PulinaWhitaker

Partner

London + 44.20.7039.5190

Pulina Whitaker's practice focuses on employment, data privacy, and cybersecurity matters. Pulina is often appointed to conduct independent misconduct investigations, including for a blockchain company and for UNICEF UK in response to bullying allegations against the chair of the United Kingdom charity's board. She has served as a compliance monitor for the United Nations for over 12 years, focused on the UN's Sexual Exploitation & Abuse Bulletin and employee misconduct. She has also served as a compliance monitor for USAID (United States Agency for International Development) for three years.

Pulina conducts misconduct investigations for employers, investigating complaints (including whistleblowing complaints) or concerns of employee misconduct, and advises employers on related matters. She acts for employers in defending against claims of breaches of employment and data privacy obligations and claims, including for unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing detriments, breach of personal data processing requirements, and breaches of employment contract obligations. She is experienced working with international and European clients to help them comply with the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Pulina regularly advises clients on labor issues, including managing information and consultation obligations in transactions, navigating union requirements in disputes, and advising on UK and European Works Council agreements and processes.

Pulina also advises on the employment and privacy aspects of UK and cross-border transactions, including sales and purchases of companies and businesses, commercial outsourcing and corporate reorganizations, and conducting global redundancy and furlough projects. She is skilled at navigating individual and collective consultation requirements in multiple jurisdictions, including dealing with consultation requirements involving employee forums, trade unions, and works councils.

Pulina is a trustee of the charity Hostage International.

Experience

  • Molex acquires AirBornJones Day is advising Molex, a leading global connectivity and electronics solutions provider, in the acquisition of AirBorn, Inc., a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of rugged connectors and electronic components for global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) serving the aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical, and industrial markets.
  • Joint Administrators of The Body Shop International Limited (in administration) sell business and assetsJones Day advised Geoffrey Rowley, Anthony Wright and Alastair Massey of FRP Advisory in their capacity as joint administrators of The Body Shop International Limited (in administration), an appointee of the shareholder, Aurelius Investment Advisory Limited, in connection with the trading administration and subsequent sale of the company's business and assets.
  • QSRP invests in ChopstixJones Day advised Kharis Capital backed QSRP on the strategic investment into Chopstix Noodle Bars, a UK franchisor and operator of quick serve noodle bars.
  • Ares Real Estate acquires hotel portfolio from LandsecJones Day advised funds managed by Ares Real Estate in the £400 million acquisition of a portfolio of hotels concentrated in London and other major UK cities from Landsec and the hotel operations from AccorInvest.
  • Société Générale sells Société Générale Equipment Finance's (SGEF) activitiesJones Day is advising Société Générale in the sale of the professional equipment financing businesses operated by Societe Generale Equipment Finance (SGEF) to Groupe BPCE.
  • NEP Group sells SOS Global to Rock-it CargoJones Day advised NEP Group in its sale of SOS Global (SOS) to Rock-it Cargo, the global leader in end-to-end logistics for live events and high net worth goods.
  • ETS acquires PSIJones Day advised Educational Testing Service (ETS) in its acquisition of PSI Services LLC, a global leader in test development and delivery across workforce certification and licensure.