Baker McKenzie bolsters Bahrain practice with Khaled Zowayed

Baker McKenzie is making further strides to strengthen its operations in Bahrain by expanding its real estate practice with the strategic rehiring of Khaled Zowayed (pictured) as a partner. Zowayed, who will be based in Bahrain, will concentrate on commercial real estate matters related to the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain markets. 
 
Commenting, Bahrain Managing Partner, Ian Siddell, said: “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.” 
 
Real estate partner, Jean-Francois Vandenberghe, added: “We’re pleased to welcome Khaled Zowayed to the firm once again, whose return is in line with our recent growth in key strategic areas in 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.”  
 
Zowayed is returning to Baker McKenzie after serving as General Counsel at Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real estate branch of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for nearly two years. With over 11 years of experience in advising clients across various market segments such as government authorities, asset managers and investors, retailers, real estate advisors, and intermediaries, Khaled Zowayed is an accomplished real estate attorney and a practitioner qualified in New York. He specializes in commercial real estate in the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain markets and has extensive expertise in real estate sales and acquisitions, hotels, retail sectors, leasing, and regulatory issues in the region. 
 
Khaled Zowayed said, “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’s hiring follows several lateral appointments in the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. Luka Kristovic-Blazevic joined as a partner and head of the Middle East arbitration practice from White & Case, while Tina Hsieh also became a partner in the firm’s tax practice, having previously worked at Ernst & Young.