Karen Killalea

Background

About Karen Killalea

Senior, experienced, sensible and expert employment lawyer with deep experience across all employment law issues relevant to all businesses and sectors with particular expertise in investigations, whistleblowing and financial services workplaces- Practical, commercial, able to design solutions for complex people/talent situations- Concise and clear- Available- Responsive; and - Dedicated to doing my best for clients whether a corporate employer or an individual and committed to using alternative dispute resolution where it is in my client’s best interests; I am ranked and recommended by independent legal directories; “Karen Killalea is a brilliant lawyer and always provides quality, sound advice." She gives regular advice which is up to date and fully resourced. She is a true subject-matter expert with great interpersonal skills." “Karen has a tremendous capacity to interpret the issue at hand and advise accordingly."(Chambers 2024) “Karen has a can-do attitude and an exceptional level of service” (Chambers Europe 2017) “Strong experience across employment law issues, including sensitive employment litigation and transactional work. Very practical and responsive, and really knowledgeable of the employment sector” (Chambers Europe 2016) “An experienced employment law specialist and litigator, clear, pragmatic and well prepared” (Chambers Europe 2015). My expertise includes advising Company Boards, HR business partners and GCs on critical and high profile employment, HR, white collar and people related risk issues; I have advised board members, founders, senior execs and individuals enforcing their contractual rights during and after their employment; I support and advise domestic and FDI businesses and financial services employers on strategic people projects and risk/contentious matters including team moves and restrictive covenants; My recent experience includes supporting clients on workplace investigations, performance issues, collective redundancies, senior employee/director negotiations, re-structuring, change management, senior management re-structuring, recruitment terms and harmonisation of benefits and terms post acquisition; I am a mom to 3 fabulous sons, a tennis player, a skier, a trail runner, a Dublin City Marathon Finisher & other interests include climbing in the Alps, mountain biking, hiking and sea swimming (in the Irish Sea but only in the summer…). I am a fluent Italian speaker and my French is good enough to get me and keep me out of trouble…