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Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Paddy McKillen's billion-pound legal battle over Claridge's hotel reaches ‘high noon'
A three-person arbitration panel convened privately in London this week to try to resolve a dispute over Claridge's hotel that forms the centrepiece of one of the most acrimonious, and potentially lucrative, legal battles of the past decade. On one side is Paddy McKillen, the wealthy Irish property developer who owns a whiskey distillery with U2 star Bono. On the other, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, the billionaire former prime minister of Qatar known as HBJ. McKillen claims he is owed up to £1 billion (€1.2 billion) for his work at three of the world's most glamorous hotels – Claridge's, the Connaught and the Berkeley – all located in rarefied central London postcodes. McKillen, 70, and HBJ, 66, were once close allies, spending time together on yachts and in swanky hotels. But this week's arbitration is unfolding amid a bitter legal battle, spanning at least a dozen claims and disputes in Europe and the US, between the former friends and their associates. Three arbitrators – one chosen by each side, and a third chosen by the other two, according to those familiar with the terms – will now decide who emerges claiming victory. [ Irish businessman Paddy McKillen claims he is victim of 'smear campaign' by Qatari royal family ] While sources said it may take as long as two months for a decision to be reached, a resolution to a dispute that began three years ago may now be in sight. 'It's high noon,' said one person close to the process. Claridge's – the 169-year-old luxury Mayfair hotel that was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II – is the crown jewel in a multibillion-pound portfolio of high end London properties owned by Qatar and wealthy members of its ruling family. Belfast-born McKillen, who went into property in the 1980s after a stint working in his family's exhaust repair business, first invested in Claridge's in 2004. His investment came under threat in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, when the Barclay brothers tried to seize control of Claridge's, the Connaught and the Berkeley, now known collectively as the Maybourne Hotel Group. McKillen secured Qatari backing to help resolve his legal battle with the Barclays, former owners of the Telegraph newspaper. The 2015 rescue saw HBJ and the former Qatari emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (HBK), take full control of Maybourne in a £1.3 billion deal that resolved McKillen's legal case, wiped out his debts and reduced his equity in the hotels to zero. The Qataris subsequently agreed to an unconventional deal that McKillen hoped would allow him to share in the future upside of the hotels. Under the terms of the seven-year contract, McKillen's business, Hume Street Management Consultants (HSMC), would refurbish, manage and extend the hotels. The deal granted McKillen 36 per cent of any subsequent increase in valuation across the three hotels, minus the costs of the work. But his involvement in the hotels – due to end in December 2022 – was cut short in April of that year, when McKillen was unexpectedly told by the Qataris he would no longer be working for them. The size of McKillen's unpaid earnings from this arrangement sit at the heart of the dispute playing out this week in London. McKillen argues that the extensive refurbishment work at Claridge's – which included adding an opulent underground spa and a £60,000-per-night penthouse suite, replete with 75 Damien Hirst artworks – has helped substantially boost Claridge's value. The developer argues that those improvements, allied to a buoyant luxury hotel market post-Covid, means his payout should be in the hundreds of millions. However, sources close to the Qataris claim the significant costs of work at the hotels means McKillen is owed substantially less than he claims. Even so, those close to the Qataris acknowledge McKillen is still owed something. One person with knowledge of the dispute said that given the baseline value of £1.3 billion, and about £600 million-£700 million in costs, any valuation above £2 billion would mean McKillen is entitled to 36 per cent of the upside thereafter. Estimates being talked about by advisers have varied between less than £3 billion to over £5 billion, according to one person with knowledge of the situation, which would equate to a payout of more than £1 billion at the top end. There have been attempts at mediation, according to one person with knowledge of the situation, with the most recent taking place in autumn 2023, after McKillen withdrew an attempt to extend the claim over a number of newer luxury hotels in the US and France, leaving the focus on the original three sites in London that had been the portfolio over the seven-year period. Read More McDonald's shares the love of a McDelivery In the meantime, the two sides appear to have been waging commercial lawfare. Claims and counterclaims have been filed across multiple countries, relating to developments owned by HBJ, or his associates and companies connected with them, on which McKillen claims refurbishment or development work. People familiar with the Qataris' position claim McKillen thought he could 'embarrass' them into striking a deal by filing lawsuits that generated headlines and scrutiny of the complex ownership structures that often lie behind property acquisitions. They point to some of the victories secured so far in courts over McKillen. McKillen's side argues the Qataris have been equally aggressive in their attempts to get him to back down from the Claridge's dispute. Representatives for McKillen and the Qatari owners of Claridge's declined to comment on the confidential arbitration process. In a statement, a spokesperson for McKillen said: 'It is right that he has taken, and will continue to take, all necessary steps to enforce his rights. As Mr McKillen has made clear over the four-year period since his departure from the Maybourne Hotel Group, he will not be deterred by any attempted campaign to cause damage to his business interests or smear his reputation.' The Financial Times has identified a dozen legal clashes between the two sides – mainly in the UK, France or the US – often seeking money for work that McKillen and his companies say has been carried out for the Qataris and associated groups. Work for which McKillen claims he has not been paid. Other cases have been started by the Qataris, which claim McKillen used Maybourne contractors, paid for by Maybourne, to undertake work at his hotel in France last July. McKillen denies the allegations. The cases involve luxury properties, including hotels on the French Riviera and in Paris and Bel-Air, California, and homes in Manhattan and London. McKillen is claiming tens of millions of pounds of unpaid fees. Read More Banker bonuses return to a bailed out bank In March, a high court judge in the UK prevented McKillen's HSMC from serving a £3.7 million claim outside England, in a dispute over fees for work at Forbes House, a grade II listed mansion in Belgravia, bought by HBJ in 2016. HSMC has appealed against the ruling and is seeking renewed permission to serve proceedings. McKillen has started new proceedings in his own name. Separately, McKillen was convicted this year of verbally assaulting a female bailiff in his apartment on the Place Vendôme, a grand public square in Paris. The bailiff had entered his property with a locksmith in a dispute over mortgage repayments to a Qatar-owned private wealth manager. McKillen is appealing against the decision. He denies any violence or wrongdoing, has filed an ethics complaint before the Paris disciplinary chamber of bailiffs, and his lawyers have in the past described the case as 'part of a more general smear campaign' against him. Most recently, in April, McKillen filed a lawsuit in a California district court alleging that HBK and HBJ, as well as several of their business associates and related companies, sought to defraud him. He alleges they did not pay for his firm's work at a number of properties which are already the focus of other cases, using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Qatar has denied the claims. 'Paddy McKillen and associated parties have orchestrated claims across multiple jurisdictions, all of which are either ongoing or have been struck out by the courts. We will continue to contest these claims and prove the assertions and allegations to be unsubstantiated and entirely false,' said a spokesperson for Maybourne. The latest case under the RICO act adds to a long and costly list of lawsuits. However, the hundreds of millions of pounds at stake in the Claridge's arbitration is the real prize for both sides. The sight of expensive tabs being quietly settled is a familiar one in the hotel's luxurious bars and restaurants. With the panel of arbitration in London totting up how much the Qataris owe McKillen, the owners of Claridge's will soon find out just how large their own bill will be. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Paddy McKillen's billion-pound legal battle over Claridge's hotel reaches ‘high noon'
A three-person arbitration panel convened privately in London this week to try to resolve a dispute over Claridge's hotel that forms the centrepiece of one of the most acrimonious, and potentially lucrative, legal battles of the past decade. On one side is Paddy McKillen , the wealthy Irish property developer who owns a whiskey distillery with U2 star Bono. On the other, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, the billionaire former prime minister of Qatar known as HBJ. McKillen claims he is owed up to £1 billion (€1.2 billion) for his work at three of the world's most glamorous hotels – Claridge's, the Connaught and the Berkeley – all located in rarefied central London postcodes. McKillen, 70, and HBJ, 66, were once close allies, spending time together on yachts and in swanky hotels. But this week's arbitration is unfolding amid a bitter legal battle, spanning at least a dozen claims and disputes in Europe and the US, between the former friends and their associates. READ MORE Three arbitrators – one chosen by each side, and a third chosen by the other two, according to those familiar with the terms – will now decide who emerges claiming victory. [ Irish businessman Paddy McKillen claims he is victim of 'smear campaign' by Qatari royal family Opens in new window ] While sources said it may take as long as two months for a decision to be reached, a resolution to a dispute that began three years ago may now be in sight. 'It's high noon,' said one person close to the process. Claridge's – the 169-year-old luxury Mayfair hotel that was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II – is the crown jewel in a multibillion-pound portfolio of high end London properties owned by Qatar and wealthy members of its ruling family. Belfast-born McKillen, who went into property in the 1980s after a stint working in his family's exhaust repair business, first invested in Claridge's in 2004. His investment came under threat in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, when the Barclay brothers tried to seize control of Claridge's, the Connaught and the Berkeley, now known collectively as the Maybourne Hotel Group . McKillen secured Qatari backing to help resolve his legal battle with the Barclays, former owners of the Telegraph newspaper. The 2015 rescue saw HBJ and the former Qatari emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (HBK), take full control of Maybourne in a £1.3 billion deal that resolved McKillen's legal case, wiped out his debts and reduced his equity in the hotels to zero. The Qataris subsequently agreed to an unconventional deal that McKillen hoped would allow him to share in the future upside of the hotels. Under the terms of the seven-year contract, McKillen's business, Hume Street Management Consultants (HSMC), would refurbish, manage and extend the hotels. The deal granted McKillen 36 per cent of any subsequent increase in valuation across the three hotels, minus the costs of the work. But his involvement in the hotels – due to end in December 2022 – was cut short in April of that year, when McKillen was unexpectedly told by the Qataris he would no longer be working for them. The size of McKillen's unpaid earnings from this arrangement sit at the heart of the dispute playing out this week in London. McKillen argues that the extensive refurbishment work at Claridge's – which included adding an opulent underground spa and a £60,000-per-night penthouse suite, replete with 75 Damien Hirst artworks – has helped substantially boost Claridge's value. The developer argues that those improvements, allied to a buoyant luxury hotel market post-Covid, means his payout should be in the hundreds of millions. However, sources close to the Qataris claim the significant costs of work at the hotels means McKillen is owed substantially less than he claims. Even so, those close to the Qataris acknowledge McKillen is still owed something. One person with knowledge of the dispute said that given the baseline value of £1.3 billion, and about £600 million-£700 million in costs, any valuation above £2 billion would mean McKillen is entitled to 36 per cent of the upside thereafter. Estimates being talked about by advisers have varied between less than £3 billion to over £5 billion, according to one person with knowledge of the situation, which would equate to a payout of more than £1 billion at the top end. There have been attempts at mediation, according to one person with knowledge of the situation, with the most recent taking place in autumn 2023, after McKillen withdrew an attempt to extend the claim over a number of newer luxury hotels in the US and France, leaving the focus on the original three sites in London that had been the portfolio over the seven-year period. In the meantime, the two sides appear to have been waging commercial lawfare. Claims and counterclaims have been filed across multiple countries, relating to developments owned by HBJ, or his associates and companies connected with them, on which McKillen claims refurbishment or development work. People familiar with the Qataris' position claim McKillen thought he could 'embarrass' them into striking a deal by filing lawsuits that generated headlines and scrutiny of the complex ownership structures that often lie behind property acquisitions. They point to some of the victories secured so far in courts over McKillen. McKillen's side argues the Qataris have been equally aggressive in their attempts to get him to back down from the Claridge's dispute. Representatives for McKillen and the Qatari owners of Claridge's declined to comment on the confidential arbitration process. In a statement, a spokesperson for McKillen said: 'It is right that he has taken, and will continue to take, all necessary steps to enforce his rights. As Mr McKillen has made clear over the four-year period since his departure from the Maybourne Hotel Group, he will not be deterred by any attempted campaign to cause damage to his business interests or smear his reputation.' The Financial Times has identified a dozen legal clashes between the two sides – mainly in the UK, France or the US – often seeking money for work that McKillen and his companies say has been carried out for the Qataris and associated groups. Work for which McKillen claims he has not been paid. Other cases have been started by the Qataris, which claim McKillen used Maybourne contractors, paid for by Maybourne, to undertake work at his hotel in France last July. McKillen denies the allegations. The cases involve luxury properties, including hotels on the French Riviera and in Paris and Bel-Air, California, and homes in Manhattan and London. McKillen is claiming tens of millions of pounds of unpaid fees. In March, a high court judge in the UK prevented McKillen's HSMC from serving a £3.7 million claim outside England, in a dispute over fees for work at Forbes House, a grade II listed mansion in Belgravia, bought by HBJ in 2016. HSMC has appealed against the ruling and is seeking renewed permission to serve proceedings. McKillen has started new proceedings in his own name. Separately, McKillen was convicted this year of verbally assaulting a female bailiff in his apartment on the Place Vendôme, a grand public square in Paris. The bailiff had entered his property with a locksmith in a dispute over mortgage repayments to a Qatar-owned private wealth manager. McKillen is appealing against the decision. He denies any violence or wrongdoing, has filed an ethics complaint before the Paris disciplinary chamber of bailiffs, and his lawyers have in the past described the case as 'part of a more general smear campaign' against him. Most recently, in April, McKillen filed a lawsuit in a California district court alleging that HBK and HBJ, as well as several of their business associates and related companies, sought to defraud him. He alleges they did not pay for his firm's work at a number of properties which are already the focus of other cases, using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Qatar has denied the claims. 'Paddy McKillen and associated parties have orchestrated claims across multiple jurisdictions, all of which are either ongoing or have been struck out by the courts. We will continue to contest these claims and prove the assertions and allegations to be unsubstantiated and entirely false,' said a spokesperson for Maybourne. The latest case under the RICO act adds to a long and costly list of lawsuits. However, the hundreds of millions of pounds at stake in the Claridge's arbitration is the real prize for both sides. The sight of expensive tabs being quietly settled is a familiar one in the hotel's luxurious bars and restaurants. With the panel of arbitration in London totting up how much the Qataris owe McKillen, the owners of Claridge's will soon find out just how large their own bill will be. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
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First Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
‘Thief of Doha': Meet the original owner of the $400 million jet gifted to Trump
The luxury jet US President Donald Trump is to receive as a gift from Qatar was originally owned by a leading member of the Al Thani royal family and the country's former PM, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, popularly known as HBJ. The Qatari sheikh has previously faced serious allegations of corruption and antisemitism. Here's what we know about him read more The luxury plane gifted to US President Donald Trump belonged to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, a senior member of Qatar's Al Thani royal family and the country's former prime minister. Image courtesy: Instagram/@hbj_althani A gold-plated flying palace once owned by a powerful Qatari royal has suddenly become the centre of storm, and it now has Donald Trump 's name on it. The ultra-luxurious Boeing 747-8, reportedly worth $400 million, is set to become Trump's new version of Air Force One. He accepted the aircraft as a gift earlier this week, saying, 'only a fool would refuse it'. The move instantly raised eyebrows in Washington. While the ethical and security concerns around the jet are already making headlines, it's the man who originally owned it that's adding fuel to the fire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the New York Post, the Qatari sheikh the plane was built for has a history full of controversy — from allegations of corruption and antisemitism to a messy $20 million legal dispute involving high-end hotels. The plane belonged to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, a senior member of Qatar's Al Thani royal family and the country's former prime minister. He's better known by his initials, HBJ, which, interestingly, are still visible in the jet's tail number. Here's a closer look at who he is. Who is Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, owner of the jet gifted to Trump? Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, more commonly known as HBJ, is one of the most influential figures in Qatar's modern history. His great-uncle, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, founded modern Qatar in 1971. HBJ is also a cousin of the current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The sheikh took a dive into politics in the early '90s, serving as Qatar's Foreign Minister from 1992. By 2007, he had also taken on the role of Prime Minister, a position he held until 2013. During this time, he helped shape Qatar's foreign policy and was a key player in expanding the country's influence across the globe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, more commonly known as HBJ, is one of the most influential figures in Qatar's modern history but he has Forbes notes that HBJ's power extended well beyond his official roles. Many saw him as the mastermind behind Qatar's rapid rise, from oil wealth to strategic global investments and alliances. Beyond his political career, he is known for his vast wealth and global investments. Over the years, HBJ has made massive investments across Europe and the UK. He's had stakes in Harrods, the London Stock Exchange, and even the Shard, the tallest building in the EU, which earned him the nickname 'the man who bought London,' from British national daily, The Independent. He also owns one of the largest and most extravagant yachts in the world, the 436-foot Al Mirqab, valued at around $300 million. It comes complete with luxurious suites, a cinema, a helipad and all the trimmings of ultra-rich living. As of 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at $4 billion, placing him eighth on its list of the richest Arabs. Controversies galore Over the years, the 66-year-old royal has faced multiple serious allegations and legal issues that have kept his name in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was even branded the 'Thief of Doha' by a Washington-based think tank, after the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of overseeing bribery and corruption linked to Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Then, in 2023, HBJ sparked outrage during an interview with Kuwaiti outlet Al-Qabas, where he made openly antisemitic remarks. 'Imagine oil was sold by some Jews … what would be the price of a barrel oil? It would be the most expensive thing in the world,' he said — a comment that drew widespread condemnation. There's also the matter of a $20 million legal battle involving a luxury hotel group. According to The New York Post, HBJ was accused of backing out of a deal and causing massive financial losses, leading to an intense international court case. Despite the scandals, HBJ has managed to maintain a low profile in recent years. But with his lavish jet now tied to Donald Trump, the sheikh is once again under scrutiny. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD All about the 'flying palace' gifted to Trump The aircraft gifted to Donald Trump is one of the largest and most expensive private jets in the world — a Boeing 747-8 worth around $400 million. It comes equipped with three spacious bedrooms, a private lounge, and an executive office. The plan is to temporarily use this jet as Air Force One , while the US waits for the delayed delivery of two new presidential aircraft. The aircraft gifted to Donald Trump is one of the largest and most expensive private jets in the world, a Boeing 747-8 worth around $400 million. File photo/AFP Trump said accepting the jet would save the government hundreds of millions of dollars, which could instead be spent on what Trump said to 'Make America Great Again'. In a post on Truth Social, he clarified: 'The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One until our new planes—which are delayed—arrive.' Still, a significant amount of work needs to be done before it can be used. The aircraft will have to be stripped down and retrofitted with advanced communication systems and security features required for any US presidential flight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'You would want to check the airplane out completely – strip it down, check for bugs, things like that, harden it to make sure nobody could hijack the electronics on the airplane,' a retired senior military official told CNN. 'The ability for the president to command and control his military in the worst days, that takes a lot.' Air Force One. File image/AFP The entire process could take months or even up to two years, depending on how much modification is needed. According to CNN, the US Air Force will oversee the retrofitting, alongside other agencies like the Secret Service, CIA, NSA, and the White House Communications Agency. Once Trump's term ends, the aircraft is expected to be moved to his presidential library for public display. With input from agencies
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Who is 'thief of Doha', the original owner of $400M jet to be gifted to Donald Trump?
Trump $400 million Qatar was originally commissioned by Qatar's former PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. Amid a major row over President Donald Trump possibly getting a $400 million Boeing Jet from Qatar as a gift, it has now been revealed that the Qatari jet has been sitting unsold for years since 2020 and Qatar now wants to dump it. The aircraft originally belonged to former prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani , also known as HBJ . These initials are still there in the jet's tail number. The sheikh has been embroiled in a $20 million legal dispute over a string of luxury hotels, the New York Post reported. The former PM has been branded as the 'thief of Doha' by a Washington think tank after the DOJ accused him of presiding over bribery and corruption when he brought 2022 World Cup to Qatar. HBJ has a lot of controversies and lawsuits apart from the corruption allegations. He made an antisemitic tirade in an interview last year as he said, "Imagine oil was sold by some Jews … what would be the price of a barrel oil? It would be the most expensive thing in the world,' HBJ served as Prime Minister from April 3, 2007, to June 26, 2013, during the reign of Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He stepped down as Prime Minister on June 26, 2013, one day after Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani abdicated in favor of his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Before that, HBJ was Qatar's Foreign Minister for over two decades, from 1992 to 2013 Trump's Qatar visit is the second destination of his Gulf tour, after a first stop in Riyadh, where he made a surprise announcement lifting sanctions on Syria and met the country's president. Qatar Airways had placed a "record" order for 160 planes from Boeing, its largest ever order for its wide-body jets.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Sheikh that owns Qatari jet gifted to Trump embroiled in $20M luxury hotel spat
The Qatari sheikh who is gifting a $400 million plane that's slated to become President Donald Trump's next Air Force One has previously faced allegations of corruption and antisemitism — and is now embroiled in a $20 million legal dispute over a string of luxury hotels, The Post has learned. A Boeing 747-8 jet that has been dubbed a 'flying palace' is owned by the Qatari royal family. It still carries the initials of one of its leading members — Qatar's former prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, also known as HBJ, in its tail number, aviation records show. Advertisement 8 President Donald Trump was in Qatar on Wednesday where he felt heat for agreeing to accept a donated Qatari plane to become the next Air Force One presidential jet. APAImages/Shutterstock The 66-year-old royal — worth an estimated $4 billion according to Forbes — has been branded the 'Thief of Doha' by a Washington think tank, and allegedly brought senior members of Hamas to the Qatari capital. He was accused by the DOJ of presiding over bribery and corruption when he led the bid to bring the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. HBJ also drew controversy last year over an antisemitic tirade in an interview with Kuwati media outlet Al-Qabas. Advertisement 'Imagine oil was sold by some Jews…what would be the price of a barrel oil? It would be the most expensive thing in the world,' the former Qatari PM was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, HBJ is now facing a fresh lawsuit from Irish property developer Paddy McKillen, who owns the Church of Oak whiskey distillery 40 miles southwest of Dublin with Irish rock legend Bono of U2. The Belfast-born hotelier has accused the Gulf state's monarchy in Los Angeles federal court of 'a lawless plot' to rip him off after he masterminded the expansion of a string of five-star hotels. Advertisement The complaint, filed late last month, focuses on a claim that three Qatari royals led by HBJ tricked McKillen and his firm Hume Street Management Consultants (HSMC) into spending 'significant resources' under 'false pretenses' to upgrade four upmarket properties. The civil suit for $20 million in damages and interest is being brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, anti-Mafia legislation drawn up in 1970 under President Richard Nixon. 8 Britain's Guardian newspaper once dubbed HBJ, seen here with ex-UK PM David Cameron, as 'the man who bought London' after Qatar's sovereign wealth fund snapped up Harrods, London's Olympic Village and the Shard. Reuters 8 The plane, owned by the Qatari royal family, has been dubbed 'a flying palace,' and its tail number carries the initials of HBJ, the ex-PM of the Gulf Nation. YouTube/Spotti Flight Advertisement Once a project had been completed, the lawsuit alleges that HBJ and his two relatives, Qatar's former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa and the current Emir's sister, Sheikha Lulwah bint Hamad Al Thani, refused to pay up. It said the royal trio 'systematically stonewalled Mr. McKillen and HSMC, refusing to compensate them for many millions of dollars in services in bad faith.' The Post reached out to the Qatari government for comment. 8 This image, posted in 2020, shows the ornate and lavish decor that appears to have caught teh commander-in-chief's eye as he looks to replace the ageing Air Force One plane that the White House currently uses. YouTube/Spotti Flight Michael Gottlieb, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher law firm, who is representing the hotelier, accused the Qatari royals of believing 'they were above the law because of their wealth and power.' 'Mr. McKillen will not be cowed, and will pursue this suit until the defendants pay what his company rightfully earned,' he told The Post. McKillen sold his majority stake in the Maybourne Hotel Group in 2015 to a company controlled by the ex-PM, the lawsuit states, but he stayed on in a property development role with the firm. The court documents claim that McKillen would continue to receive a 'deferred payment' for 'any net increase in the value of the Maybourne Hotel Group' over a period ending in April 2022. Advertisement 8 McKillen is a business partner of Bono, the Irish rockstar and U2 frontman. PA Images via Getty Images 8 McKillen and U2 frontman Bono own a whiskey distillery near Dublin, Ireland. Eric Kowalsky / MEGA They allege that McKillen 'continued to manage and redevelop the Maybourne hotels, at the direction of the Qatari Royals' and even developed an entirely new property, The Emory, an all-suite hotel close to the British capital's Hyde Park that features designs from artist Damien Hirst, according to the same source. His legal team alleges that the Qataris then 'refused to compensate Mr. McKillen or HSMC for nearly all their efforts and absconded with their vision and hard work, essentially free of charge.' Advertisement The two sides fell out, the lawsuit alleges, when McKillen was 'removed, without warning or reason, from Maybourne Hotels Limited's board of directors on April 1, 2022.' 'These schemes to defraud their business partner and his company for, put crudely, free labor are part of a years-long pattern of illegal racketeering orchestrated by the Qatari Royals, and are in line with a history of illicit, lawless actions,' the lawsuit states. 8 Beverly Hills City Councilmember John A. Mirisch, a former mayor of the city, was the first politician to hit out at Maybourne owner Hamad bin Jassim's anti-semitic remarks. Google McKillen alleges that he was drafted in by the Qataris to overhaul the Maybourne Riviera hotel in 2018 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, close to Monaco, and a five-story, $47 million Manhattan mansion owned by HBJ. Advertisement The former Qatari prime minister bought the 22,000 square-foot townhouse on East 71st Street in 2012 from the billionaire real estate tycoon Aby Rosen. The following year, his attorneys claim, they asked him to work on the redevelopment of the historic Parisian Îlot Saint-Germain building, which is set to open as a Maybourne hotel in 2027, and the Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel in 2019. 8 McKillen also worked on top London hotels, including the Connaught in the British capital's upmarket neighborhood of Mayfair. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images McKillen also worked on two properties in London's upmarket neighborhood of Mayfair: the Connaught and Claridge's, where penthouse suites can go for nearly $80,000 a night. Advertisement Claridge's is a hotspot for the British elite as it is where the late Queen Elizabeth II hosted a wedding reception for the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. Work done on those properties does not feature in the Los Angeles legal complaint, but the millionaire investor has also filed claims in the UK and France.
