In the realms of real estate and hospitality, incorporating specialized legal expertise is essential for navigating complex transactions and adhering to regulatory frameworks. This industry requires professionals who can skillfully manage prominent deals and offer strategic advice that caters to a variety of markets. As the industry continues to develop, the capacity to merge intricate legal stipulations with practical business strategies becomes even more vital.
Keri Watkins stands out as a key figure in this domain, showcasing an impressive fusion of strategic insight and operational savvy. Throughout her career, marked by a dedication to excellence and an engaging approach to client relationships, she has been instrumental in guiding major transactions and fostering teamwork. As a Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate and Hospitality Middle East, Keri is recognized for her innovative perspective. Her leadership plays a significant role in evolving industry practices, ensuring that clients benefit from both inventive and effective solutions. Keri’s influence in shaping the sector emphasizes her commitment to advancing the field and upholding high standards of professional conduct.
The firm, Baker McKenzie, is widely regarded as a major player in the real estate and hospitality landscapes. Renowned for its delivery of premium legal services, it serves a pivotal role in navigating clients through the industry’s complexities. Its vast expertise and strategic mindset reinforce its status as a prominent authority in the Middle East, reflecting a strong dedication to exploring the unique opportunities available in the market.
Let’s delve into how Keri’s visionary leadership is revolutionizing real estate and hospitality in the Middle East through exceptional legal expertise!
A Pivotal Career Move
Keri’s career path has been defined by strategic choices and significant experiences that have shaped her professional life. After spending several years in the United Kingdom, she made the impactful decision to return to the UAE in 2010 to expand her international professional exposure. Keri remarks, “This move was a turning point in my career, enabling me to engage in a dynamic and forward-thinking jurisdiction where I was involved in leading market transactions.” Fourteen years later, she looks back on this decision with pride, asserting that she can’t imagine a better place to practice real estate and hospitality law than in the Middle East.
Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
As Partner and Co-Head, Keri oversees the provision of high-quality services to clients, ensures the professional growth of the legal team, and co-leads the strategic development of the regional practice. This includes aligning the practice’s operations with the broader goals of both the Middle East region and Baker McKenzie’s global objectives.
A key aspect of Keri’s role is building and maintaining relationships with important stakeholders, such as industry colleagues and regulatory bodies. Her dedication to mentoring her team is evident in her efforts to foster a collaborative and innovative environment that supports professional growth. Keri also places great importance on staying updated with market changes and regulatory developments, empowering her team to provide clients with astute advice on real estate and hospitality transactions.
Harnessing Industry Recognition
Baker McKenzie’s regional real estate practice has garnered accolades from Legal 500, Chambers & Partners Global, and Who’s Who Legal, esteemed legal directories that rank and spotlight law firms and professionals globally. Keri herself has also received personal recognition for her expertise, underscoring her dedication to delivering top-notch legal services. Keri shares, “These honors elevate the firm’s status as a major influence in the real estate and hospitality sectors in the Middle East, establishing a clear standard for quality and expertise in the field.”
Keri adds, “These distinctions serve as motivation, driving me to pursue ongoing professional growth.” “They also underpin my commitment to supporting the development of emerging legal talents within the firm, particularly highlighting my role as a mentor to the upcoming generation of lawyers,” she expresses.
Comprehensive Expertise in Commercial Real Estate
Keri specializes in an extensive array of services within the commercial real estate domain. Her practice encompasses the complete real estate lifecycle, starting from land acquisition through corporate structuring, joint ventures, project financing, development, and leasing.
The firm caters to clients across various sectors, including hospitality, logistics, education, and retail. Keri pays special attention to the hotels, resorts, and tourism (HRT) sector, where she actively participates as part of Baker McKenzie’s dedicated industry group. In this role, she advises hoteliers, including owners, operators, developers, and financiers, on a diverse range of high-profile transactions. Keri’s team has established a reputable hospitality practice known for its expertise in the region.
In addition to hospitality, Keri and her team assist clients in the logistics, education, and retail sectors as they advance their expansion initiatives across the Gulf region. Earlier this year, the team was involved in the UAE’s largest institutional third-party single-asset real estate transaction, demonstrating the trust clients have in Baker McKenzie’s services.
Keri also provides counsel on hotel management and franchise agreements. The solutions offered to clients are rooted in extensive industry knowledge and local market proficiency, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable service portfolio.
Balancing Global Standards with Local Expertise
Keri advises a wide variety of clients, including local enterprises, multinational corporations, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and public institutions, by focusing on a tailored approach that satisfies each client’s specific needs and goals. This requires a detailed understanding of both the industry sector and the jurisdiction in which the clients function. At Baker McKenzie, the team consists of both internationally and locally trained lawyers, yielding a solid grasp of global standards alongside detailed knowledge of local regulations.
Keri emphasizes the importance of providing practical and commercially viable legal advice. Acknowledging that clients operate under significant pressures, she ensures that legal support is provided promptly and aligns with the clients’ broader strategic goals. This client-centric approach guarantees that each client receives advice that is not only pertinent to their unique challenges but also supports their larger business objectives.
Vision for Career Growth and Team Expansion
Keri has set ambitious long-term goals both for her career and the real estate and hospitality team at Baker McKenzie. Her primary objective is to continue enhancing the firm’s regional practice, building upon the strength of the real estate market across the Middle East. Keri states, “My goal is to collaborate closely with Baker McKenzie’s esteemed clients, engaging in high-profile transactions and critical matters that reinforce the firm’s credibility in the industry.” Furthermore, she aims to grow the team, targeting a doubling of its size within the next three years.
Keri is also dedicated to promoting the firm’s inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives. She sees these programs as essential for nurturing talent and cultivating future leadership. Through these endeavors, Keri aspires to create a robust environment that centers on professional growth and inclusivity as key components of the firm’s ongoing success.
Balancing Professional Demands with Family Life
Keri successfully manages her rigorous professional obligations while maintaining a healthy work-life balance through careful organization and strong support from her family. She shares, “As a mother of two young children and a wife, I understand the necessity of being well-organized and relying on my support system of family and friends, who are invaluable.”
Keri allocates her weekend time to prepare for the week ahead, ensuring that priorities are defined and that everyone is ready for the days to come. She also follows a daily routine that involves waking early with her children before school drop-offs, dedicating at least 30 minutes each morning to personal time, enabling her to recharge and mentally prepare for the day. This period of reflection, often accompanied by a cappuccino and a morning gratitude journal, provides her with the focus and clarity needed to start each day effectively.
Guiding Future Legal Professionals
Keri imparts invaluable advice to students who aspire to pursue a career in law. She emphasizes, “Building a strong legal foundation during law school is essential, along with a comprehensive understanding of the doctrines and policies within one’s chosen specialization.” Additionally, she highlights, “Establishing meaningful connections through networking with professionals and peers is crucial,” she states.
She encourages students to seek practical experiences in the legal field, whether through internships, volunteering, or shadowing legal professionals, as these experiences offer essential insights and skills. Moreover, she advises, “Aspiring students should remain well-informed about industry trends and cultivate an understanding of the business aspects of law.”
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