Addleshaw Goddard has appointed Naji Hawayek as UAE-based Corporate Partner, reinforcing its transactional capabilities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The move signals the firm’s continued investment in scaling its Middle East platform with senior, market-recognised talent as cross-border deal activity gains momentum across the GCC.
Veteran M&A adviser joins from Clyde & Co
Hawayek joins from Clyde & Co and brings more than two decades of experience advising on high-value cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity transactions and complex corporate restructurings.
Bilingual in Arabic and English, he has worked on some of the region’s most significant corporate transactions. His expertise spans M&A, venture capital, investment funds, regulatory matters, foreign direct investment and Shari’ah-related advisory. He also advises family-owned businesses with multi-layered ownership structures.
His sector coverage includes education, healthcare, hospitality, media, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, energy and financial services.
Strategic role on Middle East Board
In addition to joining the Corporate practice, Hawayek will serve on the firm’s Middle East Board. In this role, he will contribute to shaping and executing Addleshaw Goddard’s regional growth strategy.
Robin Hickman, Head of Middle East at Addleshaw Goddard, described the appointment as a strategic addition.
“Naji’s depth of regional experience and strong track record on complex, cross-border transactions significantly enhance our Corporate offering,” Hickman said. “His leadership experience and long-standing market relationships will support our next phase of growth.”
Recognised industry standing
Hawayek is consistently ranked by leading legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 for Corporate M&A. In 2024, he was named to the Legal 500 Powerhouse M&A List, which recognises leading practitioners in the field.
Commenting on his appointment, Hawayek said the Middle East presents compelling opportunities for growth and investment.
“The region continues to attract strategic capital and cross-border interest,” he noted. “I look forward to working across practice areas to deliver integrated, high-impact advice to clients operating in complex markets.”
Expanding regional footprint
Addleshaw Goddard operates 21 offices globally, including five across the GCC — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Riyadh — and maintains a strong presence in Europe and Asia.
The firm’s latest senior hire underscores its ambition to deepen corporate advisory capabilities in the Middle East, where regulatory reform, foreign investment flows and family-business transitions are driving sustained transactional activity.
