Mohammed Saqub > Shakespeare Martineau LLP > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile

Shakespeare Martineau LLP, in addition to its strength in real estate finance and corporate banking, maintains ‘a powerful niche’ in Islamic finance. Its clients include leading national commercial banks; it advises on credit policy, risk and governance issues. Naomi Tudor, whose expertise includes bilateral and syndicated transactions for corporate and property financings, leads the Birmingham practice alongside Mohammed Saqub, who is central to the firm’s Islamic finance strength. Christopher Gayle is noted for his broad practice, advising on leveraged, property, project and trade financings.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP, with its strong presence in Birmingham and London, has carved a niche in the realm of Shariah-compliant financial structures, catering to both creditors and debtors involved in the UK’s commercial and residential real estate sectors and from both a new money and a refinancing perspective. The firm’s adroitness at structuring deals utilising Islamic finance techniques has not only attracted a steady stream of domestic work but is also beginning to pique the interest of international investors and funds. The team’s longstanding relationships with lenders, including those fully compliant with Shariah and conventional banks with an Islamic finance window, has positioned it as a major force in the UK market, both on complex structures as well as more commoditised high-volume work, including as this relates to retail mortgages. Mohammed Saqub, a prominent figure in the Islamic finance market, leads from the front, earning recognition from clients on transactional work as well as by dint of his advisory roles with the UK government to foster the growth of Islamic finance. Afreen Cole brings her deep understanding of Islamic finance principles to the forefront, skillfully handling real estate finance transactions and negotiations over commodity Murabaha facility agreements.