Elias Joseph Hayek

Elias J. Hayek, co-chair of the firm’s Middle East and European Hospitality Group, represents multi-asset owner/developers, private equity funds, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, brand owners, and third-party operators in the hospitality, leisure, and entertainment sectors. He handles cross-jurisdictional hospitality- and leisure-focused commercial and real estate transactions and has closed more than 500 transactions in more than 45 cities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Elias sits in the firm’s United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offices and spends time in the London office.

Elias handles hospitality mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, management, licensing and franchising agreements, hotel project leasing agreements, mixed-use and branded residential developments, and sale and lease/manage back transactions. He advises on a broad spectrum of hospitality development and operational issues and also works on management and licensing agreements for food and beverage, restaurant, health, and wellness operations, along with general corporate and commercial transactions for third party management, licensing, franchising, and service agreements. Elias also advises clients on hospitality related contractual disputes and arbitrations.

Before joining the firm, Elias held the position of global chair of the hospitality and leisure practice at a U.S.-headquartered international law firm for almost a decade.

Prior to returning to private practice, Elias served as vice president, legal - Europe, Africa, and Middle East Division at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. from 2000-2017, with responsibility for all regional legal matters concerning corporate, development, and operational affairs of the company’s hotel portfolio of over 300 hotels.

Elias received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Global Board. He previously served as chair of the International Bar Association’s Leisure Industries Section and held positions as co-chair of the Leisure Industries Section, vice-chair of the Corporate Counsel Forum, and officer of the Legal Practice Division, Arab Regional Forum. He also formerly served as chairman and president of the ACC's Middle East chapter.

Concentrations

•Hospitality development, M&A, and joint ventures
•Hospitality management, licensing, and franchising agreements
•Hospitality branded residential and mixed-use
•Hospitality disputes, litigation, and arbitration

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Recipient, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Global Board, “Lifetime Achievement Award,” 2017
•Listed, Lexology Index
•Recommended, Hospitality, 2025
•Listed, Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology Index)
•Thought Leader, Hospitality and Leisure Law, 2021-2024