Michael Hilton is the Head of Skadden’s Abu Dhabi office and leads the firm’s Middle East practice. With more than 20 years of experience advising on complex cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and financial sponsor transactions, Michael is widely regarded as one of the region’s leading corporate lawyers.

He regularly represents global financial investors, sovereign wealth funds, and government-owned enterprises on high-profile and market-shaping deals across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). His experience spans key sectors including private equity, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, financial services, telecoms, and technology.

Michael has played a central role in several of the most significant transactions in the region, including advising ADNOC, DP World, ENOC, Saudi Telecom Company, and OSN on transformative corporate and M&A matters. Notable examples include ADNOC’s partnership with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to launch ICE Futures Abu Dhabi, Al Hilal Bank’s three-way merger creating the UAE’s third-largest bank, and Saudi Telecom Company’s $3.1 billion sale of Careem to Uber, the largest technology deal in the region.

Before joining Skadden, Michael served as MENA Regional Managing Partner at a Magic Circle firm, further cementing his reputation for leading complex, high-value transactions. His deep regional insight, commercial acumen, and ability to manage multifaceted cross-border deals make him a trusted advisor to corporate and financial clients operating across the MENA region.