Covington & Burling LLP | Biographies

Christopher Walter leads the international employment group from the London office, working with multinational clients on HR-legal compliance projects globally.

Mr. Walter’s practice includes the drafting of global policies and business codes of conduct, the coordination of multi-country surveys and employment projects, senior employee relocations/global mobility, the employment and employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing and down-sizing, and the drafting of bonus plans, share schemes, service/consultancy agreements, and contracts for atypical workers. Mr. Walter began his legal career as a UK barrister and has considerable experience as an advocate before UK courts and tribunals. His practice also encompasses international data privacy compliance.

Mr. Walter’s client base is derived principally from the life sciences, financial services, recruitment and sports industries.

Mr. Walter is recommended by Legal 500 and Chambers UK and has been listed by Who's Who Legal since 2007 as one of the world's top employment lawyers. Mr. Walter was until recently chair of the International Committee of the Employment Lawyers Association and a member of ELA’s Management Committee. He is also a member of the European Employment Lawyers Association and the Share Plan Lawyers Group.

Mr. Walter regularly publishes articles and speaks on employment and data privacy law at both external seminars and in-house client training events.

Representative Matters

Coordinating advice across 28 countries concerning restrictive covenants and clawback provisions in the stock plans of a US public company. Drafting amendments to ensure enforceability internationally.
For a global publishing company, providing a quick and cost-effective solution to a dispute with an independent sales representative protected by German/EU commercial agency rules.
Advising a Japanese technology client on the international employment, pensions and incentives aspects arising on the formation of a joint venture with operations in the US, Asia and Europe.
Successfully defending a UK bank against claims of constructive dismissal pursued by 800 sales staff.
Working with the global HR Director of Reckitt Benckiser on the merger and renegotiation of two European Works Council agreements.
Successfully defending a US investment bank against claims pursued in Spain relating to impact of EU employment laws on termination provisions in US stock plan.
Devising data privacy compliance programme relating to international HR data processed by US-headquartered multinational.
Working with the UK Government and representatives of the aerospace and defence industries in an effort to reconcile tensions between US trade control laws and European anti-discrimination and privacy rules.