Mohamed Ridza & Co

Partner

Naseem has over 26 years of experience in corporate, banking and finance, capital markets and Islamic finance, with particular expertise in cross-border Shariah compliant financing, REIT and unit trust structures. She is widely recognised for her work on sovereign-linked and public sector mandates, corporate restructurings and Shariah compliant wealth and estate planning. She advises government-linked corporations, statutory bodies, financial institutions and listed companies on high value transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, Sukuk issuances, syndicated financings, asset injections, joint ventures and other regulated sector deals. Her work often involves advising on complex regulatory requirements and coordinating with ministries, regulators, trustees and financiers, including on submissions to the Securities Commission Malaysia. Naseem is also experienced in corporate separation schemes and governance responses in contentious or time sensitive situations, supporting boards and senior management on continuity planning, risk management and execution readiness. In private wealth, she advises on Syariah compliant estate planning—covering private trusts, hibah, wakalah and cross-border asset distribution—and represents clients in Syariah Court proceedings.

Notable credentials and contributions

Key Capabilities

Corporate & Transactional

Mergers & acquisitions

Joint ventures and disposals

Corporate restructurings & separation schemes

Public sector & sovereign‑linked mandates

Board‑level governance advisory

Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

Sukuk programmes (sovereign & quasi‑sovereign)

Syndicated Murabahah/Tawarruq financings

Islamic structuring & Shariah governance alignment

REIT and unit trust transactions

Cross‑border Shariah‑compliant financing

Real Estate & Large‑Scale Assets

Commercial property acquisitions

Asset injections & sale‑and‑leaseback structures

REIT transactions & portfolio restructuring

Development rights divestments

Private Wealth & Syariah Advisory

Syariah‑compliant estate planning (trusts, hibah, wakalah)

Multi‑jurisdictional asset structuring

Syariah Court representation

Civil–Syariah comparative advisory

Regulatory & Public Sector Interface

Securities Commission submissions

Government‑linked transactions

Coordination with ministries, trustees, regulators & financiers

Selected Notable Transactions

Advising on the restructuring and upsizing of DanaInfra Nasional Berhad’s Government-backed Sukuk programme from RM82.2 billion to RM88.7 billion, advising the Joint Lead Arrangers and Facility Agent on Islamic structuring, Government guarantees, regulatory approvals and transaction documentation for nationally significant MRT infrastructure financing.

Adviser to Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) on the acquisition of five major commercial properties valued at over RM500 million and the related building operator arrangements, involving complex contra structuring, public sector compliance and operational continuity.

Adviser to Metacorp Berhad on the RM133.2 million sale of a 49% equity stake to a subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Berhad, involving a concession-linked waste management business and regulatory approval from the Public Private Partnership Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Adviser to Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad (PHB) on multiple asset injections into Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera, a Shariah-compliant unit trust fund, including sale-and-leaseback arrangements, issuance of additional units, preparation of core transaction documents, and regulatory submissions to the Securities Commission Malaysia.

Adviser to a major Malaysian conglomerate on a proposed corporate separation scheme and governance responses arising from a shareholder winding-up petition, including board-level advisory, structuring, due diligence and risk mitigation

Adviser to MBSB Bank Berhad on the conversion of a conventional syndicated facility into a USD-denominated Shariah-compliant financing under Commodity Murabahah (Tawarruq), working alongside Clifford Chance LLP and ensuring pari passu treatment with conventional lenders.

Adviser to Damansara REIT Managers Sdn Berhad, the manager of Al-‘Aqar Healthcare REIT, on the cross-border disposal of an aged care facility in Australia, involving complex sale, escrow, guarantee and sublease documentation.

Adviser to PKNS on the RM270 million divestment of development rights for Tower 2 of the PJ Sentral mixed commercial development, involving complex financial offsets, novation arrangements and multiple interrelated transaction documents.

Private Wealth, Estate Planning & Syariah Advisory

Advises on Syariah-compliant estate planning structures, including private trusts, hibah declarations, wakalah arrangements and charitable vehicles.

Represents clients in Syariah Court proceedings, including applications for Hibah Orders and Faraid Certificates.

Issues legal opinions on comparative civil and Syariah law issues and prepares Syariah law reports on asset distribution across multiple jurisdictions.

English, Malay

Malaysian Bar

Qualified Shariah Practitioner – Wilayah Persekutuan (2020)

Commissioner for Oaths (2014)

Qualified Shariah Practitioner - Negeri Sembilan (2010)

Diploma in Shariah Law & Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia (2005)

Advocate and Solicitor (Malaya) (1999)

Certificate of Legal Practice, Legal Profession Qualifying Board Malaysia (1998)

Bachelor of Law, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom (1997)