Irish Businessman Sues Qatari Royals for $20 Million

News Summary

Patrick McKillen has filed a federal lawsuit against key members of the Qatari royal family, seeking $20 million in damages for unpaid work related to The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel. The lawsuit, filed on April 22, 2025, claims that the royals devised a fraudulent scheme to avoid compensating McKillen for his extensive consulting services. His legal actions include claims against HBJ and HBK, among others, for failures to pay for multiple luxury development projects over several years.

Beverly Hills, California – Irish businessman Patrick McKillen has initiated a federal lawsuit against prominent members of the Qatari royal family, seeking $20 million in damages for alleged unpaid work related to The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel. Filed on April 22, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the lawsuit names several defendants, including Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, known as HBK, his daughter Sheikha Lulwah, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (HBJ), and business associates Michele Faissola and Marc Socker.

McKillen’s attorneys describe the case as a “lawless plot” aimed at deliberately withholding payments while continuing to benefit from the services provided by McKillen and his firm, Hume Street Management Consultants, based in Dublin. The lawsuit accuses the Qatari royals of orchestrating a seven-year international fraud scheme against McKillen, undermining his entitlement to compensation for significant work on multiple luxury hotel projects, primarily The Maybourne Beverly Hills and The Maybourne Riviera.

The complaint highlights McKillen’s involvement with the Qatari royals dating back to 2019 when HBK expressed interest in acquiring the Montage Beverly Hills hotel. After consultations with Socker and Sheikha Lulwah, McKillen traveled to Qatar in October 2019 to discuss the potential project. In December 2019, following HBK’s purchase of the hotel, McKillen was tasked with the management and redevelopment of the property, which included transitioning the hotel into the Maybourne brand, redesigning suites, preparing budgets, and addressing local planning requirements through January 2022.

McKillen claims he began seeking compensation in June 2021; however, his requests were consistently rebuffed by Faissola and Sheikha Lulwah. The allegations state that the defendants never intended to compensate McKillen while continuing to benefit from his extensive services without authorization. Additionally, McKillen asserts that he was also denied payment for his work on Îlot Saint-Germain in France and for a residential project in Manhattan owned by HBJ.

The lawsuit is part of wider legal actions McKillen has initiated across multiple jurisdictions, including the U.K., France, and California. Legal representatives for McKillen have indicated that they will relentlessly pursue the case until the Qatari royals fulfill their financial obligations. The Beverly Hills Courier has reported that it did not confirm whether responses were requested from representatives of the Qatari royal family regarding the lawsuit.

As background, McKillen has extensive experience in hotel development and has previously co-owned a whiskey distillery in Ireland with musician Bono from the band U2. His complaint outlines how various members of the Qatari royal family have allegedly defrauded their business partners across the globe. The lawsuit specifies that McKillen’s work involved significant engagements with city officials and other regulatory bodies in Beverly Hills.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim and his associated companies are facing multiple accusations of failing to pay for consulting and project management services that McKillen’s firm has claimed for high-value developments, reinforcing the seriousness of the allegations present in this lawsuit. Furthermore, McKillen has noted that he has previously faced challenges regarding his involvement with the Maybourne Hotel Group, indicating a pattern of legal disputes that span various international contexts.

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HERE Resources

Patrick McKillen Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against Qatari Royals
Beverly Hills Hotelier Files Lawsuit Against Qatari Royals

Additional Resources

• Offshore Alert: Patrick McKillen et al v. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa et al.
• The Times: Paddy McKillen and the Sheikh – Tens of Millions of Euros at Stake
• Los Angeles Times: Qatari Royals & The Maybourne Hotel
• Beverly Hills Courier: Patrick McKillen Files Suit Against Qatari Royals
• The Guardian: Court Decision on Tony Blair’s Hotels Bid
• Wikipedia: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
• Google Search: Patrick McKillen
• Google Scholar: Patrick McKillen
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Qatar Royal Family
• Google News: Qatar Royal Family