Alex Kiernan

Specialisms

Alex Kiernan is a highly experienced and specialist employment solicitor having spent many years advising both employers and senior employees across all areas of employment law.

As Head of Employment Law at Thomas Mansfield, Alex leads a respected team supporting clients from a range of industries. He is known for providing straight talking advice as well as delivering practical and strategic solutions with commercial factors in mind.

Alex specialises in business protection, including restrictive covenants, confidentiality, and aiding employers to navigate challenging employment disputes. He regularly advises on executive exits, boardroom disputes, discrimination and whistleblowing issues, as well as TUPE, redundancy and restructuring. He is frequently instructed in high-value matters requiring careful handling of risk, reputation and sensitive commercial dynamics.

As a leading London employment lawyer, Alex has built a strong reputation in the financial services sector. He advises firms on risk management, employee relations, regulatory alignment and internal investigations.

He also supports senior professionals, including executives and traders, on employment contracts, exits, bonuses, disciplinary action and protection of reputation.

Experience & approach

Alex works with a wide client base, from large UK and international companies to SMEs, founders and senior employees. He is known for his calm, commercial and strategic approach, and for providing clear, confident advice even in complex or high-pressure situations.

For businesses, Alex brings a proactive mindset to workplace issues – helping to manage disputes, navigate change and protect the organisation’s interests. For individuals, particularly at senior level, he offers discreet and effective advice, whether negotiating an exit or addressing unfair treatment at work.

He regularly speaks at employment law and HR events and delivers training on employment law developments, trends and best practice.

Alex is ranked by Chambers & Partners and listed as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500, reflecting his reputation for strategic, commercially focused employment law advice.

Notable work

• Led the planning and delivery of a group-wide restructure and redundancy programme for a national housebuilding company, ensuring compliance, minimising disruption and managing risk
• Advised a global business on the multi-jurisdictional exit of a senior executive director, coordinating local advice and negotiating terms across several countries
• Negotiated a high-value settlement agreement and share sale on behalf of an executive director, securing a seven-figure package and exit on favourable terms
• Advised a large care provider on the introduction of new employment contracts and a variation of terms exercise across its workforce
• Successfully defended a complex unfair dismissal claim brought against a state school, protecting the school’s reputation and achieving a favourable outcome at tribunal.