About

Those unfamiliar with Islamic finance would be unlikely to name Citigroup a key player in the industry, but since 1981 the bank has been at the forefront of developing Shari’ah compliant financial products. In 1996 Citi became the first major international bank to launch an Islamic subsidiary – the Bahrain-based Citi Islamic Investment Bank – cementing its place as a leader in the global Islamic banking world. Citigroup’s dominance of this increasingly competitive niche has been assisted in no small part by its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) legal function. Led by managing director and general counsel Etienne Fivaz, the 22-strong legal team is identified as one of the most effective business advisory units in the region. Advising such a notoriously risk-driven business in a part of the world that tends to privilege a more considered and methodical approach is no easy task, but Fivaz and his team have managed to build a reputation for integrity and circumspection without sacrificing their entrepreneurial spirit.