Forming an integral part of the firm’s multi-office Islamic finance group that also includes key outposts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s London team, which is headed by Simon Valner, excels in the structuring and financing of Shariah-compliant investments across asset classes. The real estate sector accounts for much of this work, with Valner regularly advising investors on Shariah-compliant investing into the UK, including on mandates implementing commodity Murabaha facilities. Helen Fysh is also well-versed in handling Islamic finance work in the real estate sector, regularly advising large asset managers raising finance via Shariah-compliant structures with investors from the GCC, to be used for UK real estate investment and development projects. As well as handling real estate work, Jonathan Grosvenor undertakes broader banking and capital markets-related mandates, including raising money via listed and unlisted sukuk issuances. Katharine Lewis is also a key member of the team, focusing on Islamic financing for real estate.
Key clients
- Lembaga Tabung Haji
- Apache Capital Partners LLP
- 90 North Real Estate Partners
- Jade Merchant Bank
- Permodalan Nasional Berhad
- Warba Bank KSCP
- Rasameel Investment Company KSCC
- Dimah Capital Investment Company KSCC
- Dubai Islamic Bank
- First Energy Bank
- Rasmala Investment Bank
- SEDCO Capital
- A'ayan Real Estate Company
- Arbah Capital
- Sidra Capital
- Sohar Islamic
- Oman Takaful Insurance Company
- Meethaq Islamic Banking, bank muscat S.A.O.G. (Meethaq)
- Al Muzn
- Sohar International Bank
- EFG-Hermes UAE Limited
- Maisarah Islamic Banking Services
- Sanvira Carbon SFZ LLC
- Alizz Islamic Bank
- Nama Holdings
- Ahli United Bank
- Ahli United Bank UK
Work highlights
- Advised Ahli United Bank B.S.C. (c) on its conversion from a conventional bank to an Islamic bank.
- Lead counsel for PNB Jersey Ltd and PNBJ I Ltd on a green Murabaha term financing granted by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation to fund the cost of carrying out the redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing building located at One Exchange Square, London.
- Advised Maisarah Islamic Banking and Bank Nizwa as issue managers on the issuance of £100m trust certificates (subject to the exercise of a greenshoe option to increase the maximum offer size to £200m) by Oman Sovereign Sukuk Company S.A.O.C., an SPV established by the government of the Sultanate of Oman as represented by the Ministry of Finance.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Simon Valner