In the real estate and hospitality sectors, the integration of specialized legal expertise is crucial for navigating complex transactions and regulatory environments. This industry demands professionals who can adeptly manage high-profile deals and provide strategic guidance tailored to diverse markets. As the sector continues to evolve, the ability to balance intricate legal requirements with practical business solutions becomes increasingly important.
Keri Watkins is a prominent leader in this field, demonstrating her remarkable blend of strategic vision and operational acumen. With a career shaped by a commitment to excellence and a proactive approach to client engagement, this individual excels in steering major transactions and fostering collaborative relationships. As a Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate and Hospitality Middle East, she is known for a forward-thinking mindset. Her leadership significantly influences industry practices, ensuring that clients receive both innovative and effective solutions. Keri’s role in shaping the sector highlights her dedication to advancing the field and setting high standards for professional practice.
The firm, Baker McKenzie, is known for its influential presence in the real estate and hospitality sectors. With a reputation for delivering top-tier legal services, it plays a pivotal role in guiding clients through the complexities of the industry. Its extensive expertise and strategic approach underpin its position as a leading authority in the Middle East, reflecting a deep commitment to addressing the unique opportunities within the market.
Let’s explore how Keri’s visionary leadership is transforming real estate and hospitality in the Middle East through unparalleled legal expertise!
A Pivotal Career Move
Keri’s career trajectory has been marked by strategic decisions and key experiences that have shaped her professional journey. After spending a number of years in the United Kingdom, she made a significant decision to return to the UAE in 2010 to broaden her international professional experience. Keri shares, “This move proved to be a crucial turning point in my career, allowing me to work in a fast-paced and forward thinking jurisdiction, where I was involved in high-profile, market-leading transactions.” Fourteen years later, she reflects on her decision with great satisfaction, noting that she cannot envision a better environment for practicing real estate and hospitality law than in the Middle East region.
Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
As Partner and Co-Head, Keri oversees the delivery of high-quality services to clients, ensures the professional development of the legal team and co-leads the strategic expansion of the regional practice. This involves aligning the practice’s operations with the overarching goals of both the Middle East region and Baker McKenzie’s global objectives.
A critical component of Keri’s role includes cultivating and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders such as industry peers and regulatory authorities. Her commitment to mentoring the team is evident through her dedication to creating a collaborative and innovative atmosphere that supports professional advancement. Keri also prioritizes staying informed about market shifts and regulatory updates, enabling the team to offer clients commercially astute advice on real estate and hospitality transactions.
Harnessing Industry Recognition
Baker McKenzie’s regional real estate practice has achieved recognitions from Legal 500, Chambers & Partners Global, and Who’s Who Legal, the prestigious legal directories that rank and provide insights into law firms and legal professionals worldwide. Keri has also been personally ranked for her expertise – this recognition is a testament to her commitment to delivering high-caliber legal services. Keri shares, “These accolades enhance the firm’s standing as a leading force in the real estate and hospitality sectors within the Middle East, establishing a clear benchmark for quality and expertise in the industry.”
Keri shares, “These honors act as a source of encouragement, motivating me to strive for continuous professional growth.” “They also fuel my commitment to supporting the advancement of emerging legal talent within the firm, particularly emphasizing my role as a mentor to the next generation of lawyers,” she added.
Comprehensive Expertise in Commercial Real Estate
Keri specializes in a comprehensive range of services within the commercial real estate sector. The practice covers the entire real estate lifecycle, from the acquisition of land through to corporate structuring, joint ventures, project financing, development and leasing.
The firm represents clients from diverse sectors such as hospitality, logistics, education, and retail. Keri particularly focuses on the hotels, resorts, and tourism (HRT) sector, where she plays an active role as part of Baker McKenzie’s dedicated industry group. In this capacity, she advises hoteliers, including owners, operators, developers, and financiers, on a wide range of high-profile transactions. Keri’s team has developed a reputable hospitality practice that is recognized for its expertise in the region.
Beyond hospitality, Keri and her team support clients across the logistics, education, and retail sectors in advancing their expansion strategies throughout the Gulf region. Earlier this year, the team was involved in the largest institutional third-party single-asset real estate transaction in the UAE, reflecting the trust clients place in Baker McKenzie’s capabilities.
Keri also advises on hotel management agreements and franchise agreements. The solutions provided to clients are grounded in deep industry knowledge and local market expertise, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable service offering.
Balancing Global Standards with Local Expertise
Keri advises a broad spectrum of clients, including local businesses, multinational corporations, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and public institutions, by focusing on a tailored strategy that meets the specific requirements and objectives of each client. This involves a careful understanding of both the industry sector and the jurisdiction in which the clients operate. At Baker McKenzie, the team is composed of internationally and locally trained lawyers, offering a thorough grasp of global standards as well as in-depth knowledge of local regulations.
Keri emphasizes providing practical and commercially sound legal advice. Recognizing that clients operate in high-pressure environments; she ensures that legal guidance is provided within deadlines and aligned with the overall strategic direction of the businesses. This client-focused approach ensures that each client receives advice that is both relevant to their unique challenges and supportive of their broader business goals.
Vision for Career Growth and Team Expansion
Keri has set ambitious long-term objectives both for her career and the real estate and hospitality team at Baker McKenzie. Her primary goal is to continue to elevate the firm’s regional practice, building on the strength of the real estate market across the Middle East. Keri shares, “My aim is to work closely with Baker McKenzie’s distinguished clients, engaging in high-profile transactions and critical matters that solidify the firm’s reputation in the industry.” Additionally, she plans to expand the team, with a target to double its size within the next three years.
Keri is committed to advancing the firm’s inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives. She envisions these programs as integral to nurturing talent and shaping the future leadership of the organization. Through these efforts, Keri seeks to create a thriving environment where professional growth and inclusivity are central to the firm’s continued success.
Balancing Professional Demands with Family Life
Keri manages her demanding professional responsibilities while maintaining a healthy work-life balance through careful planning and strong personal support. Keri shares, “As a mother of two young children and a wife, I recognized the importance of being well-organized and relying on my support network of family and friends, who provide invaluable assistance.”
She dedicates weekend time to the preparation of the week ahead, ensuring that priorities are clearly set and everyone in the family is aligned and ready for the start of the week. Additionally, Keri incorporates a daily routine that includes an early wake up with the children before she does the school drop-off, and at least 30 minutes of personal time each morning, which helps her recharge and mentally prepare for the day. This period of reflection, often accompanied by a cappuccino and a morning gratitude journal, allows her to start each day with focus and clarity.
Guiding Future Legal Professionals
Keri offers valuable guidance to students aspiring to pursue a career in law. She emphasizes, “It is important to build a solid legal foundation during law school, with a deep understanding of the doctrines and policies relevant to one’s chosen area of specialization.” In addition, “Developing meaningful relationships through networking with professionals and peers is also essential,” she added.
She encourages students to gain practical experience in the legal sector, whether through internships, volunteering, or shadowing legal professionals, as these opportunities provide invaluable insights and skills. Additionally, she advises, “Aspiring students should stay well-informed about industry trends and develop an understanding of the business side of the law.”
