Legal Counsel
The Palace Company Europe S.r.l.
Italy
“I have learned that balance is built on purpose and boundaries”
Maria Cristina Michelini is an Italian-qualified lawyer with over seven years of international experience across the EU, UK and US. She specialises in intellectual property, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
She is currently Legal Counsel at Baglioni Hotels, responsible for all corporate, compliance, privacy and contractual matters. She leads strategic legal initiatives and oversees complex cross-border transactions. Her experience at leading international law firms, including PwC TLS and Portolano Cavallo, has honed her ability to translate strategic business objectives into effective legal solutions.
Renowned for her analytical precision and forward-looking mindset, she advises multinational corporations and innovative start-ups in the luxury, technology, and hospitality sectors. As a lecturer and published author on IP and digital innovation, she is a thought leader in AI governance and the intersection between law, business, and technology, bringing a modern, solution-driven perspective to the evolving global legal landscape.
“AI governance, digital ethics, and data-driven decision-making will become central to the GC’s role.”