Natalie Jones

Natalie is a Partner in the firm's Employment department. She has been based in Dubai since 2011 and has over 15 years' experience advising employers in both the public and private sector on contentious and non-contentious employment law issues. She regularly assists clients on day-to-day employment matters as well as topics such as immigration and global mobility, enforcement of restrictive covenants, nationalisation and reward and incentives.

While she advises on an array of employment related topics, Natalie has particular expertise in managing the employment aspects of complex corporate transactions (including privatisation of government entities), carrying out sensitive internal investigations and advising on team moves and unfair competition issues. She regularly delivers training on employment law issues across the GCC.

Natalie is recognised by Chambers & Partners as 'Up and Coming' and by Legal 500 as a 'Next Generation Partner' who is "straight-talking, incredibly practical, and a leader in her field". She is also known for being "hyper-focused on client care and provid[ing] practical and commercial advice".

Key Experience

• Acted as remote employment counsel, covering the METAP region, for a global energy company.
• Advised a multi-national bank on its Emiritisation obligations and associated risks.
• Acted for a global professional services business in relation to a team move involving damages in excess of USD50m.
• Advised a global professional services business in changing its partner structure and documents and managing implementation of the updated arrangements.
• Advised an international law firm on the employment aspects of its establishment in the UAE.
• Advised a KSA government entity on the employment aspects of its privatisation including addressing the treatment of pensions and retention requirements for over 1500 Saudi national employees.
• Advised a global hotel brand in relation to an investigation involving a senior member of the HR team and the subsequent exit of that employee.
• Advised a UAE semi-government entity on a first of its kind transfer of employees between entities as well as advising on applicable laws.

Career History

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, DLA Piper UK LLP
Head of Employment Law, PwC Legal Middle East LLP
Senior Associate, Al Tamimi & Company
Associate, Al Tamimi & Company
Associate, Sintons LLP
Trainee Solicitor, Dickinson Dees LLP (now Womble Bond Dickinson LLP)
College of Law, York, Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice
University of Teesside, LLB Law

Articles and Publications

• Conducting effective internal investigations: people, processes and problems, November 2024
• Amendments to the KSA Labour Law, Lexology, September 2024
• Can UAE employees be paid in Bitcon?, The National, August 2024
• DIFC Employment Law Amendments: Changes to DEWS and End of Service Gratuity, Lexology, March 2024
• The UAE 's new Mental Health Law comes into effect, Lexology, March 2024
• ADGM introduces new protections for whistleblowers, Lexology, June 2024
• Labour Policies for a Digital Workforce: The challenges of the metaverse, World Government Summit, November 2023