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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

Antonio Michaelides

Special Counsel

London +44 20 7067 2027

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    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 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.

    Given his EU law expertise, particularly in the areas of free movement of people and establishment, Antonio is a member of the firm’s Brexit Taskforce which is advising a range of clients on the impact and implications of Brexit.

    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.

    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.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • 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.
    • Defending a leading investment bank in the largest UK. bonus dispute arising from the global financial crisis, brought by 104 employees.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • College of Law, London, L.P.C., 2010
    • University College London, LL.B., 2009
    Bar Admissions
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    Languages
    • English
    • French
    • Italian
    • Spanish
    Pro Bono
    • Advising a global charity in relation to the implementation of HR policies in the UK.
    • Representing a UK charity in defending allegations of disability discrimination.    
    • Board Trustee of Privacy International
    Accolades
    • Who's Who Legal, Global Leader - Pensions and Benefits (2020)
    • Legal 500 UK, Employment (2016) 
    • The Lawyer Awards, shortlisted in the Employment Team of the Year category (2015)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Employment Lawyers’ Association
    • Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (International Association of Young Lawyers)
    Previous Experience
    • Research intern at the European Commission in the field of free movement of persons and services and EU employment, social affairs and inclusion.

    Areas of Expertise

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