At Charles Russell we have a multi-disciplinary hotels & hospitality team who have extensive experience across the sector. We have advised both owners and operators across the Middle East and are therefore able to quickly identify the key commercial issues in relation to a particular transaction.

Our experience includes working with a diverse range of clients including hoteliers, banks, investors, private individuals, developers and operators. To meet the needs of our clients we offer an integrated approach covering property, construction, employment, corporate and commercial matters.

With a team 'on the ground' in the Middle East we have a strong understanding of local and regional markets. In addition, we have a large team in the UK who work closely with our Middle east Team on international projects.

Our services

We have industry specific experience in the following areas:

  • Construction and engineering
  • Employment
  • Finance
  • Health and safety
  • Intellectual property
  • Investment and development
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Operational issues
  • Planning
  • Regulatory issues
  • Sale and leaseback
  • Tax structuring

"Charles Russell has 'excellent industryknowledge', and its advice is 'always appropriate'."

Legal 500

Our experience

Recent examples of our team's experience include:

Bahrain

  • Advising a government owned real estate development company on the initial aspects of its proposed multiple hotels development project along the West coast of Bahrain.
  • Advising a development company with its proposed USD 40 million hotel development and associated serviced apartments in the Al Seef district of Bahrain.
  • Advising a prominent Bahrain individual in relation to the acquisition of a plot of land at Bahrain Bay to allow for the development of a 5 star hotel.
  • Advising one of Asia's largest real estate companies with its USD 750 million iconic mixed use development known as Raffles City, Bahrain including a hotel and serviced apartments.
  • Drafting and negotiating the suite of hotel management documents relating to a 'boutique' hotel in Bahrain to a recognised operator.

Saudi Arabia

  • Advising a Bahrain based financial institution on the structuring aspects of the development and management of a hotel in Saudi Arabia focusing on visiting pilgrims to Mecca.
  • Advising a Saudi company on a proposed hotel management agreement to an international operator in relation to a hotel situated in the Eastern Province.

United Arab Emirates

  • Advising a regional bank as part of a syndicated project financing in relation to the development of a hotel in Dubai.
  • Advising an international developer on the first Palazzo Versace resort including the D1 residential tower to be developed in the Middle East.
  • Advising an international developer on the development of an island on The World Islands in the Emirate of Dubai comprising a 5 star hotel and residences to be operated by an international hotel operator.
  • Advising international hotel operators on their respective developments compromising 5 star hotels and private residences on Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi. Africa
  • Advising a leading emerging markets fund manager in relation to numerous commercial real estate projects in Africa, including hotel, office and retail developments.

UK

  • Advising one of the largest serviced apartment providers in the world on all its key operating and management agreements.
  • Assisting on the acquisition of a landmark hotel in London via a corporate structure and also on the following substantive refurbishment.
  • Advising a major UK property group on the acquisition, site assembly and redevelopment of a Grade I listed luxury thermal spa hotel.
  • Advising a UK hotel group on the property and construction aspects of various projects including including Heythrop Park Resort, Holiday Inn Kings Cross and The Priory Hotel Oxford.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.