Helga Breen
Accelerant
Solicitor (England and Wales/N.I.)
Regions
- Upper South East
1 Tollgate Business Park,, Tollgate West, Colchester, CO3 8AB, United Kingdom
07776832154
helga.breen [at] accelins.com
Associate General Counsel Employment, UK & Europe at Accelerant Insurance
Expertise
I am a collaborative and pragmatic employment lawyer. I support clients across all sectors to identify strategic solutions to the legal, commercial and HR challenges they face in the UK and internationally. I am a leading authority on managing complex cross-border and domestic HR projects including reorganisations, redundancies and contract change programmes (none of which have faced a successful legal challenge). I have strong credentials in conducting inquiries, investigations and regulatory compliance audits and have been appointed as an independent expert in the private and public sectors. I led the investigation for the British Bankers' Association (now part of UK Finance) into the alleged manipulation of LIBOR.
Testimonials in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners include:
"Helga Breen receives superb praise from her clients for her wealth of experience and her forthright approach. She tells the truth even if I don't want to hear it and talks in a language that I understand.
She is very experienced and a forceful advocate for her client. She is commended for her tenacious approach and no-nonsense advice as well as for excelling at handling international disputes.
I would rate Helga Breen as the best employment lawyer I have used in my career. She has the ability to translate employment law into useable information and understands the pressures of keeping things legal whilst trying to run a business.
She is an extraordinarily robust and commercial employment lawyer and very client-focused. Helga Breen is wonderful to work with. She is responsive, thoughtful, and flexible in her approach based on our business needs. She is knowledgeable and we are most confident with her abilities in consulting with our employment law needs.
I value her knowledge and integrity. She has helped me out when she has been up to her eyes and has taken calls from me when she is pushed for time. Helga always has a solution that works."
Education
Reigate County School for Girls
Bristol University-BA Classics (1981)
College of Law (Chancery Lane)
Professional
Accelerant Holdings 2022 to present
DWF LLP, Partner and Head of Employment London 2014 to 2022
Lawrence Graham LLP, Partner 2007 - 2013
Eversheds 1992 - 2007 (Partner from 1994)
Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), Solicitor 1991 - 1992
Linklaters & Paines, Assistant Solicitor 1986 - 1991
Trained at Church Adams Tatham & Co (now Thomas Eggar) 1984 – 1986
Professional memberships
• Employment Lawyers' Association
• City of London Law Society Employment Law Subcommittee
• Devonshire House Dining Club
Expertise
I am a collaborative and pragmatic employment lawyer. I support clients across all sectors to identify strategic solutions to the legal, commercial and HR challenges they face in the UK and internationally. I am a leading authority on managing complex cross-border and domestic HR projects including reorganisations, redundancies and contract change programmes (none of which have faced a successful legal challenge). I have strong credentials in conducting inquiries, investigations and regulatory compliance audits and have been appointed as an independent expert in the private and public sectors. I led the investigation for the British Bankers' Association (now part of UK Finance) into the alleged manipulation of LIBOR.
Testimonials in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners include:
"Helga Breen receives superb praise from her clients for her wealth of experience and her forthright approach. She tells the truth even if I don't want to hear it and talks in a language that I understand.
She is very experienced and a forceful advocate for her client. She is commended for her tenacious approach and no-nonsense advice as well as for excelling at handling international disputes.
I would rate Helga Breen as the best employment lawyer I have used in my career. She has the ability to translate employment law into useable information and understands the pressures of keeping things legal whilst trying to run a business.
She is an extraordinarily robust and commercial employment lawyer and very client-focused. Helga Breen is wonderful to work with. She is responsive, thoughtful, and flexible in her approach based on our business needs. She is knowledgeable and we are most confident with her abilities in consulting with our employment law needs.
I value her knowledge and integrity. She has helped me out when she has been up to her eyes and has taken calls from me when she is pushed for time. Helga always has a solution that works."
Education
Reigate County School for Girls
Bristol University-BA Classics (1981)
College of Law (Chancery Lane)
Professional
Accelerant Holdings 2022 to present
DWF LLP, Partner and Head of Employment London 2014 to 2022
Lawrence Graham LLP, Partner 2007 - 2013
Eversheds 1992 - 2007 (Partner from 1994)
Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), Solicitor 1991 - 1992
Linklaters & Paines, Assistant Solicitor 1986 - 1991
Trained at Church Adams Tatham & Co (now Thomas Eggar) 1984 – 1986
Professional memberships
• Employment Lawyers' Association
• City of London Law Society Employment Law Subcommittee
• Devonshire House Dining Club
Disclaimer: ELA members self-certify that they are qualified lawyers and practice employment law for at least 25% of their time. ELA is not a regulatory body and does not vouch for the quality of service of any member appearing in the membership directory. A member’s inclusion in the directory does not constitute any kind of recommendation.