Rising Stars

Banking and finance (including Islamic finance) in Bahrain

Al Tamimi & Company

Al Tamimi & Company‘s team in Bahrain specialises in all aspects of banking and finance, including debt capital markets, project finance, regulatory work, Islamic finance, conventional bilateral and syndicated lending. With well-established expertise throughout the region, the practice distinguishes itself through the scale of its lead and local counsel work for major banks and financial institutions across Bahrain and the wider Middle East. UAE-based partner Rafiq Jaffer heads the firm’s offering for both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with an exceptional reputation thanks to his expertise in debt capital markets transactions and lending transactions, using both conventional and Islamic structures. Natalia Kumar is a name to note in Bahrain and is a trusted advisor to major lenders, borrowers, and international and local financial institutions; she is supported by associate Gargi Agarwal, who is building notable expertise in syndicated lending, project finance and regulatory work. Practice co-head Jody Waugh provides support from the UAE.

Practice head(s):

Jody Waugh; Rafiq Jaffer


Other key lawyers:

Natalia Kumar; Gargi Agarwal


Testimonials

‘The practice is unique in that it is one of the few, if not only, dedicated banking and finance practice in Bahrain that is focused on the Bahrain market. The team undertakes both international and local counsel work and also has English law capabilities.’

‘With the team’s regional footprint, if input from any other region is required, the Bahrain team is able to coordinate and provide this. It is a one stop shop.’

‘The team is technically sound, responsive, commercially minded, are able to deliver in tight timeframes, are in-tune with the Bahrain market and work closely with the Central Bank of Bahrain and other government entities which enables them to provide practical advice and solutions.’

Key clients

Citibank N.A.


GFH Financial Group B.S.C. (previously known as Gulf Finance House)


Gulf International Bank B.S.C.


Arcapita Capital Investment Management B.S.C. (C)


Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK)


National Bank of Bahrain B.S.C.


ICICI Bank Limited


Woori Bank


HSBC Bank Middle East Limited


Mashreq Bank P.S.C.


Arab Banking Corporation B.S.C. (Bank ABC)


ACWA


JS Bank Limited


Emirates NBD Bank P.J.S.C.


Infracorp


First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC


United Gulf Bank B.S.C.


Ahli United Bank B.S.C.


Enerflex Limited (Canada)


Work highlights


  • Representing Citibank as lead local counsel in relation to the sale of its retail banking business in Bahrain to Ahli United Bank.
  • Represented HSBC Bank Middle East, acting on a $300m Push Facility guaranteed by the Italian Export Credit Agency to the Oil and Gas Holding Company.

Baker & McKenzie Limited

Regularly representing the region’s largest banks, corporates and government institutions, Baker & McKenzie Limited’s Bahrain banking and finance team handles complex project, Islamic, contractor and real estate finance mandates. Ian Siddell heads the practice and brings vast experience of finance work across the Gulf states, which in addition to the aforementioned areas, creates a particularly strong practice in debt capital markets, financial restructuring and insolvency matters. Fatima Alhasan is experienced in a broad range of conventional and Islamic finance, also bringing significant expertise in corporate and commercial issues. Delwar Hossain is particularly adept at advising on transactions concerning the Saudi Arabian market, while construction expert Gavin Witcombe is regularly sought after for his project financing knowledge.

Practice head(s):

Ian Siddell


Other key lawyers:

Fatima Alhasan; Gavin Witcombe; Delwar Hossain


Key clients

The Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c) (nogaholding)


Bahrain National Gas Company (B.S.C.)


ABC Islamic Bank (E.C.)


Gulf International Bank B.S.C


Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation


Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba)


Bahrain Islamic Bank B.S.C


Arab Bank plc


Ahli United Bank B.S.C


The Saudi National Commercial Bank (Bahrain)


National Bank of Pakistan, Bahrain


ACWA Power International


Olayan Financing Company (OFC)


Arabian Centres Company


Alawwal Bank


Samba Capital & Investment Management Company


Saudi Fransi Capital


The Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB)


Riyad Bank


NCB Capital


Metito Group


Mowah Co.


Textron Financial Corporation


Work highlights


  • Advised Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill, a Bahrain-based aluminium facility, on its debt restructuring to creditors pursuant to the reorganisation plan approved by Kingdom of Bahrain Courts.
  • Acted as legal counsel to Gulf International Bank in relation to the fully underwritten $240m syndicated loan facility made available to Noon AD Holdings and Noon Investment Company.
  • Advised a collection of banks on BBK’s successful closure on a $250m two-year Club Loan Facility.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s banking and finance team acts for a diverse range of regional and international financial institutions, as well as the Central Bank of Bahrain licensees on their in-country and regional finance initiatives and broader regulatory requirements. Although maintaining a broad spread of conventional lending work, the practice is particularly known for its in-depth expertise in Islamic finance, encompassing capital markets, traditional financing products and repos and derivatives in the Islamic financing space. International managing partner and practice head Jeremy Ingham offers extensive experience across contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency work, acting for banks, financial institutions, corporates and insolvency practitioners. With a strong focus on debt capital markets and Islamic finance, Bilal Kahlon regularly advises on Shariah-compliant and sukuk transactions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Salman Ahmed in Oman is another key figure and is the main client partner for Ahli United Bank following its conversion from a conventional to an Islamic bank.

Practice head(s):

Jeremy Ingham


Other key lawyers:

Bilal Kahlon; Salman Ahmed


Testimonials

‘Flexibility, geographical presence in key countries, good coordination among the team’s members across different practices and expertise.’

‘The team is quite diverse in terms of skillset and their knowledge of complex issues.’

‘Bilal Kahlon is an exceptional lawyer in the team and is diverse in his skillset and experiences. He is solution oriented and client centric.’

‘Availability, swift responsiveness and flexible accommodation to business requests.’

Key clients

Ahli United Bank B.S.C.


Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait B.S.C.


Venture Capital Bank


Al Salam Bank B.S.C.


Al Kifah Holding Company


Standard Chartered Bank


National Bank of Bahrain


Naseej B.S.C. (c)


Sayacorp


Gulf International Bank B.S.C.


The Arab Investment Company S.A.A.


State Bank of India


Bahrain Development Bank


Work highlights


  • Advising Ahli United Bank on its proposed conversion from a conventional bank to an Islamic bank, which is a first-of-its-kind conversion exercise in the region.
  • Acting as lead adviser to Al Baraka Islamic Bank , as documentation bank, and the syndicate of financiers in connection with a $200m syndicated Murabaha facility made available to The Oil and Gas Holding Company.
  • Advised Bahrain Steel in relation to the $100,000,000 financing facility provided by Mashreqbank PSC.

DLA Piper Middle East LLP

The Bahrain finance offering at DLA Piper Middle East LLP is noted for its breadth of expertise. It can regularly be seen advising clients on syndicated and bilateral financings and securitisations, as well as fund establishments, restructurings and regulatory matters. The scope of mandates received is paralleled by the span of sectors in which it operates, having established a strong reputation in technology, fintech and life sciences, among others. Practice head Mohamed Toorani has an enviable track record in cross-border transactions throughout the Gulf. From Dubai, Paul McViety and Peter Somekh provide significant support, advising on the full spectrum of matters, from project and asset finance to debt restructurings and sukuk transactions.

Practice head(s):

Mohamed Toorani


Other key lawyers:

Peter Somekh; Paul McViety


Key clients

Binance


Abdulla Al Abdulghani & Brothers W.L.L.


Bahrain Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications (MTT)


Venture Capital Bank


GFH Financial Group


Mashreq Bank


Kuwait Investment Authority


Bank ABC


Al Salam Bank


Gulf International Bank


Batelco


Rain Financial


Environmental Chemical Corporation


Roche


Sabre


Arab Bank


Kuwait Finance House


Bahrain Islamic Bank


Work highlights


  • Advising the Bahraini Ministry for Transport and Telecommunications on the procurement of a 109km above-ground metro line PPP project.
  • Advised Binance Holdings, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, on its license from Bahrain’s Central Bank to be a crypto-asset service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners

ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners is a trusted advisor to major banks throughout Bahrain and the broader Gulf, highly regarded for its expertise in conventional and Islamic banking, project finance, derivatives and capital markets. Practice head Steven Brown is well versed across the spectrum of cross-border finance transactions and also brings strong knowledge of corporate M&A, project development and business restructuring. He is supported by associate Rahul Sud, who has specialist expertise in the fintech and payment services sectors.

Practice head(s):

Steven Brown


Other key lawyers:

Rahul Sud


Testimonials

‘I have worked closely with ASAR on multiple financial services regulatory matters for international clients and have always found them to be thorough, commercial, and responsive. I would recommend their services without reservation.’

‘I have worked particularly frequently with Rahul Sud and Steven Brown, who have provided excellent service.’

Key clients

Eskan Bank


Ithmaar Bank


Bank ABC


Ahli United Bank


Mashreqbank


First Abu Dhabi Bank


RBS


EFG Bank


Credit Suisse


Goldman Sachs


HSBC


JP Morgan Chase


Nomura


Bank of America Merrill Lynch


Deutsche Bank


Société Générale


Barclays Bank


BNP Paribas


SICO Bank


Citibank


Standard Chartered


Warba Bank


Gulf International Bank


Boubyan Bank


Work highlights


  • Advised Ahli United Bank (as target) on the cross-border takeover of its entire share capital by Kuwait Finance House.
  • Advised Bahrain Ship Repairing & Engineering, a publicly listed company, on the share buyback through the Bahrain Bourse.
  • Advised lenders to the Haya Power & Desalination Company in relation to the refinancing of various facilities for the financing of the Al Dur II independent water and power plant.

Zu'bi & Partners, Attorneys & Legal Consultants

Zu'bi & Partners, Attorneys & Legal Consultants has a strong track record across a wide array of banking, conventional and Islamic finance mandates in Bahrain. Leading figures in the practice include Qays Zu’bi, Hatim Q Zu’bi, Naveen Thakur and Eman Omar, all offering extensive experience in project finance and investment funds work, as well as broader corporate and commercial issues. Eleanor Livingstone is also a key practitioner; she was promoted from senior associate to partner in May 2023.

Practice head(s):

Qays Zu’bi; Hatim Q. Zu’bi; Naveen Thakur; Eman Omar; Eleanor Livingstone


Key clients

Baker and Mckenzie Singapore


Citibank N.A, Hong Kong Branch


BNP Paribas SA


HSBC Middle East Limited


The Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c)


Bahrain Ministry of Finance and National Economy


Central Bank of Bahrain


Work highlights


  • Acted as local counsel to the Bahrain Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the Central Bank of Bahrain on the Bahrain law aspects of an issuance under the existing Trust Certificate Issuance Programme.
  • Acted as Bahraini counsel to the facility agent and lenders in relation to a syndicated facility to the Bahrain branch of a large Indian bank.