Biography
Margaret Allen represents companies and board committees in internal investigations and whistleblower actions all over the world, often involving allegations of fraud and corruption. Margaret has represented companies in investigatory and enforcement proceedings by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the United States Air Force, and state regulatory agencies.
Margaret also represents individuals and corporations in complex disputes in international arbitration and in courts across the United States. Her extensive experience litigating class actions and multi-jurisdictional disputes spans all aspects of pleadings, discovery, trial, and appeal. She litigates all manner of high-risk business disputes, including those involving breach of contract, business torts, and securities claims.
In addition, Margaret represents public and private companies in high-stakes civil rights and employment cases, and advises on significant employment and anti-corruption matters in a myriad of contexts, including national and international corporate transactions and reorganizations.
In 2022 and 2023, Margaret was ranked as a leading employment lawyer by Chambers USA, which noted that clients praise her for being “both a tough negotiator and a calming influence on all parties,” as well as being “practical,” “a direct communicator,” and having “great commercial instincts.” Benchmark Litigation named Margaret a “Future Star” in the Labor and Employment category in its 2023 and 2024 editions, as well as a “Labor & Employment Star” in 2022.
Experience
A sampling of Margaret’s experience at and prior to joining Sidley includes:
- Represented board committee of public company in investigation of whistleblower claims brought by C-suite executives alleging harassment and discrimination by the CEO.
- Represented numerous public and private company C-suite officers in negotiating their exits to maximize equity and bonus payouts.
- Represented board committee of public corporation in U.S. agency investigation involving alleged violations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
- Numerous internal investigations involving whistleblower, accounting, and executive issues.
- Represented importing company in investigating former employee’s illegal hacking and cybersecurity violations.
- Won at trial (including all attorneys’ fees) against former employee who stole trade secrets and violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act through hacking and engaging in cybersecurity violations.
- Represented public company in responding to subpoena and inquiry by Office of Special Investigations of the United States Air Force related to potential False Claims Act issues.
- Won complete dismissal with prejudice of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) whistleblower claims against publicly-traded company.
- Successfully obtained dismissal and negotiated resolution of numerous sexual assault allegations against publicly-traded company across the U.S.