Victoria Smylie

Senior Associate
Dubai
About

Victoria practices in the area of employment law, focusing on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Victoria advises clients on a range of employment matters throughout the employment lifecycle, including; contractual documentation, recruitment, incentives and rewards, performance management, investigations, disciplinary proceedings, workplace reductions and termination.

Victoria has extensive experience advising on multi-jurisdictional global restructuring projects, corporate transactions, in addition to assisting clients on internal investigation procedures.

Victoria has been involved in labour disputes and litigations in the Dubai International Financial Centre, free zones and onshore UAE.

Areas of FocusEmployment
Professional QualificationsAdmitted as a Solicitor with the Law Society of Scotland

EXPERIENCE

Victoria has advised:

    Financial Services
  • An international financial service provider’s UAE operations as part of an international HR compliance review undertaking an assessment of the client's compliance and providing a risk analysis.*
  • A large international bank on the exit of a senior executive in the DIFC.

    • Technology
  • A leading global technology company in respect of the acquisition of a competitor and the resultant ongoing harmonization exercise in the UAE.
  • A global security and network firm on a Court of First Instance employee litigation claim involving wrongful termination in the UAE.

    • Consumer Goods, Food and Retail
  • A multinational soft drinks business on the establishment of a global employment company (GEC) in the UAE.*
  • Well known global household brand on a workplace investigation involving allegations of fraudulent behavior by senior executives in the UAE.
  • A global food packaging company on the transfer of employment between corporate entities, including the preparation of tripartite agreements in the UAE.

    • Energy and natural resources
  • A global explosives company on a workplace investigation involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, bullying and health and safety concerns in the UAE.

    • Infrastructure, construction and transport
  • A well known aerospace company on the exit of an employee where there were allegations of misconduct involving fraudulent expenses.
  • A global logistics company on a review of their global HR policies and practices.

    • Life sciences
  • A global pharmaceutical company on the sale of part of its business in the UAE and implementing redundancies and transfer of employment as a result.
  • A global pharmaceutical company on implementing mass scale redundancies in the UAE and subsequent employment transfers to Singapore.

    • Hospitality
  • A global hotel operator on all its day-to-day employment matters across in the UAE.
  • A UAE hotel operator on breach of confidentiality following publication of a book.

    • Healthcare
  • UAE healthcare provider on Emiratisation obligations.

* Experience gained prior to joining DLA Piper

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Winner of Middle East Legal Awards 2019 “Most Prominent Newcomer in Private Practice”.
Education
  • University of Aberdeen, Diploma in Professional Legal Practice with Distinction, 2015
  • University of Aberdeen, First Class LLB Law (Hons), 2014

Prior Experience

  • Prior to joining DLA Piper, Victoria trained and qualified in Scotland, before moving to the UAE in 2017.

My latest insights

Events

UAE: Employment law training

20 May 2026

CallvCardLinkedInPrint

Connect

Phone

+971 4 438 6240
(Work, Dubai)
+971 4 438 6101
(Fax, Dubai)