Islamic finance

Partner, Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance

Fara is a specialist adviser to international companies and individuals on their inward investments into the UK, Europe and MEA. She works with businesses, funds and individuals on the financing of their investments and often acts as external general counsel for all legal aspects related to the investment. Fara specialises in Shariah-compliant matters. She is an expert in many types of Shariah-compliant transactions covering a range of asset types, investment classes and industry sectors. She advises on a range of financial products and has developed them for many financial institutions in Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Fara has also assisted with the establishment of institutions in a number of jurisdictions. Fara has been recognised as one of the most influential women in the Islamic Business and Finance global industry. She was not only recognised for her professional expertise but also her contribution to the wider industry and the place that women have within it. She speaks regularly at international events and is a regular contributor to journals and magazines.

Imam is a member of the real estate team and an Islamic finance specialist with considerable experience in dealing with a range of high-value and complex investment, finance and development transactions. An active participant in the Islamic Finance market for over 15 years, he has developed a broad Islamic Finance practice advising investors and financial institutions on a range of shariah compliant products and structures.

Partner & Head of Islamic Finance

Partner, Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance

Zahir is a partner in our Islamic finance practice and advises on a range of real estate driven transactions for both investors and financial institutions. He is named in the Legal 500 2023 as a Next Generation Partner in Islamic finance in London and described by clients as ‘an incredibly smart lawyer with a close eye on the commercial aspects of legal decision making’ and ‘very approachable, responsive and knowledgeable.’ Zahir joined the firm over a decade ago as one of the first fee earners in our then newly established Bristol office and, after a client-side stint as General Counsel at a privately-owned investment advisory firm in the West End, returned to Foot Anstey in 2019.  He aims to provide solutions-focused advice to clients, having been one himself. He is well-versed in structuring real estate investments and financings in line with our clients’ strategic aims, and seeing those through the full transaction lifecycle. He enjoys working collaboratively with stakeholders and transaction counterparties and aims to impart advice grounded in commerciality and pragmatism.

Kate is a senior associate in our Islamic finance practice and has experience in working on a wide variety of real estate-driven banking and finance transactions and multi-tranche development transactions encompassing a wide range of Islamic financing arrangements. She is named in the Legal 500 2023 as a Key Lawyer in Islamic finance in London and described by clients as ‘ very approachable, responsive and knowledgeable.’ Kate advises shariah compliant banks in single property and portfolio acquisitions and refinancing transactions involving commercial and residential assets, often with an offshore element. An example of Kate’s work includes advising Riyad Bank (London Branch) on their single largest real estate financing transaction to date: a £64m shariah-compatible facility used to refinance the UK HQ of an international law firm in Moorgate.