Robert
Allen

Robert Allen is a partner in the Disputes & Investigations team, specialising in complex dispute resolution. He specialises in financial markets litigation, primarily retail, consumer and wealth related disputes and contentious regulatory issues. He is widely recognised for his expertise in collective actions, including Group Litigation Orders, representative actions, and high-volume claims management, with over twenty years’ experience acting for major corporates, financial institutions, and pension providers.

Robert also specialises in Information Law, with a focus on data protection & privacy disputes, cybersecurity and reputation management. His work in this area ranges from conduct of privacy litigation, data breach response and regulatory enforcement. He has also acted for both claimants and defendants in defamation actions, and advises on protest law including injunctions.

Robert is the Head of the Sustainability / ESG practice and regularly advises clients on greenwashing risks and disputes, including in relation to advertising, labelling, reputation and CMA complaints. He also leads the firm’s Pro Bono practice and dedicates a substantial number of hours each year to the firm’s Pro Bono client base.

Robert is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has published extensively on contentious data protection issues, cybersecurity and sustainability / ESG. He is the author of the chapter on “Consumer Relations: Complaints and Compensation” in the 2025 edition of Thomson Reuters Practitioner’s Guide to the UK Financial Services Rulebooks.

Robert’s recent work highlights include:

• Acting for retail business of an international bank managing its risk in relation to Payment Protection Insurance mis-selling allegations, including defending thousands of county court claims, leading on regulatory consultations, and advising on collective action vehicles including Omnibus claims and Group Litigation Orders
• Acting for a large multinational in a defamation action concerning publications in press releases and across social media. Connected to this matter, Robert has successfully obtained an injunction limiting direct action obstructing the operation of the client’s business
• Acting for one of the UK’s largest pension providers running an investigation into the impact of the Capita cyberattack, and managing related data protection claims against the client
• Running an After Action Review for a major Life Sciences company following a data breach relating to a cyberattack on its payroll provider
• Acting for a major international banking corporation defending it against a high value claims alleging breach of Quincecare duty and unjust enrichments following a Ponzi scheme
• Advising a bank and a cryptocurrency exchange in relation to investigation of complaints to the UK Advertising Standards Agency, including in relation to greenwashing allegations
• Advising on reputational risk and crisis management in the context of regulatory investigations, media exposure, and protest-related disputes
• Advising a not-for-profit organisation in relation to the submission of a complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority concerning greenwashing by a gas distribution company

Robert is praised in Legal 500 for his “practical, concise and clear advice” and his “exemplary” approach to client service and collaboration.