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Christopher Walter works with employer clients on domestic and international HR-legal compliance, disputes, and transactional projects. Mr. Walter co-chairs the firm’s International Employment practice, and previously served for eight years as Managing Partner of the London office.
Mr. Walter’s advisory practice encompasses the full range of employment and employee benefits issues that matter to leading multinational employers, including the drafting of share and other incentive plans, global mobility, privacy compliance, employment issues in M&A transactions, outsourcing, workforce integration, and the implementation of core policies/codes of conduct, with a particular focus on business and human rights.
Mr. Walter began his legal career as a UK barrister, however, and also has considerable experience as an advocate before UK courts and tribunals, securing confidentiality injunctions and defending employers against claims of unfairness, discrimination and other alleged violations of employment laws.
Mr. Walter is recommended by Legal 500 UK for his “exceptional service.” Chambers UK (2015) notes that he is "focused, business-oriented and solution-driven." Mr. Walter has been listed by Who's Who Legal since 2007 as one of the world's top employment lawyers.
Mr. Walter has served as 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.
- Advising Microsoft Corporation on the global employment law aspects of its US$7bn acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business and subsequent corporate integration, involving over 25,000 former Nokia employees across 60 countries.
- Assisting clients with the implementation of human rights initiatives, including the drafting of transparency statements for the purposes of the U.K. Modern Slavery Act, the conduct of benchmarking and comparative analysis, advice on the scope of the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive, and human rights risk due diligence.
- Providing international employment law advice to AstraZeneca in relation to its acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s interests in the companies’ global diabetes alliance across 40 jurisdictions.
- Coordinating advice across 28 countries concerning restrictive covenants and clawback provisions in the stock plans of a U.S. 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 U.S., 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 U.S. 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 U.S.-headquartered multinational.
- Working with the UK Government and representatives of the aerospace and defence industries in an effort to reconcile tensions between U.S. trade control laws and European anti-discrimination and privacy rules.
Memberships and Affiliations
- International Committee of the Employment Lawyers' Association, Chair
- Share Plan Lawyers Group, Member
- European Employment Lawyers Association, Member
- Founder of the Global In-House Employment Lawyers’ Society
March 2021
As the legal, regulatory, and commercial implications of coronavirus COVID-19 continue to evolve, our lawyers and advisors are helping clients navigate the complex considerations that companies around the world are facing and develop plans and strategies in response. Reach out to our COVID-19 task force at COVID19@cov.com. Below is a compendium of resources ...
February 10, 2021, Covington Alert
In this alert we look at a recent decision by the UK Court of Appeal and a separate prosecution brought by the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”; the UK data protection authority), which together serve as a cautionary tale for employees and prospective future employers of the risks of civil liability and criminal conviction for confidential information ...
January 11, 2021, Covington Alert
In early December 2020, the UK government published a consultation on potential reforms to the law on post-termination non-compete clauses in employment contracts (“non-competes”). The proposals could, if implemented, have a significant negative impact on the ability of employers across a variety of sectors to protect confidential information, goodwill, and – ...
December 1, 2020, Covington Alert
With a COVID-19 vaccine now on the horizon, employers are considering whether they can require employees to be immunized. Although mandating COVID-19 vaccination for employees will likely be permissible with some exceptions, employers will also need to grapple with a number of challenging issues, such as whether they should require the vaccination and what to do ...
November 30, 2020, Covington Alert
This International Employment Update summarises recent international employment law developments in the European Union, Germany, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
November 2, 2020, Covington Alert
On Saturday 31 October, the UK Government announced a new national lockdown and confirmed the extension of the existing Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, more commonly referred to as the “furlough” scheme. In this alert, we set out what the UK Government has announced and what this means in terms of the support available to employers, including the status of the ...
September 29, 2020, Covington Alert
The UK Government has responded to growing pressure to support those who may be worst affected by the ending of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) on 31 October 2020. In this alert, we outline the rules of the new scheme and highlight key practical considerations for employers. Further Governmental guidance is expected soon. What Was Announced? On ...
April 27, 2020, Covington Alert
Whether a company is an essential business or is expecting to reopen in the coming weeks, a number of challenges must be addressed in order to provide a safe environment in which employees can work, while at the same time mitigating risk and restoring operations. Generally speaking, employees can be required to come to the workplace, but this general rule must ...
March 27, 2020, Covington Alert
On Friday 20 March, the UK Government announced various support measures for UK businesses. One of these was the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”), which it is hoped will reduce the risk that UK employers promptly dismiss employees in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Further guidance was published on 26 March, providing some much needed detail ...
March 19, 2020, Covington Alert
The speed and severity of the current crisis means UK employers face very difficult and pressing decisions. Some intermediate steps can be taken to preserve workforces for a period and avoid immediate redundancies. Some form of individual or even collective consultation with employees or their representatives may be necessary. This can be used ...
September 30, 2019, Covington Alert
Recent global trends have placed significant scrutiny on matters related to modern slavery and human rights issues in supply chains. New legislation has steadily been introduced across the globe (including in the U.S., the U.K., France and Australia). In this update, we provide an overview on a variety of international and national developments in the business ...
August 2019, Covington Alert
The ECJ ruled on 14 May 2019 (C-55/18) that Member States must take measures to ensure that employers comply with the minimum rest periods and prevent workers from working in excess of the weekly maximum working hours, including introducing an "objective, reliable and accessible system" to measure daily working time.
April 2, 2019, Covington Alert
The German Federal Employment Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht) ruled on February 19, 2019 (Reference number 9 AZR 541/15) that annual vacation entitlement can only be forfeited at the end of a calendar year if the employer previously advised the employee of his/her accrued entitlement and of the deadline by which untaken vacation would be forfeited.
February 2019, Covington Alert
This International Employment Update summarises recent international employment law developments in China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
August 6, 2018, Covington Alert
We reported following the 2017 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights on the progress of an international treaty on the subject. On 19th July 2018, the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG) presented the draft text of a treaty to the High Commissioner for Human Rights (through the Permanent Mission of Ecuador, acting as Chair in the process).
April 20, 2018, Covington Alert
On March 27 2018, the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published a report, Turning the tables: ending sexual harassment at work, in which it makes a number of recommendations for legal changes to better protect the victims of sexual harassment at work.
April 20, 2018
LONDON—Covington advised BenevolentAI on an £80 million equity investment by new and existing investors, including Woodford Investment Management, at a pre-money valuation of £1.4 billion. The firm also recently advised BenevolentAI on its acquisition of Proximagen Limited, a Cambridge, UK-based drug discovery and development company, for an undisclosed ...
March 8, 2018, Covington Alert
Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Ltd (CHRB) has published its 2018 research methodology and is currently encouraging relevant companies to disclose information relevant to this year’s research and ranking exercise.
February 1, 2018, Covington Alert
This International Employment Update summarises recent international employment law developments in China, India, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
January 22, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington advised Bacardi Limited in its definitive agreement to acquire Patrón Spirits International AG and its PATRÓN® brand, the world’s top-selling ultra-premium tequila, from John Paul DeJoria, a founder of Patrón. The transaction reflects an enterprise value for Patrón of $5.1 billion. The transaction follows the successful relationship the ...
December 8, 2017, Covington Alert
Last week, the United Nations hosted the sixth annual Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva. The three-day event provided attendees with informative panels and important updates on the state of the field. Lawyers from Covington’s business and human rights initiative were in attendance and suggest five important takeaways for business.
September 2017, Covington Alert
On March 5, 2017, the Belgian parliament enacted the Flexible and Workable Work Law, which seeks to increase flexibility for both employers and employees.
July 12, 2017, Covington Alert
In October 2016, the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, commissioned Matthew Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts and former policy adviser to Tony Blair, to look at how employment practices need to change in order to keep pace with modern business models.
June 30, 2017, Covington Alert
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued a ruling staying certain parts of the injunctions entered by the Fourth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal against Executive Order No. 13780, the so-called "travel ban" Executive Order (the “Order”), and the State Department issued clarifying guidance on June 28. The effect of the Supreme Court ruling is to allow ...
Business and Human Rights: “Is This Even Relevant to Our Company?”
June 14, 2017, Webinar
June 7, 2017, Covington Alert
Pursuant to the State Council’s directive to build harmonious labor relationships and to strengthen the system for resolving labor disputes, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) recently revised two sets of arbitration rules. The revisions address new issues and provide clarification of existing regulations. The key objectives are to ...
May 24, 2017, Covington Alert
On May 25, 2018, employers located or with staff in the European Union (“EU”) will have to comply with a new data protection law—Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data—commonly referred to as the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). This will ...
Mandatory UK Gender Pay Gap Reporting: Public Reporting Obligations and Problem Areas
April 26, 2017, Webinar
March 7, 2017, Covington Alert
Yesterday, President Trump issued a new Executive Order (the “Order”) titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” This new Order replaces the so-called “travel ban” Executive Order issued January 27 (the “Prior Order”) which was subject to a nationwide temporary restraining order issued by the U.S. District Court for the ...
February 10, 2017, Covington Alert
Following last week’s advisory concerning President Trump’s Executive Order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States (the “Order”), numerous lawsuits were filed challenging the Order. One such challenge, filed by the State of Washington and the State of Minnesota, culminated in yesterday’s unanimous decision by the United States ...
February 7, 2017, Covington Alert
This International Employment Update summarises recent international employment law developments in Austria, China, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
January 30, 2017, Covington Alert
As has been widely reported, President Trump issued an Executive Order (“the Order”) on Friday, January 27, 2017, entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” which, among other directives, bans individuals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia (the “Covered Countries”) from entering the United States ...
January 18, 2017, Covington Alert
The push to improve business “non-financial reporting” of human rights and environmental practices has gained significant momentum over recent months, with the implementation of EU Directive 2014/05/EU and the new Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards to promote and shape the future of corporate reporting on sustainability. Stock exchanges in around 45 ...
December 12, 2016, Covington Alert
On 6 December 2016, the UK Government published the revised draft Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 (the “Regulations”), which, subject to prior parliamentary approval, are expected to come into force on 6 April 2017. The new law will require private employers in the UK to collect and publish information showing differences in pay ...
October 5, 2016, Covington Alert
The International Employment Update summarises recent international employment law developments in the United Kingdom, France, Poland, China and the United States of America.
September 19, 2016, Covington Alert
In 2015, the UK government introduced a requirement for certain companies to make annual statements on action taken to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their businesses and suppliers. The publication deadlines for the first organisations caught by the rules expire in September and recent statements issued by businesses across a variety of sectors ...
June 29, 2016, Covington Alert
Following the vote by the United Kingdom in an advisory referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”), there is no immediate change to employment law in the UK. Assuming that the referendum decision is put into effect (which still appears to be subject to significant political, legal and practical obstacles), the extent of any future changes will of course ...
June 23, 2016, Covington Alert
China amended its Population and Family Planning Law in December 2015. It abolished the one-child policy and eliminated incentives for late marriage and late parenthood. Many provinces are announcing changes to local regulations to comply with the national amendment.
April 14, 2016, Covington Alert
Latest figures suggest that women in the UK still earn on average 20 percent less than men. Companies that fail to address gender pay differences will be highlighted in league tables under the new Gender Pay Gap Regulations. The draft regulations require private employers in the UK to collect and publish information showing differences in pay between male and ...
April 2016, Covington Alert
Europe Right to Private Life v. Right to Monitor On January 12, 2016, the European Court of Human Rights published its judgment in another case concerning an employee’s use of company information systems, once again highlighting the challenge of balancing an employee’s right to a private life against the right of an employer to monitor employees at work. In ...
March 7, 2016
LONDON — Carlo Kostka has joined Covington’s global financial institutions practice resident in the firm’s London office. Most recently Mr. Kostka served as co-head of UniCredit's legal department, where he was responsible for international legal operations, including all legal matters related to the corporate and investment banking division, significant ...
December 17, 2015
LONDON, 17 December, 2015 — Covington advised AstraZeneca on its acquisition of Takeda’s respiratory business. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will make a payment of $575 million, and approximately 200 staff will transfer to AstraZeneca upon completion. The deal will include the expansion of rights to roflumilast (marketed as Daliresp in the ...
Capital gains: European firms in London
November 9, 2015, The Lawyer
London’s managing partner Christopher Walter discusses the allure of the London legal market to international law firms and how firms in London collaborate with other law firms on the continent in The Lawyer. Walter, who argues in favour of collaboration opportunities with key firms, states that “working with local firms gives us the resources and flexibility ...
September 4, 2015, Covington Alert
Covington Advises Allergy Therapeutics on Alerpharma Acquisition and £20 Million Placing
June 24, 2015
LONDON, June 24, 2015 — Covington advised Allergy Therapeutics plc, the AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical company, on its recently announced acquisition of Alerpharma, S.A. a Spanish-based allergy immunotherapy company which previously spun out from Spanish biopharmaceutical company, Zeltia S.A. Alerpharma’s principal operating subsidiary, Inmunal, markets ...
Covington Advises AstraZeneca on Strategic Transaction with Almirall in Respiratory Disease
July 30, 2014
LONDON, 30 July, 2014 — Covington & Burling advised AstraZeneca on its agreement to transfer to the company the rights to Almirall’s respiratory franchise for an initial consideration of $875 million on completion, and up to $1.22 billion in development, launch, and sales-related milestones. AstraZeneca has also agreed to make various sales-related payments. ...
July 30, 2014, Legal Business
Lucinda Osborne, Gregor Frizzell, Christopher Walter and Miranda Cole are mentioned regarding their representation of AstraZeneca on its £1.2bn acquisition of Spanish healthcare group Almirall’s respiratory unit.
December 19, 2013
NEW YORK, December 19, 2013 — Covington & Burling advised AstraZeneca in its acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb's interests in the companies’ diabetes alliance for an initial consideration of $2.7 billion on completion and up to $1.4 billion in regulatory, launch and sales-related payments. AstraZeneca has also agreed to pay various sales-related royalty ...
November 29, 2013, Inside Compensation
In the wake of the financial crisis and the so-called ‘shareholder-spring’ of 2012 (a period during which many shareholders refused to endorse directors’ remuneration policies), the government has introduced new rules on directors’ remuneration reporting. The new rules: (i) increase the compliance burdens regarding the reporting of directors’ remuneration ...
November 28, 2013, Inside EU Life Sciences
In the wake of the financial crisis and the so-called ‘shareholder-spring’ of 2012 (a period during which many shareholders refused to endorse directors’ remuneration policies), the government has introduced new rules on directors’ remuneration reporting. The new rules: (i) increase the compliance burdens regarding the reporting of directors’ remuneration ...
November 23, 2013, Inside EU LifeSciences Blog
November 23, 2013, InsideCompensation Blog and Inside EU LifeSciences Blog
July 30, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, July 30, 2013 — Covington & Burling is pleased to announce that Lindsay Buchanan Burke has returned to the firm, expanding the firm’s employment practice. Ms. Burke will be based in the firm’s Washington office as special counsel and will work with the firm’s employment, international employment, employee benefits, privacy and executive ...
June 21, 2013, Inside EU Life Sciences
Since Apple launched the first iPhone in 2007, the popularity of smart phones and tablets has sky-rocketed. These devices, with their sleek design, touch screens and easy access to a myriad of entertainment options, have fast become the preferred method of communication for executives. In recent years, a growing number of companies have allowed employees...
February 23, 2013, Inside Compensation
The UK High Court recently confirmed that incentive pay may be conditioned upon good behavior. In Imam-Sadeque v BlueBay Asset Management (Services) Ltd [2012] EWHC 3511 (QB), the court concluded that forfeiting incentive pay for bad behavior does not constitute an unlawful penalty. In that case, an employee and employer had entered into a release...
November 21, 2012, Covington E-Alert
September 12, 2012, Inside Compensation
In August, the U.K. Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) issued a proposal to implement the requirement in the 2010 Capital Requirements Directive (“CRD III”) that competent local authorities collect information concerning the pay practices of relevant financial services firms. CRD III requires local authorities to transmit this information to the European ...
Covington Names Nash and Walter to Lead London Office
May 29, 2012
LONDON, 29 May, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce Louise Nash as the new London office managing partner. She succeeds Roger Enock, who steps down after five years in the role. The firm also announced that Christopher Walter will succeed Ms. Nash as the office deputy managing partner. Mr. Enock will continue as head of the firm’s London ...
March 19, 2012
LONDON, 19 March, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP received 46 individual mentions and 20 practice mentions in the Chambers Global 2012 edition. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers globally by pan-regional and country practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. The Covington lawyers ...
February 15, 2012, Practical International Corporate Finance Strategies
Social Media: Dealing with Employment Issues
October 13, 2011, PDP 10th Annual Data Protection Compliance Conference
Welcome Address
October 3, 2011, Employment Lawyers Association International Committee and the International Labor and Employment Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Transatlantic Conference on International Employment Issues, London
July 5, 2011, Covington E-Alert
June 15, 2011, Inside EU Life Sciences
Originally published as Covington E-Alert on June 15, 2011 The U.K. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has recently issued the final version of its guidance on the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, which implement Directive 2008/104/EC. The Regulations come into force on 1 October 2011, and will entitle agency workers (or “temps”) to the...
June 15, 2011, Covington E-Alert
Covington Adds Four Partner Life Sciences Corporate Team
5/16/2011
LONDON, May 16, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP adds a top life sciences corporate team to its London office, further enhancing its comprehensive global life sciences practice. Covington is pleased to announce that Paul Claydon, Natalie Diep, James Gubbins and James Halstead are joining Covington & Burling LLP as partners. They complement Covington’s highly ...
October 6, 2010
LONDON, 6 October, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Walter as a partner in the European employment practice. He will be joined by special counsel Chris Bracebridge and associate Helena Laughrin. They will significantly enhance Covington's capabilities to meet the needs of the firm's growing European corporate ...
- The Lawyer Awards, shortlisted in the Employment Team of the Year category (2015)
- Chambers UK, Employment (2011-2015)
- Who's Who Legal, Labour, Employment & Benefits (2007-2016)
- Chambers Global, Employment, UK (2011-2012)
- Chambers Europe, Employment: Employer (2012)
- Super Lawyers - London, Employment Law (2013)
- Best Lawyers in United Kingdom, Employment (2009-2014)
- Legal 500 UK, Employment (2009-2016)
- Legal Business Report, Acknowledged Expert in Employment Law (2008-2009)
COVID-19: Legal and Business Toolkit
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