Trends in Islamic Investment and Finance Structuring

Faizal is a UK qualified lawyer and for many years has worked and advised, and is a trusted advisor to institutions, corporates and families across the Middle East, Africa and India. Faizal specialises in banking and finance and has advised corporates, family offices and families including on their international investment and holding structures.

Brian is the resident managing partner in Trowers & Hamlins' Bahrain office and heads its corporate team in Bahrain as well its international funds practice. He has 20 years' experience working with clients from or investing in the GCC. He advises clients in respect of public and private company mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring and regulation (including corporate finance, company and group structuring, shareholders' and joint venture arrangements, constitutional documents and corporate governance) in addition to a broad range of commercial and contractual matters. Brian also advises a number of banks, private equity clients and sovereign wealth institutions in respect of Bahraini and offshore fund establishment in addition to international private equity investments and disposals. In addition, Brian works on development of board and management incentive platforms, employee benefit trusts, board charters and associated policies for several banking institutions.

Salman has worked and lived in Dubai, Karachi, London, Manama, Muscat and Riyadh. He is the head of Trowers' Islamic finance practice. Salman is regarded as one of the foremost experts in the field of Islamic finance and is ranked by all the leading legal directories. Salman represents issuers, investors and banks in a variety of domestic and cross-border financing matters, including investment-grade and high-yield debt financings, hybrid securities transactions, leveraged buyouts, margin financings, liability management and restructurings. He also has a wealth of experience in capital markets including numerous award-winning and landmark transactions, and leads a team recognised for its expertise in creating innovative cost-efficient structuring solutions for clients on complex Sukuk and other Shari'a compliant transactions. He is one of the very few lawyers to have a specialist primary capital market qualification from ICMA.

Dr. Rizwan Malik is a passionate advocate of Islamic finance with 12+ years of diverse experience in investments, advisory, research, strategy, and business development. Since June 2023, he has been the head of the Islamic Finance Centre at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), the training arm of the Central Bank of Bahrain. At present, Dr. Malik is also a member of the Waqf Fund Board of the Central Bank of Bahrain. Prior to his current role, he was an Executive Director, Standards Implementation and Strategic Developments at the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), the oldest standards-setting organization within the global Islamic finance industry. Prior to AAOIFI, Dr. Malik headed the strategic planning and development team at Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) based in Muscat, Oman - a semi-government institution set up by the sovereign wealth fund of Oman and a number of government pension funds.

Irshad is the Audit & Assurance Business Leader for Deloitte Bahrain in addition to his role as the Islamic Finance Leader for Deloitte Global Network. He possesses over 30 years of professional experience and has a strong track record in leading internal and external audits of large multinational groups in diverse industries. Prior to joining Deloitte, Irshad was an audit and assurance partner with PwC Bahrain. The depth of Irshad’s expertise in the industry is underpinned by his hands-on experience of leading financial reporting and tax functions at Samba Financial Group in Saudi Arabia, and Etisalat - UAE. Irshad is a member of important regulatory committees such as the Accounting Board at the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution (AAOIFI), where he also serves on the Technical Accounting and Interpretation Committee (TAIC) and Independent Shari'a Audit Committee of the Waqf Fund - Central Bank of Bahrain.

Sabeen Ahmad has 25 years of multifaceted experience in financial risk and governance assessments and credit ratings spanning a range of institutions with specialized focus on Islamic finance. She has assumed leadership roles with a performance track in research based articles and public speaking. Sabeen has been engaged in cultivating the organization at IIRA and leading its analytical development since 2012, through ratings in over 16 countries, within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Countries and extending a full range of ratings to sovereigns, financial and non-financial corporates. Sabeen has led IIRA’s contribution to new approaches towards ratings that more comprehensively cater to the varied needs of investors in alternative asset classes such as investment deposits in Islamic banks, collective investment Schemes, Instruments, and social sector financings.

Aslam Shareef is Managing Director of Fairway Kuwait. He has a wealth of knowledge of the offshore finance industry having been involved in the Jerey finance industry for over 18 years. He has extensive knowledge on Shariah Compliant products with client base spread across the GCC. He works with some of the prominent business families and Investment Managers of the GCC. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a diploma in Fund Administration. Prior to Fairway, Aslam was a financial regulator within the funds supervision division of the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Aslam spent 7 years in audit (EY and Deloitte) before moving into the Funds industry, where he was responsible for a fund administration department.

Originally from Germany, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Al Sultan brings over 15 years of experience as a Sharia consultant and academic, specializing in various areas of Islamic finance. As a key member of SRB’s internal Sharia team, he plays a vital role in advancing the firm’s expertise in Islamic Law and Fiqh (jurisprudence). Sheikh Muhammad supports major corporations and financial institutions in aligning their products, structures, and operational systems with Sharia principles. His experience spans the redesign of conventional financial instruments, fund frameworks, and organizational structures across the banking, insurance, and private equity sectors. He is known for facilitating timely product approvals and delivering tailored, functional solutions in Fatwa administration. Working closely with clients, he helps revise product strategies and procedural systems to ensure compliance with Sharia while supporting business objectives.

Rasha Belbaisi is a distinguished Legal Consultant, Chartered Arbitrator, Certified Islamic Banker, Certified Corporate Secretary and Legal Translator with over 25 years of experience in the legal and financial sectors. Currently serving as Head of Legal and Corporate Secretary at Eagle Hills Diyar, and a neutral in Section one tribunals at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR), Rasha brings a wealth of expertise in Islamic finance, corporate law, real estate and dispute resolution. Having previously served as Senior Legal Manager at Bahrain Islamic Bank, she played a key part in advising on Sharia-compliant financial products, regulatory compliance, and personal data protection requirements. She is also an active contributor to the academic field as an ADIF Lecturer at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), where she shares her expertise in Islamic finance and corporate law.

Mr. Ali Haroon Alaamer serves as the Director of Capital Markets Supervision Directorate (CMSD) at the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) since May 2023. Prior to that, he was holding the post of Head of Crypto Assets Markets under the CMSD since January 2023 and the Head of Issuance & Corporate Restructuring since November 2016. He also has more than 18 years of experience in the field of capital markets and banking, as he started his career working in a retail bank and an investment bank prior to joining the CBB. His current responsibilities include the supervision of licensed exchanges, licensed clearing houses and central depositories, market intermediaries, and crypto asset services providers. He is also responsible for regulating the issuance and offering of securities in the primary market. Through his role as a supervisor and his contribution to the drafting of rules and regulations , he ensures maintaining and promoting fairness, efficiency and transparency.

Charlie is a Director in CSC’s Executive Compensation Services, based in Dubai, where he brings the team’s deep expertise in employee and executive compensation plans to the region. With over 25 years of experience, CSC’s Executive Compensation Services team specialise in the delivery and administration of schemes including retirement and savings plans, equity-based arrangements, bonus deferral schemes, and End of Service Gratuity solutions tailored for companies across the GCC. In particular Charlie is part of the team behind the successful launch of Go Saver, in collaboration with Sukoon, the second DIFC-approved Employee Workplace Savings scheme. With a career in financial services dating back over 25 years, Charlie's core focus remains executive compensation, however, his broader experience particularly from CSC’s Jersey office, also sees him working across corporate, trust, and fund structures supporting institutions in the UAE with financing and investment solutions.

The BIBF plays a vital role in the training and development of human capital in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Our commitment to excellence has strengthened our position as the top provider of quality education across all major business disciplines.

We serve as a partner to numerous world-class institutions; delivering thought leadership, research and advisory, assessment and training in the areas of Accounting and Finance, Academic Studies, Executive Development, Banking, Leadership and Management, Insurance, Islamic Finance and Information Technology.

The BIBF covers a wide spectrum of subject matter, with over 600 courses offered to the financial and corporate market; tailor-made training solutions based on organisational requirements; specialised programmes taught by leading market specialists; and professional qualifications and degree programmes in partnership with major international organisations.

Trowers is an international law firm with over 170 partners and more than 1000 people located across the UK, Middle East and Asia.

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