Michael T. Palmer is a senior counsel whose practice involves assisting international and domestic clients with corporate, corporate counseling, governance and compliance, labor and employment, and privacy and cybersecurity. He counsels clients in all types of corporate finance transactions, including conventional and Islamic finance matters and mergers and acquisitions.
Michael assists clients based in the Middle East and the North Africa region. He has significant experience in Qatar and regularly advises clients on a wide range of corporate and regulatory compliance matters governed by Qatari law and the Qatar Financial Centre law and regulations.
Michael maintains a robust pro bono practice. He received the Loyola Law Clinic Award as a student practitioner while in law school. Further, he was named Pro Bono Associate of the Year at another international law firm.
In addition to his legal practice, he served as a guest lecturer at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar in 2014 and 2015.
Prior to entering private practice, Michael served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ian W. Claiborne, Chief Judge, 18th Judicial District Court (Louisiana). He also served as an extern law clerk for the Honorable Thomas M. Brahney, III and the Honorable Thomas H. Kingsmill, Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
- D.C. Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
Representative Matters
- Provided counsel and legal advice on employment and operational matters pertaining to universities and institutions of higher education.
- Assisted a major Qatari real estate investment company with its acquisition and redevelopment transactions in the U.K.
- Assisted one of the largest real estate developers in Qatar in the structuring of a multibillion-dollar Shariah-compliant REIT to be publicly listed on a major Asian exchange.
- Represented Qatar bank’s interests in one of the largest restructuring projects in the GCC.
- Provided counsel and legal advice on employment matters and commercial contracts for Qatar Airways.
- Provided counsel and legal advice on executive compensation and employee benefit matters involving multinational companies and Qatari companies.
- Provided counsel and legal advice regarding cross-border investments and capital markets issues.
- Provided advice and legal counsel on the establishment of branch offices, joint ventures, and mergers between international companies and local partners in Qatar.
Speeches & Presentations
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Client Alert: COVID-19 Employment Guide: Qatar
(May 2020).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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Client Alert: COVID-19 Automatic Renewal of Licenses, Qatar
(May 2020).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Webcast: COVID-19 Implications on Businesses in Qatar," American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
(May 2020).
Co-Presenter: Michael T. Palmer.
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Client Alert: COVID-19 Summary of Government Financial Support to Business, Qatar
(April 2020).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Living and Working in Qatar – Emphasis on Data Privacy and Cybersecurity," Northwestern University in Qatar
(August 2017).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Qatar Legal Overview," Georgetown University in Qatar
(September 2016).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Living and Working in Qatar," Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
(December 2015).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Living and Working in Qatar," Northwestern University in Qatar
(August 2015.).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
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"US & Qatar Employment Laws," American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
(October 2013).
Co-Presenter: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Doing Business and Franchising in Qatar," US Franchise Trade Mission
(May 2013).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Legal Aspects of Living in Qatar," Texas A&M University in Qatar
(May 2013).
Speaker: Michael T. Palmer.
Publications
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"Qatar: New Social Security Law Changes The Pension Scheme," HR Magazine
(August 30, 2022).
Authors: Michael T. Palmer, and Sarah Khasawneh.
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"A Look At New Heat Stress Guidelines In Qatar," Lexis Nexis Middle East (subscription required)
(August 20, 2022).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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"MENA Trade Secrets Law Review: Qatar," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(June 21, 2021).
Authors: Michael T. Palmer and Anoud Abu Odeh.
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"US/International Joint Ventures: Questionnaires Shareholders Agreement and By-Laws, Control and Minority Protection, and Deadlock and Termination," Thomson Reuters
(2018).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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"UAE Anti-Corruption Questionnaire," Thomson Reuters
(2017).
Author: Michael T. Palmer.
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"Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets in Employment Law," BNA Treatise
(2015 and 2016).
Regional Editor: Michael T. Palmer.
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements