Michael T. Palmer

Senior Counsel

Overview

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.

Career & Education

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    • Louisiana State University, B.G.S., 1990
    • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D., 1993
    • Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 2002
    • Georgetown University Law Center, Certificate in Employee Benefits, 2002
    • Louisiana State University, B.G.S., 1990
    • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D., 1993
    • Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 2002
    • Georgetown University Law Center, Certificate in Employee Benefits, 2002
    • District of Columbia
    • Louisiana
    • District of Columbia
    • Louisiana
  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
    • D.C. Bar Association
    • Louisiana State Bar Association

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
    • D.C. Bar Association
    • Louisiana State Bar Association

Michael's Insights

Publication | 10.25.23

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issues Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) requirements I 10.25.23 Co-Authors: Michael T. Palmer, Catherine Martinez and Lama Bakroun Lexology

  • Publication | 10.16.23

    Strengthening Anti-Concealment Measures: An Overview of Qatar's New Law No. 3 of 2023

  • Speaking Engagement | 08.13.23

    “Webcast: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

  • Publication | 07.18.23

    Doing Business In... 2023 Global Practice Guide

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.

Michael's Insights

Publication | 10.25.23

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issues Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) requirements I 10.25.23 Co-Authors: Michael T. Palmer, Catherine Martinez and Lama Bakroun Lexology

  • Publication | 10.16.23

    Strengthening Anti-Concealment Measures: An Overview of Qatar's New Law No. 3 of 2023

  • Speaking Engagement | 08.13.23

    “Webcast: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

  • Publication | 07.18.23

    Doing Business In... 2023 Global Practice Guide

Insights

Publication | 10.25.23

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issues Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) requirements I 10.25.23 Co-Authors: Michael T. Palmer, Catherine Martinez and Lama Bakroun Lexology

Publication | 10.16.23

Strengthening Anti-Concealment Measures: An Overview of Qatar's New Law No. 3 of 2023

Speaking Engagement | 08.13.23

“Webcast: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

Publication | 07.18.23

Doing Business In... 2023 Global Practice Guide
|
    • Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issues Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) requirements I 10.25.23 Co-Authors: Michael T. Palmer, Catherine Martinez and Lama Bakroun Lexology

      |

      10.25.23

      Lexology

    • Strengthening Anti-Concealment Measures: An Overview of Qatar's New Law No. 3 of 2023

      |

      10.16.23

      Lexology

    • Doing Business In... 2023 Global Practice Guide

      |

      07.18.23

      Chambers and Partners

    • Qatar - Franchising Q&A 2023

      |

      05.02.23

      Lexis Middle East

    • Qatar Financial Centre: Overview of Reporting Obligations For Effective Compliance

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      04.17.23

      Lexology

    • Operating in Qatar during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: Your legal guide

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      10.11.22

      Lexology

    • FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: All you need to know about registering and operating in Qatar

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      09.21.22

      Lexology

    • A Look At New Heat Stress Guidelines In Qatar

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      08.20.22

      Lexis Nexis Middle East (subscription required)

    • US/International Joint Ventures: Questionnaires Shareholders Agreement and By-Laws, Control and Minority Protection, and Deadlock and Termination

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      01.01.18

      Thomson Reuters

    • “Webcast: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

      |

      08.13.23

    • “Webcast: ESG Training on Understanding the Current Landscape & Risks Ahead,” Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA)

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      09.14.22

    • “Webinar: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

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      07.25.22

    • “Crowell & Moring and German Business Council Qatar Discuss Qatar Labor & Employment Reforms”

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      04.05.21

    • Client Alert: COVID-19 Automatic Renewal of Licenses, Qatar

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      05.01.20

    • Client Alert: COVID-19 Employment Guide: Qatar

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      05.01.20

    • "Webcast: COVID-19 Implications on Businesses in Qatar," American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar

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      05.01.20

    • Client Alert: COVID-19 Summary of Government Financial Support to Business, Qatar

      |

      04.01.20

    • "Living and Working in Qatar – Emphasis on Data Privacy and Cybersecurity," Northwestern University in Qatar

      |

      08.01.17

    • "Qatar Legal Overview," Georgetown University in Qatar

      |

      09.01.16

Michael's Insights

Publication | 10.25.23

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) issues Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) requirements I 10.25.23 Co-Authors: Michael T. Palmer, Catherine Martinez and Lama Bakroun Lexology

  • Publication | 10.16.23

    Strengthening Anti-Concealment Measures: An Overview of Qatar's New Law No. 3 of 2023

  • Speaking Engagement | 08.13.23

    “Webcast: Living and Working in Qatar,” Northwestern University in Qatar

  • Publication | 07.18.23

    Doing Business In... 2023 Global Practice Guide