Islamic Finance | Global

A&O Shearman offers a highly experienced Islamic finance practice that demonstrates particular expertise in sukuk issuances and project finance. Lawyers in the team offer experience acting for funders, debt issuers and underwriters on a wide variety of Islamic financing structures. The firm is a dominant presence on financing transactions throughout the Middle East, with a respected bench of practitioners spread between its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance has a strong practice that is regularly noted for its handling of innovative Islamic finance matters and rated as a commanding player in the market. The firm is particularly focused on matters originating in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but also active across the wider region. Its lawyers have expertise in international sukuk issuances, structured finance and asset finance. The team often advises on matters with hybrid Islamic and conventional elements. Clifford Chance is well versed in representing financial institutions, with further experience acting for corporations in a variety of sectors, including telecoms.

Dentons has a dynamic regional banking team with a market-leading Islamic finance practice. The firm fields a number of offices throughout the Middle East and has particularly notable banking capabilities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Its lawyers offer a broad coverage of Islamic finance, with specialist advisers focused on asset financing, Islamic banking regulatory issues and sukuk issuances. The team also excels in Islamic syndicated finance, project finance and debt capital markets. Clients include major international banks and regional Islamic financial institutions.

Linklaters' Islamic finance practice benefits from the firm's impressive global reach and its experience handling significant benchmark deals. Its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi act as a hub in this region, with the team regularly advising on high-value projects throughout the Middle East. The firm also possesses considerable Islamic finance resources in London. Linklaters is strongly experienced in multi-tranche transactions that blend conventional structures with significant Islamic elements. Its Dubai-based capital markets team regularly handles major sukuk issuances.

White & Case is recommended for its expertise in structuring and negotiating highly sophisticated transactions and developing innovative Shari'a-compliant techniques. The team is particularly strong in sovereign sukuk issuances and project financing, with further experience in asset and real estate finance. Its lawyers represent a broad range of clients including both regional and national lenders, borrowers and sovereign entities. The firm has offices in Qatar and the UAE in addition to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Latham & Watkins is often cited for its deep expertise in Saudi Arabia. The firm also has considerable regional depth, with a well-regarded office in Dubai and experience handling matters across the region. The team's clients include sovereign governments and state-owned entities, as well as major regional companies and Islamic financial institutions.

Norton Rose Fulbright is well noted for its capabilities in Shari'a-compliant financings, including syndicated facilities, structured cross-border financings and project finance. Its expertise ranges across projects, investment funds and debt capital markets. The firm is noteworthy for its growing finance team in Saudi Arabia as well as its increasingly prominent practice group in the UAE.

Al Tamimi & Company is highly regarded for its expertise in local law throughout the Middle East. The team is known for its strong banking practice and its frequent role advising Middle Eastern investment banks, as well as international conventional banks. Its lawyers possess extensive experience in Shari'a regulatory matters and REITs. The firm is active across the GCC and additionally noted for its presence in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Al Tamimi frequently assists with the development of new Islamic finance products.

Baker McKenzie is active across the region, with its offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE regularly advising on Islamic finance. Its lawyers are experienced in advising on Shari'a-compliant project and acquisition finance, acting for major regional Islamic financial institutions and development banks. The team is also adept at syndicated finance and sukuk.

DLA Piper has a strong presence in the region, with its Dubai office acting as a central hub for its Islamic finance practice alongside teams in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The firm possesses extensive knowledge of Shari'a-compliant products, such as sukuk and murabaha. Moreover, the team's lawyers are noted for their work on syndicated financing and project finance mandates.

King & Spalding offers a broad regional practice which is highly capable in Shari'a-compliant loans and investment funds. The firm possesses significant expertise in Islamic real estate financing and investment mandates. Its lawyers continue to grow their reputation for advising on innovative deals involving clients based in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. King & Spalding's clients include several of the region's major Islamic financial institutions and private equity houses.