Elias Hayek Joins Greenberg Traurig To Co-Lead Middle East And European Hospitality Practice
Elias Hayek Joins Greenberg Traurig to Co-Lead Middle East and European Hospitality Practice
Greenberg Traurig (GT) has welcomed Elias Hayek, a veteran hospitality lawyer in the Gulf region, as Co-Chair of its Middle East and European Hospitality Group. Hayek joins the firm from Squire Patton Boggs, where he led the global hospitality and leisure practice since 2017.
Based across Dubai, Riyadh, and London, Hayek brings over 30 years of legal experience and a portfolio of more than 500 transactions throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. His extensive work spans mergers and acquisitions, hotel leasing, branded residences, and large-scale joint ventures in the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment industries.
Richard Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman of Greenberg Traurig, commented:
“Elias’s arrival reflects our long-term vision to deliver market-leading, pragmatic, and responsive counsel to clients involved in the region’s most transformative projects. His addition strengthens our position as a top-tier real estate and hospitality firm across the Middle East and beyond.”
Khalid Al-Thebity, Regional Chair for the Middle East and Managing Shareholder of GT’s Saudi Arabia office, said,
“Elias has developed a highly successful practice advising clients on the full lifecycle of their hospitality projects and transactions worldwide.”
Hayek’s recent mandates include advising Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) subsidiaries on major giga-projects, and acting for a UAE government entity in a multibillion-dollar joint venture with a global gaming and hospitality company. He also advised European private equity fund subsidiaries on acquiring and developing high-end hospitality assets across the continent.
Before joining Squire Patton Boggs, Hayek served as Vice President of Legal at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he advised on more than 300 hotel development deals across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region.
Licensed in California and registered as a Dubai Legal Consultant, Hayek is fluent in English, Arabic, and French. He began his legal career in 1995 at Coudert Brothers in San Jose, California.
The firm has yet to announce who will co-chair the hospitality practice alongside Hayek.
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