Given the recent upheaval in world financial markets, demand for morally sound financial products has risen sharply, leading to the rapid expansion of Islamic finance.  Globally, the Islamic finance industry is estimated to be worth $2 trillion, and is growing at an annual rate between 15% and 20%. This rapid pace of growth and evolving industry practices have outstripped both the existing legal and financial infrastructure for Islamic finance and the supply of qualified experts, leading to regulatory challenges. Our Islamic finance practice, led by Dr. Walid Hegazy, ensures that these challenges are met with the strength of our lawyers’ decades of expertise in Shariah-compliant transactions.

We have advised on specific jurisdictional concerns, commercial issues, taxation, accounting and other regulatory considerations. We counsel developers, financial institutions and counsel governments on Shariah-compliant matters. Our experience encompasses the structuring and documentation of Islamic finance facilities, issuances of sukuk (Mudaraba and Musharaka-based) and Ijarah-based bonds, the structuring of Murabaha contracts and Murabaha-based facilities. We routinely handle Islamic finance contracts of every kind (including Bai Salaam, Ijara, Istisna’a, Mudaraba, Murabaha and Musharaka). Our clients include the Government of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Telecom Company, BNP Paribas, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, Sorouh, Credit Suisse, STC, Saudi British Bank, Bin Laden Group, and Beltone.