Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Antonio Michaelides advises clients in heavily regulated sectors on a broad range of cross-border regulatory and compliance matters, with a particular focus on Europe and the Middle East. He has particular expertise in helping clients navigate international HR-legal compliance issues—including labor laws, international equity compliance and immigration matters—and frequently helps multinationals find solutions to their most complex global employment and benefits challenges.
Antonio is frequently called upon to advise clients in relation to employee disputes and senior executive exits in the UK, other European jurisdictions and the Middle East.
Antonio is a member of our Global Workforce Solutions team, which brings together various practice areas to provide the employment, employee benefits, tax, immigration and other advice required in these complex situations, and advises clients across a range of industries on both larger strategic projects arising out of company restructures and global mobility arrangements, and day-to-day HR-legal matters.
Antonio has extensive experience with government affairs and regulatory matters in the Middle East—advising government entities, as well as private companies, on a variety of regulatory infrastructure and compliance issues. He previously advised free zone authorities in the Emirate of Dubai on employment and immigration matters, including amendments to the DIFC Employment Law and the application of the DMCC Employment Regulations, and is currently advising on the development of legal and regulatory infrastructure for a number of government-led projects in Saudi Arabia.
Clients appreciate his responsiveness and business-focused advice, and benefit from his cultural awareness and extensive language skills in the context of managing international projects, particularly those impacting their workforce.
In addition, Antonio has presented, and provided training, to clients and external organizations on the challenges of international assignment management and other common global mobility issues.
Advised several multinational companies on corporate, regulatory and compliance projects in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Advised two free zone authorities in the Emirate of Dubai on the drafting and implementation of new employment (including dispute resolution) laws.
Assisting one of the world’s largest start-up companies with the employment and employee benefits aspects of their aggressive international expansion project across the globe.
Successfully assisting a major pharmaceutical company to protect its UK business following a senior employee’s breach of confidentiality obligations.
Advising a FTSE-listed company in relation to a proposed reduction of its workforce across Europe and Asia.
Advising a professional services firm on the secondment of over 200 employees from the UK and Europe to the Middle East.
Advising European and U.S.-based financial institutions on the termination of employment of individuals seconded to the DIFC in Dubai from the UK and on the settlement of claims and enforcement of restrictive covenants in both jurisdictions.
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