Baker McKenzie boosts real estate practice in Bahrain with strategic rehiring of Khaled Zowayed

Baker McKenzie boosts real estate practice in Bahrain with strategic rehiring of Khaled Zowayed

In a bid to reinforce its presence in Bahrain, Baker McKenzie is taking additional measures by enhancing its real estate practice through the strategic reappointment of Khaled Zowayed as a partner.

Zowayed, who will operate from Bahrain, focuses on commercial real estate affairs pertaining to the markets of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

“As we continue to build a robust and broad regional team, we are excited to welcome Khaled back to the partnership. His appointment adds significantly to our strength in providing expert advice to our clients in respect of the entire real estate lifecycle and also reflects the firm’s commitment to investing in prominent talent. We are excited to welcome Khaled to our team,” Ian Siddell, Bahrain managing partner of Baker McKenzie said.

Jean-Francois Vandenberghe, the partner in charge of the real estate division, expressed his satisfaction with the rehiring of Khaled Zowayed, stating that it aligns with Baker McKenzie's recent expansion in crucial strategic domains within the region.

“Khaled’s outstanding reputation, entrepreneurial mindset and large network in the Gulf real estate industry will be invaluable to the firm and suitably complement our full-service offering on real estate transactions as well as hotel and leisure transactions and the firm’s advisory capabilities more broadly,” Vandenberghe said.

Khaled Zowayed is returning to Baker McKenzie following a two-year tenure as General Counsel at Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real estate subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

With more than 11 years of experience serving clients across diverse market segments, such as asset managers, government authorities, investors, retailers, intermediaries, and real estate advisors, Zowayed is a seasoned real estate lawyer and a practitioner qualified in New York. He specialises in commercial real estate in the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain markets, with extensive knowledge in real estate sales and acquisitions, hotels, retail sectors, leasing, and regulatory issues in the region.

“I’m very excited to be rejoining Baker McKenzie, where I began my legal career path, and to be part of this dynamic global team helping drive the Firm’s real estate practice in the Gulf region and the wider Middle East. I am confident that my deep experience particularly in commercial real estate-related matters, will benefit our clients across the region and beyond,” Khaled Zowayed said.

Baker McKenzie's recruitment of Khaled Zowayed is the latest in a series of lateral hires made by the firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a particular focus on the United Arab Emirates. Recently, Luka Kristovic-Blazevic joined as a partner and head of the Middle East arbitration practice from White & Case, and Tina Hsieh was appointed as a partner in the tax practice, having previously worked at Ernst & Young.