Natalie Jensen
Partner
Dubai
T +971 4 307 6000
nataliejensen@incegd.com
Department Maritime, Energy & infrastructure, Commodities & trade, Dispute resolution Qualified Sep 2011 Education (University) University of Durham, The College of Law Languages English, German, French

Natalie is a Partner in the firm’s Dubai office. Her practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious matters in the shipping, international trade and energy sectors.
Natalie advises a broad range of clients including shipowners, charterers, cargo interests, P&I clubs and insurers in connection with disputes arising out of charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightment, and other contracts of carriage, as well as disputes arising out of collisions and allisions.
In addition, Natalie advises clients on transactional commercial matters relating to international transport and trade.
Natalie is experienced in working with lawyers in other jurisdictions and in coordinating multi-jurisdictional proceedings on a client’s behalf.
Prior to joining Ince & Co, Natalie spent four years as a shipping associate at a leading international law firm where she specialised in shipping and international trade law. Prior to that, Natalie worked in the Freight Defence & Demurrage department of an International Group P&I Association where she gained invaluable experience advising the P&I Club’s Members in relation to all aspects of contractual and charterparty disputes, including demurrage, unpaid hire, unsafe port claims, liens, withdrawal, and all other aspects of defence work.
Natalie has a wide experience of commercial litigation in both the English High Court, UAE Courts and DIFC and London maritime arbitration centers.
My matter highlights
Contentious
- Representing the owners of a terminal in the recovery of their multi-million dollar losses following an allision between a tanker and the terminal in the UAE.
- Advising vessel interests and/or shore interests and their insurers in respect of a number of high value and high profile limitation of liability disputes following collisions and allisions in the UAE.
- Advising Charterers in relation to a long term time charterparty and LNG Storage and Regasification Agreement with a contract value of approximately US$450m.
- Advising one of the world’s leading global manufacturing and chemical company in respect of its claim against Owners for failure to comply with its obligations to provide vessels for the shipment of products on a monthly basis under a contract of affreightment.
- Defending one of the major energy producers and suppliers in an Owner’s claim for wrongful repudiation of charter and demurrage.
- Defending Owners in a significant cargo damage and shortage claim brought by cargo interests following an explosion onboard the vessel and advising in respect of an indemnity claim as against Charterers for compliance with orders.
- Defending a global independent commodity trading Charterer in respect of a claim for damage to the vessel following alleged over-pressurisation of pipelines.
- Defending a leading energy group Charterer and its insurer in a claim brought by Owners in the High Court for a breach of safe port warranty and damages following a grounding and collision.
Non-contentious
- Advising the trading arm of a global energy company onthe contractual arrangements for securing LNG energy supply by ship over a prolonged period, including drafting Agreements to Charter and Charterparties.
- Advising an investment company in respect of the Shipping elements of a joint venture agreement to enter into a fund for the investment, purchase and management of vessels. Assisting with the negotiation and drafting of SHIPMAN and additional bespoke terms.
- Advising and drafting bespoke freight terms for a multinational sustainable technologies company, as part of a tender process.
My recent publications
Insights / The Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review Sixth Edition Contribution from UAE Partners
09-01-2023 / Maritime
We are delighted to share that Mohamed El Hawawy, Joint Managing Partner, and Natalie Jensen, Partner, from our Dubai office, have contributed the UAE chapter to the recently published Sixth Edition of the Third Party Litigation Funding Law Review.

News / Court confirms issuer’s liability under letter of credit
22-11-2022 / Commodities & Trade
Heytex Bramsche GmbH v. Unity Trade Capital Ltd [2022] EWHC 2488 (Ch) The Court has rejected a finance company’s contention that the documents presented under a letter of credit (LC) that it had issued were discrepant, rendering the LC void. Among other things, the issuer had sought to argue that the standard UCP 600 terms that were incorporated into the LC had been modified and overriden by additional terms, such that the documents were discrepant. The Court, however, emphasised that clear notice would have to be given to effectively incorporate such additional terms which were a clear departure from the UCP 600 and which conflicted with the commercial nature of a LC. Here, any notice given was insufficient and the issuer remained liable under the terms of the LC.

News / Buyer who failed to meet laycan or provide satisfactory LC liable in damages
19-10-2022 / Maritime
Vitol S.A v. JE Energy Ltd [2022] EWHC 2494 (Comm) The Court has upheld a seller’s entitlement to cancel an FOB sale contract where the vessel that was to be procured by the buyer did not arrive at the port by the cancellation date. It also rejected the argument that an amendment of the deadline for shipment in a letter of credit was an amendment of the sale contract of the seller’s obligation to ship by that date. The buyer’s attempt to exit the contract that became financially disadvantageous amounted to a repudiatory breach and it was held liable in damages.

News / Agreement for existing DIFC-LCIA arbitrations to be administered by LCIA
01-04-2022 / Maritime
Decree No. 34 of 2021 concerning the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (the ‘Decree’) came into force in September 2021 and aimed to streamline arbitration in Dubai by amalgamating it under one institution – the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (‘DIAC’). For a summary of the Decree’s contents.

News / Dubai International Arbitration Centre issues its new Arbitration Rules
08-03-2022 /
Decree No. 34 of 2021 concerning the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (the “Decree”) came into force in September 2021 and aimed to streamline arbitration in Dubai. For a summary of the Decree’s contents, please see our articles here, here and here. Whilst a number of questions remain, the wait for the new Dubai International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”) Rules is finally over and with that, a major layer of uncertainty in relation to arbitration in Dubai is removed.

Insights / Court upholds validity of Notice of Arbitration in commodities dispute
12-01-2022 / Commodities & Trade
This commodities dispute highlights the importance of drafting a notice of arbitration carefully to ensure that it covers all the disputes that are intended to be referred to arbitration.

News / Meet the Seatrade Maritime 20 Under 40: Leaders of Tomorrow – Natalie Jensen and Paul Katsouris
15-12-2021 / Maritime
Meet the Seatrade Maritime 20 Under 40: Leaders of Tomorrow

Insights / Seller of defective goods entitled to maintain claim for price
23-11-2021 / Maritime
Readie Construction Limited v. Geo Quarries Limited [2021] EWHC 3030 (QB)

Insights / “Zoned out”: Court confirms applicable time zone for notification of demurrage claims
18-11-2021 / Maritime
The Court has considered which time zone applies to determine the date of completion of discharge for the purposes of deciding whether notification of a demurrage claim was made too late. In their article, Natalie Jensen and Monika Humphreys-Davies review the decision and explain why the Court held that it was the time zone at the place of discharge.

News / Ince Promotes Two Maritime Solicitors to Partner In Dubai and Hong Kong
01-10-2021 / Maritime
We are pleased to announce two new Partner promotions at Ince, Natalie Jensen in Dubai and Richard Oakley in Hong Kong.

Insights / New DIAC Decree aims to streamline arbitration in Dubai: Your questions answered
27-09-2021 / Maritime
Decree No. 34 of 2021 concerning the Dubai International Arbitration Centre recently came into force, making a number of changes to the arbitration landscape in Dubai.

Insights / Consolidation of Dubai’s arbitration centres - The impact on maritime arbitration in the region
22-09-2021 / Maritime
Decree No. (34) of 2021 (“the Decree”) on the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”) was recently issued. Pursuant to the Decree, the Dubai International Financial Centre Arbitration Institute (“DIFC Arbitration Institute”) and Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (“EMAC”) shall be dissolved and their assets and operations shall be merged into the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”).

Insights / Buyer not entitled to reject off-specification fuel oil
20-07-2021 / Maritime
Galtrade Limited v. BP Oil International Limited [2021] EWHC 1796 (Comm)

Insights / English Court upholds LOU jurisdiction provision, notwithstanding Singapore limitation proceedings
21-06-2021 / Maritime
Enemalta Plc v. Standard Club Asia Ltd (MV Di Matteo) [2021] EWHC 1215 (Comm)

Insights / A distinction with a difference: Court of Appeal finds conflict between contractual terms
10-06-2021 / Maritime
Septo Trading Inc v. Tintrade Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 718

Insights / Court considers unclear dispute resolution clause in charterparty
02-06-2021 / Maritime
Armada Ship Management(s) Pte Ltd v. Schiste Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd (Armada Tuah 101) [2021] EWHC 1094 (Comm)

Insights / Court discharges freezing order in unsubstantiated misdelivery claim
24-02-2020 / Maritime
Fimbank PLC v. Discover Investment Corp (Nika, renamed Nord) [2020] EWHC 254 (Comm) The Court has discharged a freezing order that was originally granted on an ex parte basis. The Court found that the claim, on its substance, had no seriously arguable merit and that the factual circumstances relevant to the possible merits of the intended substantive claim had not been fully and fairly presented to the Court that had granted the freezing order. Factual circumstances are material to any serious consideration of the merits of a claim and a party seeking injunctive relief without notice to the other party has a duty of full and frank disclosure which, if not complied with, may result in the discharge of the injunction at the return date.

News / Ince lawyers featured in this months issue of Marasi News
29-07-2019 / Commodities & Trade
In this month’s issue of Marasi News, Rania Tadros, Managing Partner and Natalie Jensen, Managing Associate, from our Ince Dubai office have written an article on war risks and the implications of trading in listed areas following the Joint War Committee’s decision to add the Persian Gulf and parts of the Arabian Gulf, including the Gulf of Oman, Oman and the UAE, to its Listed Areas for Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and related perils. This is a topic that has become very significant and has far reaching consequences to the maritime industry, in particular Shipowners, Charterers and Traders in the region.

Insights / Breakfast with EMAC - Bunker Contamination Cases
19-03-2019 / Maritime
Natalie Jensen, Managing Associate & Rania Tadros, Managing Partner at Ince & Co Middle East LLP gave a presentation yesterday morning at The Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) who regularly host breakfast sessions to the marine industry and the legal community.

News / First SMART contracting seminar in Dubai
11-02-2019 / Energy & Infrastructure
On Thursday 7 February 2019, we held our first SMART contracting seminar in Dubai as a newly merged firm

News / Court of Appeal rules on package limitation for containerised cargoes where no bill of lading issued
12-06-2018 / Maritime
Kyokuyo Co Ltd v. A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S (Maersk Tangier) [2018] EWCA Civ 778 The Court of Appeal has upheld the Commercial Court ruling in a significant decision that considered package limitation under the Hague and Hague-Visby Rules. The judgment clarifies, for the first time under English law, that “unit” is an individual piece of cargo as opposed to a container. It further confirms that the Hague-Visby Rules may apply even in circumstances where sea waybills are used instead of bills of lading. The decision is important because of its implications for the limitation of liability for carriers.

News / Dubai World Tribunal (“DWT”) rules on limitation funds, the scope of its jurisdiction and forum non conveniens
04-06-2018 / Maritime
(1) Alize 1996, (2) CMA CGM SA v (1) DP World UAE Region FZE, (2) DP World Limited, (3) All other persons claiming or being entitled to claim damages for the incident, DWT-0001-2017 In a landmark judgment, the DWT (a special tribunal established by Decree (57) of 2009 (“Decree 57”) to deal with insolvency proceedings relating to Dubai World and its subsidiaries), confirmed its jurisdiction over maritime disputes by or against Dubai World entities and acknowledged that a ship owner is entitled to establish a limitation fund under the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 (the “Convention”) by way of a P&I Club letter of undertaking (“LOU”). The matter was determined in accordance with UAE law.
