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Jon Bridgewater is a legal director working in the infrastructure, construction and energy team in the Dubai office of CMS. Jon advises on contentious and non-contentious construction and energy related matters in the Middle East, generally involving contracts governed by the laws of England and Wales, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In terms of dispute resolution, Jon focusses particularly on arbitration and has experience of ad hoc as well as institutional proceedings, including those before the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, arbitrateAD (formerly the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre), the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce; and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution in the United States.

Jon regularly delivers training to clients on construction related topics under UAE and KSA laws and authored CMS’ Expert Guide to Arbitration in the UAE (including the onshore system, the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Abu Dhabi Global Market), Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Awards & Recognitions
01 –
  • Quote
    "Greg Sibbald and Jon Bridgewater are attentive, devoted, and punctual, providing insightful and valuable legal advice."
    Legal 500, 2026

Relevant experience

  • An international contractor in two SCCA arbitrations regarding construction disputes arising from marine projects, subject to KSA law.
  • An international contractor in an ad hoc arbitration relating to a construction dispute arising from tunnelling works in Abu Dhabi, subject to UAE law.
  • Project advisory work for an international contractor in respect of rail works in KSA.
  • An international joint venture in seven separate arbitrations under the ICC and DIAC Rules arising out of a rail project, subject to UAE law.
  • An international company in an ICC arbitration regarding the division of entitlements and liabilities arising out of a project in, Oman, subject to English law.
  • A US multinational technology and e-commerce company in the drafting of a variety of contracts (FIDIC Red Book, FIDIC Green Book and bespoke documents) for projects in the MENA region.
  • A multinational social media company on the multi-million dollar fit out of its temporary and permanent offices, using the FIDIC Green and Red Books.
  • An international courier company in the drafting of a FIDIC Yellow Book for the construction of warehouses in Abu Dhabi.
  • An international aerospace corporation in the drafting of a FIDIC Yellow Book for the construction of a facility in the GCC.
  • Project advisory work for an international contractor in respect of rail works in the UAE.

Education

2005 – LPC, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne

2004 – LL.B (Hons) University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne

Insights by Jon

DIFC Law No. (2) of 2025: Transformative changes in jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts explained

DIFC Law No. (2) of 2025: Transformative changes in jurisdiction of the DIFC Courts explained

22 Apr 2025 7 min read
New arbitrateAD Rules

New arbitrateAD Rules

09 Feb 2024 5 min read
CMS guide on the new KSA Civil Code – Second Edition – Construction Principles

CMS guide on the new KSA Civil Code – Second Edition – Construction Principles

11 Jan 2024 7 min read
The emergence of arbitrateAD

The emergence of arbitrateAD

09 Jan 2024 3 min read
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