Heather Allen
Mediator
Short Introduction
Heather Allen is one of the UK's most experienced commercial mediators, with almost three decades of mediation practice across commercial, employment, clinical negligence, inheritance, shareholder and public sector disputes. A founder member of CEDR Chambers and former Head of CEDR's Mediator Training Faculty, she is widely recognised for her expertise in resolving complex, high value and highly emotional disputes.
A qualified barrister with extensive commercial and international mediation experience, Heather combines legal expertise with a practical and solution focused approach. She is particularly experienced in disputes involving workplace conflict, clinical negligence, probate and inheritance matters, professional negligence claims and board level disputes.
Testimonials
About Work
Complex commercial, workplace and healthcare disputes form a significant part of Heather's mediation practice. She regularly mediates clinical negligence claims, employment disputes, inheritance and probate matters, shareholder conflicts, professional negligence claims, public sector disputes and commercial contract disagreements.
Heather has been a full time mediator since 1995 and previously practised as a barrister. Alongside her mediation work, she spent many years leading mediator training programmes in the UK and internationally, helping develop mediation practice across a wide range of jurisdictions and sectors.
Her experience includes disputes involving NHS organisations, healthcare providers, universities, charities, professional services firms, local authorities, financial institutions and family businesses. She is particularly experienced in matters involving power imbalances, complex stakeholder relationships and highly sensitive personal or organisational issues.
Clients value Heather's calm, direct and highly effective style. She combines empathy, commercial realism and strong process management skills to help parties communicate constructively, explore practical options and achieve durable settlements, even in the most challenging disputes.
Expertise
- Employment & Workplace
- Commercial & Corporate
- Construction, Property & Planning
- Banking, Finance & Insurances
- Public Sector & Governance
- Culture, Lifestyle & Sport
- Equality & Social Justice
- Industry, Energy & Environment
- Healthcare & Personal Matters
- Technology, Media & IP
Languages
- English
- French (intermediate)
Awards
University of London degree in English Language and Literature; awarded a Laurel by the university for leading the debating team; Called to the Bar 1977; CEDR-Accredited 1994; MBTI registered practitioner; Head of CEDR Training Faculty for 14 years (2005-2018); listed in Professional Directories for more than 20 yeas as a leading practitioner; recognised in Who's Who Legal - Global Elite 2021 as a Thought Leader (Mediation).
Memberships
Fellow of CMC (served on the CMC Board for 12 early years)
Publications
I was the Editor and a contributor to the CEDR Mediator Handbook for many years, from its inception to its moving online.
I wrote the chapter on Achieving Excellence - a Delicate Balance in 'How to Master Commercial Mediation' by David Richbell (Bloomsbury 2015).
I contributed to 'The Future of Clinical Negligence Mediation: The Mediator’s View' (CEDR 2025).