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Virginia Allen

Virginia is a shareholder and head of the UK Employment Practice with almost 20 years’ experience in helping employers to strategically manage and optimise their workforces. She offers support at every stage of the employment lifecycle, advising on the full spectrum of matters from day-to-day advisory work to complex transactions and high-stakes disputes.

Virginia is highly skilled at guiding clients through significant and often multi-jurisdictional transactions and disputes. She frequently handles contentious matters such as claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment and whistle-blowing, as well as High Court employee competition disputes. In addition, she provides practical UK employment advice across a broad range of issues, including recruitment, performance management, disciplinary and grievance processes, and exits. She regularly counsels multinational companies on global projects such as business transformations, cross-border workforce structures, and complex and sensitive employee investigations. Virginia also acts for senior executives in relation to a variety of matters, including disputes, employee competition matters, and negotiated exits.

Virginia is recognised in Chambers & Partners UK 2025, which says she “goes above and beyond to understand and meet her clients' expectations, tailoring her services to provide personalised and effective solutions”.

Businesses and HR professionals unfamiliar with competition law may assume that it only prohibits collusion when it comes to customer pricing.
Continue Reading Talent Wars: How Competition Laws Apply to UK Recruitment

The UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has considered what protection is offered to job seekers and workers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under the disability discrimination provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

Continue Reading UK Employment Appeal Tribunal Rules on Protection Against Disability Discrimination for Workers With ADHD and Autism

In a significant move, the UK Government has announced its intention to end the use of NDAs in cases of harassment and discrimination. This follows growing concern about the misuse of NDAs, highlighted by Zelda Perkins’ testimony on her experience with restrictive agreements after the #MeToo movement brought such issues to light.

Continue Reading UK Government Proposes Ban on NDAs in Harassment and Discrimination Cases

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is expanding the reach of its Code of Conduct (COCON) for non-bank firms and consulting on new guidance related to non-financial misconduct, with changes taking effect from September 2026 that will align requirements more closely with those already applicable to banks.

Continue Reading UK FCA Expands the Reach of COCON and Consults on Non-Financial Misconduct