Islamic finance in Malaysia

The Islamic finance practice at Adnan Sundra & Low has extensive experience in advising Syariah-compliant funding structures, regularly advising on exchangeable Sukuk issuances, Islamic stapled securities transactions, municipal bonds employing parallel Mudharabah structures and Islamic-compliant derivatives. The group is highly recommended for work involving debt securities for infrastructure financing, real property securitisation exercises and issuances of Sukuk by investment trusts. Adrian Chee, Deepak Sadasivan and Putri Norlisa jointly head the practice which also includes Gan Kok Ling who advises on the issue of debt securities for the financing of several infrastructure and energy projects, and Edward NG who handles debt capital markets financing and structured finance transactions.

Albar & Partners is a top choice for advising on structuring Islamic financing transactions and advises a mix of investment and commercial banks, insurance companies, as well as borrowers across a broad range of industry sectors. The team recently acted on a number of issuance of Islamic medium-term note programmes and syndicated term financing transactions. Founding partner Lily Tan Chea Li frequently handles asset-backed securitiasations and complex Sukuks; she jointly heads the group with Chung Swee Loong, who has advised on Islamic finance transactions such as a Murabahah-based medium-term notes programme issuance. Sharifah Dalilah Albar is also recommended for advising on medium-term notes and Sukuk Programmes.

Led by Tay Weng Hwee, Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill fields a strong team of Islamic finance specialists, advising on both MYR and foreign currency-denominated transactions. The practice is highly recommended for high-value Sukuk issuances. Particularly active in assisting banks with debt restructuring issues, Megat Hizaini Hassan advises on Murabahah and Ijarah transactions and assists with regulatory frameworks and Shariah standards for financial and investment transactions.

The Islamic finance group at Zul Rafique & Partners advises Syariah-compliant transactions, with areas of expertise covering complex Sukuk, Isistna, Murabahah and Ijarah. Ashela Ramaya recently advised on Sime Darby’s RM800m Sukuk Musharakah issuance; she jointly heads the team with Loh Mei Mei, Kung Suan Im, private debt securities expert Chan Kwan Hoe and Celine Rangithan, who regularly advises on restructuring and project finance transactions.

Led by Christina Kow and Pamela Kung, the Islamic finance group at Shearn Delamore & Co advises on Syariah-compliant acquisition finance, real estate finance, Sukuk and other DCM products, as well as providing regulatory advice for Islamic financial institutions.

Shook Lin & Bok‘s Islamic finance group is experienced in the negotiation and structuring of a broad range of financial products, including Sukuk and related bonds, project and asset financing, syndicated financing, and offshore loan transactions in foreign-denominated currencies. The team is also active in the emerging areas of Islamic finance including Islamic funds, quasi-equity instruments, and profit and loss schemes. Syed Adam Alhabshi frequently advises Islamic financial institutions on regulatory and compliance matters. Jalalullail Othman, Khong Mei Lin and Hoh Kiat Ching jointly lead the team.

Skrine‘s Islamic finance practice handles a broad range of retail and corporate Islamic finance, project bonds, restructuring and regulatory issues, often acting for Islamic banks.  Practice head Sharifah Shafika binti Syed Abbas Alsagoff joined from Mohamed Ridza & Co in December 2020, as did partner Hafidah Aman Hashim. Claudia Cheah is highly experienced in Islamic banking and finance litigation.