Syariah-Compliant Legal Advisory for Islamic Finance

Syariah-compliant financing operates under Islamic law principles that prohibit riba (interest), gharar (excessive uncertainty), and transactions involving prohibited activities. In place of interest-bearing instruments, Islamic finance uses profit-sharing arrangements, asset-backed transactions, and lease structures. The key difference lies in the underlying contract — each transaction must have a permissible purpose, a clear and tangible basis, and explicit Syariah approval.

We assist with a range of Islamic finance products including Murabahah (cost-plus sale), Musharakah (joint venture), Ijarah (lease), Wakalah (agency), Mudarabah (profit-sharing), and commodity Murabahah structures. For capital market clients, we advise on sukuk programmes across various structures, from programme establishment through to issuance documentation and ongoing compliance.

After your initial enquiry, we arrange a preliminary discussion to understand the nature and scope of your matter. We then provide a written scope of engagement outlining the services to be provided, estimated timeline, and applicable fees. Most engagements begin with a documentation review or a regulatory gap analysis, depending on the nature of the instruction.

We conduct gap analyses against BNM's Syariah Governance Policy Document and assist institutions in establishing or strengthening their Syariah committee framework. This includes governance documentation, Syariah audit programme development, non-compliance event procedures, and regulatory reporting obligations. Where gaps are identified, we prepare practical remediation plans suited to your operational structure.

Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the structure, Securities Commission Malaysia's review process, and the readiness of transaction documentation. A straightforward issuance under an existing programme may be completed in eight to twelve weeks. A new sukuk programme establishment, including SC approval and Syariah endorsement, typically takes between four and six months from mandate commencement.

Yes. We advise on cross-border Syariah compliance for institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions, with particular attention to alignment between Malaysian regulatory requirements and standards in GCC and other ASEAN markets. Where matters require local counsel in other jurisdictions, we facilitate the necessary referrals and coordination to ensure consistency across the engagement.

We offer retainer arrangements for institutions that require regular Syariah compliance support, periodic regulatory updates, and access to advisory input on an ongoing basis. Retainer terms are structured to match the scale and frequency of your advisory needs. Please contact us to discuss a retainer arrangement suited to your institution.