Nadia is a highly experienced commercial property and commercial lawyer with a particular focus in the hotels, hospitality & leisure sectors. She been advising hospitality asset owners, investors, and international brands for close to 20 years. Nadia also has extensive expertise in advising owners and investors of hospitality assets, their landlords, and international brands in the amicable resolution of operational and relationship issues.
Nadia has spent over 13 years in-house, holding senior positions within Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, and more recently Sonder Inc. where she sat on senior leadership teams, collaborating with business partners to help drive strategy throughout EMEAA whilst mitigating commercial, legal and reputational risk.
She also advises on environmental social governance (ESG) aspects in relation to the hospitality sector, including advising on ESG in hotel acquisitions and disposals, requirements in the built environment (‘green’ and ‘social’ provisions in leases, management and franchise agreements) and leading transformational change.
Her current clients include multiple professional short-term rental operators, hotel owners with portfolios across EMEA, developers and investors in the sector, and white label operators. She works on the full spectrum of commercial real estate including the acquisition and disposal of real estate, hybrid leases, asset management, the acquisition of hospitality property-owning companies, the negotiation of management agreements on behalf of international brands and white label operators, as well as acting for owners. She is also highly experienced in branded residential developments, acting for both owners and brands.
Since its inception in 2021, Nadia has chaired the Legal Committee and sits on the Advisory Board for the Energy & Environment Alliance, a not-for-profit formed by the former CEO of the UK Hospitality, focusing on driving ESG into the hospitality sector. Nadia also sits on the Policy Board for the Association of Short-term Apartment Providers (ASAP), a UK-based trade body that represents and supports the serviced apartment, aparthotel, and corporate housing industry, renowned for being the leading voice for the sector advocating for the industry’s needs with the Government, the media, and other hospitality associations.
Nadia is a regular speaker on the hospitality sector circuit and is fluent in Arabic.
Nadia has a broad experience in the industry, she brings a wealth of experience from working within major global brands as well as for private clients. Nadia is a strong communicator and ensures as clients we are in the loop throughout the process.
Lionel Benjamin, go2 Hotels
Nadia is absolutely fantastic. She demonstrates a remarkable ability to take the time to understand every client’s expectation without a shadow of doubt, which builds a profound level of client confidence. This level of trust and confidence is a rare and highly prized quality in a legal partner.
Joe Fowles, Founder and CEO, JS Hotels & Resorts
Working with Nadia has been an absolute pleasure. Her expertise in the hospitality industry has been invaluable, providing us with exceptional support across various aspects of our business. From navigating complex legal matters to offering strategic guidance, they always take a personal approach that makes collaboration seamless and enjoyable. Nadia's dedication, professionalism, and deep understanding of our industry set her apart. Truly a joy to work with—highly recommended!
Izabela Szumierz, Co-Founder and CEO Europe, Urban Rest
Nadia's expertise in the hospitality sector has been invaluable. I find Nadia’s proactive approach and understanding of our business’ requirements combined make her an exceptional legal partner, whom I strongly recommend to any hospitality business seeking expert sectorial guidance and a very commercial legal approach.
Lionel Benjamin, go2 Hotels
Nadia has made a valuable contribution to driving ESG into the hospitality sector which has only been possible due to her thorough understanding of the hospitality sector. She has an ability to communicate complex legal matters across a vast variety of legal and logistical issues in a clear and concise manner. I wholeheartedly recommend Nadia for her exceptional expertise in the hospitality sector.
Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of the EEA and former CEO of The British Hospitality Association
As regulatory risk continues to escalate and the cost of capital becomes more dependent on financial and sustainability performance, having an informed and capable navigating team is crucial. For organisations in the hospitality industry, I highly recommend Nadia.
Ufi Ibrahim,
CEO of the Energy & Environment Alliance and former CEO of UK HospitalityNadia’s expertise has been invaluable in navigating complex legal issues and strategically positioning our business for growth. Her proactive approach and understanding of our business’ requirements make her an exceptional legal partner. I strongly recommend Nadia to any hospitality business seeking expert sectorial guidance and a very commercial legal approach.
Lionel Benjamin,
go2 Hotels
Expertise
- In-house counsel
- Fractional general counsel
- Hotels, hospitality & leisure
- Retail
- Environmental Social Governance (ESG)
- Hotel management agreements
- Hotel franchise agreements
- Restaurant and bars management and franchise agreements
- Hospitality leases (fixed/mixed/revenue share leases)
- Branded residences
- Non-disturbance agreements
- Comfort letters
- Non-contentious dispute resolution
- Property Development
- Commercial
- Commercial property
- Banking & finance
- Commercial property acquisitions and disposals
- Landlord and tenant matters
- Commercial templates and negotiation
- Training on commercial property and commercial law to commercial teams and C-suite
Experience
Banking and Finance
- Advised on the real estate elements for a mezzanine funder for the Grosvenor House Hotel.
- Acted for HBSC on the real estate aspects of a hotel financing on a £70 million borrowing for the borrower’s acquisition of two hotels and a serviced apartment building in Knightsbridge.
- Advised hotel lenders on their hotel management agreements and franchise agreements with numerous brands including Choice Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group and Marriott.
- Collaborated with the Islamic Finance Team, the Funds Team, UDC and its investment bank, Morgan Stanley, to establish a Shari’ah-compliant fund to finance construction of The Pearl, a reclaimed island development in Qatar.
- Advised on the change of ownership of a portfolio of 21 hotels from Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC brands (which included 11 InterContinental Hotels Group PLC branded hotels) where the purchaser was securitising post-completion.
- Advised on the real estate aspects of the restructuring and refinancing of The Beehive (a mixed-use development by Gatwick Airport).
- Advised on the commercial property aspects whilst acting for the investors of the Grosvenor Liverpool Fund in the development of the £1 billion Paradise Street project, known as Liverpool 1.
- Lead commercial property fee earner on the restructuring of a portfolio of care homes throughout England & Wales (over 50 different properties) including overseeing the production of certificates of title on each property.
- Advised on the real estate aspects of several multi-billion-dollar securitisations including within the UAE, including:
- Citigroup’s securitisation of the sale income from off-plan residential sales from Sorouh’s Reem Island and Saraya Developments;
- The Shari’ah-compliant securitisation of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority; and
- Nakheel PJSC’s securitisation of the sale income from its off-plan residential properties.
Commercial
- Held senior in-house positions at Sonder Inc. Intercontinental Hotels PLC, Mothercare PLC and Hilton Worldwide, producing a variety of template commercial agreements for use in the hotels, hospitality and leisure sector and retail sectors, including hotel, bar and restaurant management and franchise agreements, supply of goods agreements and supply of services agreements.
- Negotiated a multi-million-dollar facilities management agreement on behalf of the owner of 866 hotel and serviced apartment units.
- Advised a leading international retail brand on the renewal of several key master franchise agreements in multiple jurisdictions, including China, Greece and the UAE, as well as the unwinding of several international joint ventures.
- Worked with a leading international retailer’s international and wholesale teams, to draft template international franchise agreements, distribution, supply and agency agreements and then negotiated them with their partners in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised and negotiated on Leisurecorp’s exclusive franchise agreements for various international retail brands throughout the Gulf.
- Provided training to commercial teams on a variety of commercial legal topics such as management agreements, agency vs distribution agreements and franchise masterclasses for leading international hospitality brands and an international retailer.
- Produced template and negotiation of key money agreements, hold-harmless and indemnity agreements, non-disturbance agreements, portfolio agreements, framework agreements, joint venture agreements and security arrangements for leading international hospitality brands and an international retailer.
Commercial Property
- Lead advisor on the acquisition of a 5* hotel in Marylebone (valued at over £300 million), including the negotiation of the Share Purchase Agreement, negotiation of the Hotel Management Agreement, leading the legal due diligence team and coordinating with the rest of the buyer’s deal team.
- Lead commercial property fee earner on GVC Holdings’ acquisition and disposal of multiple gaming companies throughout Europe.
- Lead commercial property fee earner on the restructuring of a portfolio of care homes (over 50 different properties) including overseeing the production of certificates of title on each property.
- Acted for Liverpool Victoria in managing its portfolio of real estate assets on a variety of commercial property such as offices, warehouses, sorting-hubs and retail including the acquisition, disposal and lettings of such property.
- Part of the core team acting for Capital & Counties in managing its portfolio of retail real estate including retail space within Covent Garden and the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly Circus.
- Acted for Land Securities on multiple sales and purchases of real estate, including shopping centres, offices, retail and leisure.
- Provided commercial property advice on the sale and purchase of commercial property taking place through share sales of the holding companies.
Hotels, Hospitality and Leisure
- Over 13 years in-house holding senior positions and sitting on the Senior Leadership Teams at Sonder Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and Hilton Worldwide advising on commercial property and commercial matters.
- Advised Allied London Properties on the F&B outlets and management agreement for a boutique hotel in central Manchester.
- Advised various Dubai government real estate companies on several branded residences including W Residences, Palm Jumeirah; The Address Residences Downtown Dubai and Kempinski Palm Residences.
- Advised Hilton Worldwide on multiple branded residence projects including The Hilton Tanger City Centre Hotel & Residences; The Conrad Algarve Residences; The Waldorf Astoria Residences Jerusalem.
- Negotiated serviced apartment management agreements for SACO Real Estate Group throughout the UK, Switzerland and Denmark.
- Advised clients on the acquisition and disposal of a variety of branded hotels (both franchised and managed) with InterContinental Hotels Group, Choice, Accor and Hilton Worldwide as well as advising on the F&B outlets within such hotels.
- Negotiated hotel management agreements throughout the UAE for the hotel owners of the Hard Rock Hotel in Abu Dhabi; the Radisson Blue Dubai Marina, multiple Marriot branded hotels within Dubai (including the W Dubai – the Palm and the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai).
- Lead solicitor for a Shari’ah-compliant investment bank in its proposed joint venture with Nakheel Hotels in the novation of an easyHotels master franchise agreement to the joint venture SPV for the rollout of budget hotels across the MENA region.
- Acted for an investment bank in its joint venture with a US theme park operator, for the development and management of a multi-billion mixed-use development in Dubai.
- Real estate support on multiple banking and finance matters in the hotels, hospitality & leisure sector.
In-house
- Part of senior leadership teams, building trust with business partners to ensure organisations comply with their legal obligations and are aware of legal risks; developing proactive and innovative approaches to problem solving to help drive growth and achieve wider strategic objectives; implementing new efficient processes and streamlining current processes to be more efficient; mitigating commercial, legal and reputational risk throughout EMEAA.
- Worked with senior leadership teams to assess and advise on legal and commercial options to settle disputes between hotel owners and international brands for pipeline and trading hotels throughout EMEAA on a vast array of issues such as non-payment of fees, alleged owner interference with operations, alleged mis-management, owner insolvencies, misuse of trademarks, alleged breaches of brand standards, alleged breaches of hotel franchise and management agreements, requests to flip to franchise, breaches of confidentiality and tortious interference.
- Responsible for international commercial property, corporate and commercial legal matters for leading international hospitality brands and an international retailer (such as leased, franchised and managed hotel development, commercial agreements and corporate matters) throughout EMEAA.
- Produced template hotel management agreements, franchise agreements, branded residences agreements, agreements for lease, leases (including fixed rent/mixed rent/revenue share leases), key money agreements, hold-harmless and indemnity agreements, non-disturbance agreements, portfolio agreements, and security for hotels and short-term apartment rental properties throughout EMEAA.
- Produced template commercial agreements for operational real estate and then their negotiation, ranging from multi-million-dollar facilities management agreements, supply of goods/services agreements, to local photography agreements.
- Advised on the sale of large portfolios, framework agreements and joint ventures in multiple jurisdictions for leading international hospitality brands.
- Advised leading international hospitality brands on the implementation of Opco Propco structures and financing arrangements both before and after signing deals.
- Lead on corporate restructurings of real estate and operations within EMEA for leading international hospitality brands and an international retailer.
- Worked closely with the board and external advisers (including auditors, accountants and external counsel) on a £28m fundraise for a multinational retail brand.
- Instigated and delivered training to business partners throughout EMEAA and the Americas, ranging from different security on leases, different types of leases, the interpretation and application of leases, management agreements and franchise agreements, whilst considering cultural differences in each jurisdiction as well as producing quarterly legal updates on commercial topics and legal templates for use by business partners.
Retail
- Advised a leading international retail brand on the renewal of several key master franchise agreements in multiple jurisdictions, including China, Greece and the UAE, as well as the unwinding of several international joint ventures.
- Worked with a leading international retailer’s international and wholesale teams, to draft template international franchise agreements, distribution, supply and agency agreements and then negotiated them with their partners in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised on the commercial property aspects whilst acting for the investors of the Grosvenor Liverpool Fund in the development of the £1 billion Paradise Street project, known as Liverpool 1.
- Advised and negotiated on Leisurecorp’s exclusive franchise agreements for various international retail brands throughout the Gulf.
- Acted for Capital & Counties in managing its portfolio of real estate including retail space within Covent Garden and the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly Circus.
- Collaborated with IP advisers to oversee an international retailer’s global patent, trademark and registered design rights applications as well as driving IP strategy in collaboration with the retailer’s board and international teams.
- Provided training to commercial business partners on a variety of commercial legal topics such as agency vs distribution agreements, franchise masterclasses and the interpretation of retail leases.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
“Nadia Milligan is our go to lawyer for franchise, management and lease agreements within the hotel and lodging sector. Nadia is committed, thorough and a perfectionist. As an external lawyer she gives a feeling of being embedded within the team from the start to the completion of the agreement.” Client Feedback – Legal 500 2026
“Keystone’s practice stands out due to its unwavering availability and proactive support for clients’ legal needs, which has been instrumental in achieving growth plans. A key strength lies in having “the best people in the business,” exemplified by individuals like Nadia Milligan.” Client Feedback – Legal 500 2026
“What makes individuals at this practice stand out, particularly Nadia Milligan, is her truly exceptional impact. Nadia is described by our clients as absolutely fantastic. Her consistent availability means she is constantly available when we need her, a quality that distinctly sets her apart. She demonstrates a remarkable ability to take the time to understand every client’s expectation without a shadow of doubt, which builds a profound level of client confidence.” Client Feedback – Legal 500 2026
“The differentiating factor for Nadia and her colleagues from competitors is not only her unparalleled legal acumen, which is understandably the best I’ve have ever seen. This professional expertise is uniquely complemented by her personal attributes; she is such a wonderful person and a personality to match. This blend of top-tier legal knowledge and genuine interpersonal connection creates a comprehensive and highly valued client experience, providing the reassurance that one can sleep with the knowledge she is by our side. This level of trust and confidence is a rare and highly prized quality in a legal partner.” Client Feedback – Legal 500 2026
Sits on the advisory board of the Energy & Environment Association (EEA), a not-for profit focusing on ESG, internationally, in the hospitality sector, founded by Ufi Ibrahim, the former CEO of The UK Hospitality Association
EEA legal committee chair
Completed the King’s College London and EEA Executive ESG Programme for Hospitality Leaders, March 2024
Career
Nadia qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2024, she worked in private practice and held senior in-house positions at the following:
- InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
- Hilton Worldwide
- Clifford Chance LLP