Trowers & Hamlins LLP > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Firm Profile

Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Level 45, Menara Maxis
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Malaysia > Foreign firms Tier 2

Noted for its expertise in Islamic finance mandates, Trowers & Hamlins LLP acts for domestic and international clients on a range of matters, including cross-border investments, M&A, private equity, and financing deals, with demonstrable experience in the real estate, hospitality, oil and gas, and energy and infrastructure arenas. Nick Edmondes is praised for his 'breadth of knowledge in Islamic financing', while Elias Moubarak advises on project financings and real estate financings, in addition to capital market issuances. Geoff Allen joined the firm in June 2022 and leads the corporate and commercial team. Other key contacts include Tom Reynolds and real estate expert Abdulhaq Mohammed. All named practitioners collectively lead the practice from the firm's office in Kuala Lumpur.

Practice head(s):

Nick Edmondes; Tom Reynolds; Elias Moubarak; Abdulhaq Mohammed; Geoff Allen

Other key lawyers:

Nicol Ong

Testimonials

‘T&H has been consistent in providing the level of legal services that we need in our transactions.’

‘The team is always available and quick in responding to our queries.’

‘Nicol Ong is proactive, attentive, patient and a problem solver.’

‘The team are pleasant, easy to work with and go to extra mile to perform and complete a transaction.’

‘Trowers are able to tap into their wide global base to solve certain issues.’

‘Nick Edmondes has the breadth of knowledge in Islamic financing.’

‘Nicol Ong is easy to work with, makes sure she covers all angles when closing a deal for us and is very detailed in her work.’

Key clients

Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Lembaga Tabung Haji

EQRAZ Inc.

Sohar International Bank SAOG

EFG-Hermes UAE Limited (acting jointly with EFG Hermes UAE LLC)

Al Baraka Islamic Bank B.S.C.

Ahli United Bank B.S.C.

Alvarium RE Limited

Alizz Islamic Bank SAOC

RHB Bank

Permodalan Nasional Berhad

Tenaga Nasional Berhad

First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC

Meethaq Islamic Banking, Bank Musacat SAOG

Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP)

Sime Darby

Malaysia Aviation Group

Work highlights

  • Advised Sohar International Bank S.A.O.G. and EFG-Hermes UAE Limited as joint global coordinator and bookrunner, and as issue manager and investment manager on the IPO of 208k units in The Pearl Real Estate Investment Fund to investors across Oman and the GCC, which have been listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange.
  • Advised the banking syndicate led by banks making up ‘the Facility Participants’, on the $200m syndicated Murabaha facility made available to Bahrain’s Oil and Gas Holding Company.
  • Advising Ahli United Bank on all aspects of its conversion from a conventional bank to an Islamic bank in Bahrain and its eventual merger with Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain.

The firm: Trowers & Hamlins is an international firm providing clear, practical advice to help clients achieve their objectives. The firm’s clients include banks, pension funds, institutional investors, private equity funds, developers, property companies, care home operators, public and private companies, local and central government departments, NHS trusts, registered providers (RPs), charities and individuals.

Types of work undertaken: Through its UK and overseas offices, the firm has developed a dynamic corporate, commercial and litigation practice with particular strengths in real estate, care, education, energy, leisure, finance (including Islamic finance) and project work. The firm has built its reputation on helping government and businesses of all sizes improve the built environment all around us.

The firm’s real estate experts advise on every stage of the lifetime of a real estate asset or development, including investment, planning, development, construction, asset management (including environmental advice) and funding. Built on a reputation for innovation and working at the forefront of changing legislation and market trends, the teams help institutional investors, developers, housebuilders, REITs, property companies, RPs, local authorities and private individuals to buy, sell, develop and manage their assets successfully. The firm has particular strength in advising on large-scale regeneration and development schemes, as well as student accommodation, care, healthcare, education and leisure projects. The firm’s projects and construction experts advise UK and global clients in a variety of sectors, spanning innovative PFI/PPP/DBFO project structures and joint venture/partnering initiatives.

As leading lawyers to the housing sector, advising government bodies, local authorities, 250 RPs, developers, contractors, lenders and institutional investors, the firm plays a central and innovative role in policy making and the evolution of housing in the UK and around the world.

The firm’s market-leading reputation for public sector expertise is built on helping government and private sector partners to create new and innovative ways to deliver public services, having advised on a substantial number of pathfinder private finance initiative (PFI) and innovative PPP schemes. Increasingly the firm advises on how to find new sources of income from the use of public land and assets. Particular areas of expertise include advising on stock transfer, housing market renewal, ALMOs, mutuals, education, strategic partnerships and outsourcing schemes, construction and partnering, care homes, leisure facilities, maintenance, administration and IT services.

The corporate department is a substantial team with a strong reputation for advising public and private companies, both in the UK and overseas, entrepreneurs and individuals operating in the financial, property, industrial and commercial sectors.

The litigation department helps clients to manage risk and to protect their business interests in the UK and internationally across commercial civil litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and adjudication. The firm has particular strengths in public law, judicial review, banking, real estate, construction, insolvency, employment, travel insurance and personal injury work.

The employment and pensions team helps organisations and businesses manage change, head off issues and tackle problems with pragmatic advice and progressive thinking. The team has the breadth and depth of employment, pensions and immigration law. Its clients are varied across corporate businesses and charities and third sector, but they all benefit from the firm’s diverse public and private sector experience, specialist technical expertise and sector knowledge.

The private wealth department provides legal advice to individuals with industrial or commercial wealth, invested assets and landed estates. Key areas of work include tax planning, trusts, wills, probate, charities, the administration of trusts and estates, as well as the management of substantial real estate portfolios.

The firm has a strong international practice, particularly in the Middle East, with offices in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai and Oman. It is especially well-known for its work in real estate, construction, energy and infrastructure, and hotel and leisure, as well as its corporate expertise. The firm’s office in Malaysia supports a growing Far East client base.

Trowers & Hamlins is a member of Interlaw, an international association of independent law firms with lawyers in more than 125 cities worldwide. As a member of Interlaw, it is able to quickly draw on the legal expertise and knowledge of this global network to support clients.

Trowers & Hamlins is a member firm of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Legal Services Framework, which is a means for contracting authorities to access legal services.

Other offices: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Birmingham, Dubai, Exeter, Malaysia, Manchester, Oman.

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior Partner Sara Bailey
Banking and finance Adrian Carter
Charities Ian Davis
Construction Stephanie Canham
Corporate/corporate finance Tim Nye
Employment Emma Burrows
Environment Amanda Stubbs
Housing Tonia Secker
International Jeremy Ingham
Litigation Nicholas Levy
Litigation Lucy James
Pensions Martin McFall
Planning Jacqueline Backhaus
Private wealth Jonathan Kropman
Public sector Amardeep Gill
Real estate Suzanne Benson
Real estate finance Adrian Carter
Tax Andrew Sneddon
Number of UK partners : 172
Number of other UK fee-earners : 385