GLOBAL: After a gruelling six weeks identifying the crème de la crème of the Islamic legal circle by an independent and impartial Awards Board, we are pleased to reveal the winners of the IFN Law Awards 2018.
Nominations poured in from across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa from law firms of all sizes and statures: familiar names made it to the board but so did IFN newcomers demonstrating the growing prowess of local and regional firms among long-standing international giants.
Launched in 2008, the global IFN Law Awards are the most prestigious Islamic finance legal accolades recognized for their impartiality, independence and inclusivity. Rewarding the best legal firms with Islamic finance capabilities and services, the IFN Law Awards take into consideration various metrics beyond the sheer size of a firm but more significantly, a firm’s inventive and progressive spirit in terms of expansion, innovation, impact and development. Winners are decided by an independent and impartial Awards Board comprising of senior industry players and market experts.
This year, the submitted transactions featured a wide range of deals differentiated by complexity, size and uniqueness. A few notable themes emerged: green, sustainable and responsible investment, and environmental, social and governance projects featured prominently; new subsectors rose to the fore, primarily REITs and exchange-traded funds while Sukuk deals saw more diversity in terms of originator and structure.
A total of 14 categories were contested – 12 firms took home accolades.
Table 1: IFN Law Awards 2018 — categories and winners | |
Categories | Winners |
Asset Management & Funds | K&L Gates |
Banking & Finance | Kammoun & Kallel Law Firm |
Capital Markets | Norton Rose Fulbright |
Energy & Natural Resources | Allen & Overy |
Fintech | Simmons & Simmons |
Arbitration, Insolvency & Restructuring | King & Spalding |
Mergers & Acquisitions | Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm |
Offshore Finance | Maples and Calder |
Private Equity | King & Spalding |
Project Finance | Linklaters |
Real Estate | Dentons |
ESG, Green, SRI | Adnan Sundra & Low |
Trade Finance | Watson Farley & Williams |
Law Firm of the Year | King & Spalding |
Our heartiest congratulations to all winners of this year’s IFN Law Awards for their outstanding legal work, structuring ingenuity and unparalleled professionalism. We look forward to celebrating your achievements in Dubai and in Kuala Lumpur. To read the judging panel’s reasoning for each award winner and the full list of winners and honorable mentions, click here.