercial Law, University Paris- Pantheon- Assas
- 1998 – Qualified Lawyer, Free University of Berlin (Specialisation: EU & Competition Law, Trade Marks & Copyright Law)
LANGUAGES
Working Languages: English, German and French
Conversational: Spanish and Dutch
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
- Member of the Berlin Bar, Germany
- Member of the Brussels Bar (E-List)
- Committee Member of the Sustainability & Innovation Committee of the American Chamber in Belgium, as well as of its Digital Economy Subcommittee
- Board Member (Europe) of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL)
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
- Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA (Law & Policy Program), lecturing on EU & US Policies & Regulation in the Digital Era, including AI, since 2019)
- Expert Speaker and Panel Member of the Young European Lawyers Programme at the European Law Academy (ERA) in Trier/Luxembourg
- Visiting Lecturer at the International School of Management in Berlin (MBA, International Business Law), Queen Mary University, London, UK, University del Rosario, Bogota, Columbia, the United Business Institutes in Brussels, and various other academic outlets in Europe and the rest of the world.