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Mark Welch

Mark Welch is an associate in the International Employment Practice Group, having joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2018. His practice covers a range of both UK and international employment issues including international employment aspects of global transactions, HR-legal compliance issues and contentious employment matters.

Mark also assists clients seeking to protect their business and increase international compliance through the drafting and implementation of employment contracts and internal policies. He has particular experience in relation to whistleblowing matters, both advising clients on whistleblower protections and requirements for compliance purposes and defending clients in contentious matters involving allegations based on protected disclosures.

Mark gained valuable experience while on secondment to a large pharmaceutical client. He is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee.

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On March 29, United States embassies across Europe began sending letters and an accompanying “Certification regarding compliance with applicable federal anti-discrimination law” to companies in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain.  This certification purports to apply Executive Order (“EO”) 14173 (“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”) to U.S. government suppliers and contractors based in Europe “regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate.”  As we wrote in a prior alert, the Trump administration intends for EO 14173 to end what it considers to be “illegal preferences and discrimination” including those “under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) or ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA)” programs by prescribing required provisions for federal contracts. Continue Reading European Companies Wrestle with U.S. Government’s Anti-DEI Push