Aneta Michalewska: Expert Counsel For Employment, Governance & Operations

Aneta Michalewska is the General Counsel EMEA at Infotree Global Solutions, where she aligns legal strategy with operational priorities to enable informed, growth-focused decisions across complex markets.

Known for a disciplined, business-first mindset, she supports leadership teams in managing regulatory risk, strengthening governance, and building scalable compliance frameworks that protect value without slowing execution.

What shaped your decision to build a legal career at the intersection of law and business?

From early on, I was drawn to structure—how systems work, how decisions are made, and why certain processes succeed while others fail. I have a photographic memory and a highly analytical way of thinking, so legal study felt natural and genuinely enjoyable.

Over time, I became equally interested in economic mechanisms and capital markets, because they explain how regulation translates into real business outcomes. That combination shaped my direction: I wanted to practice law in a way that strengthens strategy, improves execution, and supports responsible growth.

How would you describe your professional journey and what it taught you about leadership?

I started in reputable law firms advising business clients, which gave me a strong foundation in precision, risk awareness, and commercial clarity. More than a decade ago, I moved into in-house roles within international groups in the HR and staffing services sector, because I wanted to be closer to the operating reality.

That shift taught me something essential: legal value is created through partnership. The most effective legal function is not an observer—it is integrated into leadership conversations, operational planning, and growth execution.

Legal leader guiding businesses on employment, governance, and strategic decisions

What are some of the most challenging aspects of your current role? How do you approach and overcome them effectively?

The staffing industry today operates in a highly regulated, rapidly changing environment influenced by technology, geopolitics, and global crises. To manage this, I focus on three things.

First, I treat monitoring as a discipline, not a reaction. Continuous tracking of legal developments across jurisdictions—combined with close attention to macroeconomic and regulatory trends—allows us to anticipate change and respond in time.

Second, I build alignment through operating models: clear decision rights, escalation paths, and practical guidance that business teams can apply consistently.

Third, I position compliance as a performance enabler. When done properly, it reduces friction, protects execution, and strengthens trust with stakeholders. Legal should never be a “blocker”—it should be a strategic partner that makes growth safer and faster.

What makes the legal function particularly critical in the HR and staffing environment?

It is a high-velocity sector operating under dense regulation, where expectations shift quickly across employment, data, and regulatory compliance. The legal team must enable speed without compromising control. In practice, the risk profile is multi-layered: different worker models, different national rules, different enforcement climates, and increasing public scrutiny.

My role is to keep the organization agile while ensuring the standards we apply are consistent, defensible, and scalable—so that growth is not achieved at the expense of compliance, reputation, or governance.

Looking back, what achievements are most meaningful to you?

One of my key strengths has been connecting global regulatory requirements with business strategy across multiple markets. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside exceptional managers and board members during critical decisions.

Some professional highlights for me include overseeing complex programs, negotiating mergers and business sales, and guiding large-scale international projects to successful completion.

These initiatives improved legal and business outcomes and established my role as a key advisor within the leadership team. Ultimately, the strongest outcome is trust: when leadership teams rely on legal as a calm, structured, and decisive partner in critical moments.

Which areas of specialization define your work today?

My core specializations are employment law, corporate and commercial law, compliance, data protection, and change management. What matters most is the practical integration of these areas: translating legal requirements into operational reality.

I support international contracting, internal policy design, governance discipline, and cross-functional implementation—ensuring that standards are not only written but embedded. The goal is always the same: strong legal foundations that support business momentum.

What is your professional philosophy— especially at leadership level?

My personal philosophy has been shaped by experience. It centers on continuous learning and surrounding yourself with people who set high standards. I have always valued collaborating with seasoned, insightful professionals who challenge me to grow. Their guidance, discipline, and strategic thinking have greatly influenced how I operate today.

How do you see workforce models reshaping governance across EMEA?

Workforce models are becoming more diverse: orga­nizations combine permanent roles with contractors and specialist talent, and labour markets vary widely across countries. That diversity requires governance frameworks that are consistent yet flexible—standards that adapt to local rules while preserving a unified eth­ical and compliance baseline.

In practice, it increases the importance of data governance, cyber security, and clear accountability. The legal function must help or­ganizations manage complexity, design scalable pol­icies, and anticipate regulatory evolution. The future belongs to organizations that do not only comply—but plan ahead and use compliance as a strategic advan­tage.

Aneta Michalewska, General Counsel – Emea, Infotree Global Solutions

Aneta Michalewska has expertise that spans across HR compliance, corporate governance, external employment models, and cross-border regulations. She navigates complex legal landscapes, driving operational efficiency, and leverage compliance as a competitive advantage in a global environment.