BCLP Abu Dhabi bolsters Real Estate team with new partner hire

International law firm BCLP announced today that Philip Hecht will join the Abu Dhabi office as a partner in the Real Estate team.

Philip joins BCLP from Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experience in Abu Dhabi, where he was Director of Legal Affairs. At Miral, he managed all development and construction legal matters, spanning the entire asset lifecycle, from development through to asset management. He was also responsible for handling intellectual property legal matters with some of Miral’s high profile IP partners, such as Warner Bros. Discovery, SeaWorld, teamLab and Ferrari, as well as all general corporate-commercial legal business.

With over 16 years of experience in the UAE, Philip has significant in-house experience with some of the leading entities in the region, including Miral, Aldar and Etihad Airways. He has also spent over a decade in private practice with CMS and DLA Piper.

Over his career, Philip has advised on the delivery and asset management of over $35 billion in real estate and infrastructure assets, including large-scale theme park attractions, high-profile retail developments, hotels, master communities, hospitals, transportation networks, and major energy and water infrastructure. This includes Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, two of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, as well as the UAE’s largest structural steel building and one of the Middle East’s largest solar energy plants.

Philip was recently included in the Legal 500’s GC Powerlist for the Middle East and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Philip Hecht, Partner, Real Estate, said, “Having collaborated with the team at BCLP on several occasions in my previous role, I am thrilled to join the firm and work alongside its highly respected professionals. I look forward to building a successful, sustainable practice and enhancing the firm’s real estate and commercial construction offerings, while contributing to the firm’s broader growth ambitions."

Richard Davies, UAE Managing Partner, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Philip to our growing Middle East team. His extensive in-house experience managing complex, high-value projects across real estate and infrastructure brings a fresh perspective that complements our focus on client intelligence and delivering innovative solutions.”