Islamic Finance and Banking Law

Curtis’ Islamic finance attorneys have been at the forefront of the development of unique, “first-of-a-kind” and other bespoke Islamic finance, investment and banking products since the mid-1990s. During this time, they have been internationally recognized and honored for their work. Our Islamic Finance, Investment and Banking practice is globally integrated across all of our 16 offices. Our offices in Almaty, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Muscat, New York and Nur-Sultan are especially active in providing local, national and international services.

Our attorneys have often been instrumental in anticipating and establishing the legal infrastructure, legal architecture and industry standards for those markets. Curtis lawyers are also leading Islamic finance educators at major law schools, business schools, universities and training organizations, and the firm provides continuing Islamic finance, investment and banking informational updates through our Oman Law Blog.

Wide Range of Islamic Finance Contracts and Structures

Our attorneys have experience with virtually every type of contract and structure that is used in Islamic finance, investments and banking, and with the applications of those contracts and structures across a broad range of business and economic activities. We regularly negotiate, document and implement transactions using ijara, murabaha, musawamma, mudaraba, musharaka (particularly diminishing musharaka), other sharikat forms, istisna'a, wakala, salam, arboon, sukuk of different types, wadia, kafalah, rahn, adl, qard hasan, tahawwut, waqf and other contracts and structures.

Islamic Finance Advice for a Broad Range of Industries

The industries in which we apply these contracts and structures include banking and investment banking; capital markets instruments; trading and private equity; energy and power, including oil and gas, petrochemicals and mining; real estate of every type, including hotels and leisure; life settlements; exchange-traded funds; distressed debt investing; as well as bankruptcy and insolvency.

The team advises on sukuk, bonds, securitizations and notes, financial products and structures, including real estate investments, infrastructure and project finance, asset finance, trade and manufacturing finance. The team has considerable experience in harmonizing Shari’ah-compliant transactions into conventional securitization pools, both at original financings and in refinancings. We also advise on the Islamic legal aspects of the full range of corporate mergers and acquisitions and private equity, as well as dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and litigation.