The Legal 500

Adnan Sundra & Low has an impressive track record advising leading Malaysian banking groups on major deals. It assisted lead arranger AmInvestment Bank on a RM3bn sukuk issuance, and also acted for Govco Holdings on a RM8.8bn Islamic medium term note programme. Gan Kok Ling, Adrian Chee Meng Yang and Deepak Sadasivan all lead on transactions.

Albar & Partners predominantly handles Islamic financing deals in the project and energy sectors. A major highlight was advising a lending consortium, which included Maybank Investment Bank, on the RM6.8bn hybrid financing of the Tanjung Bin coal plant, which involved a sukuk facility of RM3.3bn. The team, led by Syed Zaid Albar, has also been active in oil, gas and waste project financing transactions.

Kadir, Andri & Partners is particularly well regarded for its capabilities in capital markets transactions. Andri Aidham Badri leads the team, which has been involved in two of the largest sukuk issuances in recent years, by Cagamas Berhad and Danga Capital’s ($1.6bn and $1.1bn respectively).

Shearn Delamore & Co advised the issuer on the RM6.8bn financing of the Tanjung Bin coal plant, and also advised AmInvestment Bank on a RM700m sukuk issuance to finance the extension of an expressway. Christina Kow heads the practice.

Shook Lin & Bok’s Jal Othman and Hoh Kiat Ching advised three financial institutions on a RM458m syndicated Islamic lending facility to part–finance a hospital construction project.

Zaid Ibrahim & Co has advised Sumitomo Mitsui, CIMB and Barclays Capital on Islamic financing transactions. It is particularly active in Singapore–based issuances, and represented CIMB on what was at the time the largest trust certificate issuance in the jurisdiction, and the first such transaction by a government–linked company.

Zul Rafique & Partners advised PT TH Indo Plantations in relation to a $183m murabahah term financing facility from Maybank, and also advised Maxis on its first sukuk issuance to be structured on an unsecured basis. Loh Mei Mei leads the team, which includes three other partners.

Abdul Raman Saad & Associates handles a range of Islamic financing transactions, ranging from mainstream term financing to equity and profit–sharing arrangements.

At Abdullah Chan, Hamdi Abdullah leads on Islamic financing transactions. The firm recently gained one of the world’s largest Islamic banks as a client, and has experience advising on debt securities and murabahah facilities.

Azmi & Associates had an impressive year advising on a variety of Islamic financing transactions, including securities and structured finance matters. Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip leads a three–partner team.

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill’s Megat Hizaini Hassan recently completed the Malaysian government’s $2bn wakala sukuk issuance, and has also been active advising on commercial banking matters, shariah-compliant financing transactions and funding facilities.

Naqiz & Partners is advising Puspakom on a RM30m tawarruq financing arrangement. It has also been involved in establishing an Islamic private equity fund.

Wong & Partners draws on its Baker & McKenzie association to advise various international banks on Islamic financing transactions, including first–time issuances by foreign banks entering the Malaysian market. Highlights included advising Maybank on a RM150m sukuk issuance under the shariah principle of kafalah. Mark Lim heads the team, assisted by Azizul Adnan.

Illiayas recently gained panel appointments with TH Properties and Asian Finance Bank, and advised the former on financing a hotel development near Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong has several partners with Islamic finance and banking capabilities. Key contact Marwalis Kassim advised a Malaysian conglomerate on a hybrid issuance, which included a musyarakah arrangement.

Lee Choon Wan & Co has substantial experience in capital markets and debt securities work, and acts for several major Malaysian banks and companies.

Lee Perara & Tan’s George Chong has advised lenders on several multimillion–dollar financing facilities granted to multinationals and public listed companies.

Tay & Partners is growing its Islamic financing capabilities under the leadership of Ronald Tan, particularly in the capital markets arena.