Overview
Chris Jones is an associate in the Paul Hastings Employment practice, based in the London office.
He has a broad contentious and non-contentious practice, covering all aspects of employment law and people-related matters. He has a UK and international client base, and regularly advises on employee-relations issues, disciplinary and grievance procedures, sensitive and board-level disputes, hiring and firing, cross-border projects, complex commercial transactions and public takeovers. He also advises clients on matters involving issues of discrimination or harassment, data privacy, trade union engagement and regulatory compliance (including the FCA’s Senior Managers & Certification Regime).
Mr. Jones also has a wide ranging ESG practice – with a particular focus on “S”-related matters – and supports with ESG compliance, implementation and reporting matters including PAI diligence, equal pay, pay transparency, DE&I strategies and the impact of emerging technologies. Chris also provides strategic oversight to a number of clients in relation to the conduct of materiality assessments and stakeholder engagement.
Education
- BPP University Law School, LPC, 2014
- Cardiff University, LLB, 2013
Representations
- Defending class action equal pay proceedings against a major UK supermarket
- Assisting one of the world’s largest diversified natural resources companies with the implementation of CSRD compliance mechanisms across its global operations, including conducting double materiality assessments in relation to “social” matters in line with CSRD requirements
- Partnering with G42, the leading UAE-based artificial intelligence holding company, on the development and operationalisation of its global ESG function, including the establishment of its ESG Unit, creation of its first ESG policy, and conducting preliminary double materiality assessments in relation to “social” matters across all of its principal operating companies
- Acting as ESG Counsel to TPG Rise Capital on multiple acquisitions, involving the assessment of target companies’ performance against multiple “social” factors for the purposes of the SFDR regime
- Assisting European clients in relation to their compliance with the requirements of the EU Pay Transparency Directive
- Acting for a major UK national institution in its intervention in landmark discrimination proceedings, concerning conflict of rights and freedom of speech, resulting in the adoption by the Employment Appeal Tribunal of the client’s proposed legal test for the consideration of such issues
- Supporting multiple UK headquartered PLCs in relation to takeovers by private equity buyers
- Advising a broker on the employment aspects of the acquisition of a significant commodities brokerage
- Assisting a financial institution in relation to a contentious senior departure, including related SMCR matters
- Advising an Indian headquartered global pharmaceutical company on its acquisition of UK headquartered pharmaceutical business
- Supporting a NYSE-listed logistics provider in relation to the restructuring of its UK operations, including site closures and related industrial action ballots
- Advising a UK-based airline in a dispute with its largest trade union
- Assisting a financial services company with an investigation into conduct matters involving alleged breaches of the FCA’s conduct rules, including advice in respect of related regulatory matters
Involvement
- England and Wales Solicitor
- Member, Diversity Working Group, Invest Europe
- Member, City of London Law Society
- Member, Employment Lawyers’ Association
- Member, Code of Conduct for Directors Working Group, Employment Lawyers’ Association