Stephen Kelly, Sarah Mahood Named Legal Era Middle East Law Awards Finalists

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Oct. 31, 2024 - Stephen Kelly and Sarah Mahood, co-heads of the Middle East Real Estate and Hospitality Practice of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, are both Real Estate Lawyer of the Year finalists for the 5th Annual Legal Era Middle East Law Awards 2024. The winner will be announced at a ceremony Nov. 14.

The Legal Era Middle East Law Awards highlights lawyers based on their credibility, impartiality, international reputation, and egalitarianism as judged by an independent jury, according to the publication.

"At Greenberg Traurig, we are incredibly proud of the recognition Stephen and Sarah have received. Their dedication and experience not only set the standard within the region but also underscore our commitment to providing unparalleled legal counsel in the real estate and hospitality sectors globally. Stephen's pioneering work on strategically important giga projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sarah's remarkable contributions to iconic developments across multiple continents are testaments to their leadership and innovation. This acknowledgment reflects their tireless efforts in shaping the legal frameworks that drive growth and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond," Greenberg Traurig Executive Chairman Richard A. Rosenbaum said.

Kelly focuses his practice on real estate, development, and hospitality matters across the Middle East and internationally. He is widely recognized in the industry and legal directories as a market leader for his deep experience in advising on complex real estate, development, and hospitality matters. He has shaped the legal landscape in the United Arab Emirates for over 15 years, having advised on some of the most prominent and iconic master planned communities, mixed-use developments, and branded residences. Kelly's wide-ranging experience includes advising developers, service providers, hotel operators, and others in the development and hospitality industries, with a particular focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he is involved in a number of strategically important giga projects. He advises on large-scale master planned communities, mixed-use developments, and branded residences. Kelly's experience includes advising regulators, master developers, developers, service providers, hotel operators, and others in the development and hospitality industries. He regularly advises on the title structuring of complex mixed-use hotel developments and master communities, including those governed by strata or common-hold title regimes.

Mahood has more than 22 years of experience in both London and the Middle East, advising master developers, sub-developers, hotel operators, landlords, tenants, lenders, and investors on a range of issues related to development, hospitality, and commercial real estate, including complex sale and purchase agreements and the structuring of mixed-use and hotel development projects involving strata titling and multiple ownership. She has advised leading master developers across the Middle East with respect to iconic flagship projects and has particular expertise in structuring and documenting hotel and branded residential developments across the globe, having advised in relation to projects in the United States, Africa, Thailand and throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Mahood was recently recognized by Business Today in their Lawyer Awards 2023 as a pioneering real estate lawyer in the United Arab Emirates.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2750 attorneys in 48 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI "Highly Recommended Law Firm" for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com