King & Spalding Hires Malek Al Rifai as Middle East Real Estate Partner

King & Spalding Hires Malek Al Rifai as Middle East Real Estate Partner

He will be supported by lawyers in the Middle East, Europe, the UK, and the US offices of the firm

Malek Al Rifai has joined King & Spalding LLP as a Real Estate Partner in its Corporate, Finance, and Investments (CFI) Practice.

Based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Al Rifai will focus on a combination of the UAE, Saudi Arabian, and other matters across the wider MENA region. In the MENA region, he represents regional and international real estate funds on a range of transactional matters.

Todd Holleman, the head of the firm’s CFI practice remarked, “Adding Al Rifai to our team will help us tap into the uptick in the Middle East infrastructure investment, including giga-projects in Saudi Arabia, which include a significant real estate component and requires substantial real estate know-how. He has expansive real estate experience across many types of transactions and sectors with an in-depth, on-the-ground understanding of how deals get done in the Middle East.”

Nabil Issa, the Managing Partner of the firm’s Middle East offices commented, “Real estate is a key area for our transactional teams, so having a next-generation leader like Al Rifai joining our ranks is an exciting development, especially in the context of our regional expansion plans. His addition underscores our ongoing commitment to offer clients market-leading advice for all their critical investments that reflect a strong understanding of the local regulations.”

On his joining, Al Rifai added, “King & Spalding’s footprint in the Middle East and in Saudi Arabia gives me the opportunity to be involved in some of the largest most exciting real estate developments in the world. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to help clients benefit from the firm’s platform in the region and the strong combination of skills we can provide.”

Al Rifai’s practice focuses on structuring and executing complex transactions for clients across the Middle East region, including developers, owners, investors, stakeholders, financial institutions, investment funds, and REITs.

He has experience in a variety of public and private real estate and corporate real estate transactions including M&A, financings, project development, joint developments and HMAs, and asset classes across office, hospitality, education, retail, health care facilities, industrial, and mixed-use properties.

Al Rifai earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and Social Sciences from Collège Protestant Français and his J.D. from Saint Joseph University, Faculty of Law. He holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Bayes Business School, City University of London). He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.