Banking & Finance

ZUL RAFIQUE & partners’ award-winning Banking & Finance practice group comprises a dedicated team of lawyers with extensive experience and expertise in domestic and international financing transactions covering both conventional and Islamic financing. This expertise enables us to advice on all the relevant aspects of a financing transaction in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Our vision together with our proactive methods of resolving issues of our clients have garnered us several awards conferred by various business and legal publishing houses, in particular the Asian Legal Business (ALB), Chambers & Partners, International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and the Islamic Finance News (IFN).

Quote from Islamic Finance News 2016 in awarding ZUL RAFIQUE & partners the winner for the Trade Finance Law Firm of the Year 2016 in the Islamic Finance News Law Awards:

“ZUL RAFIQUE & partners are the perfect example of a local firm that has expanded its capabilities to a global standard, performing intricate and complex transactions at an exceptionally high quality and ideally demonstrating the strength and capabilities of the Malaysian market. Its sterling work has not only assisted its local and regional markets to develop, but have supported cross-border trade and development to the benefit of the entire industry.” 

We also play an important part in the development of the financing and debt capital market and are frequently consulted by clients to provide advice on new innovative products and financing structures. Our extensive experience allows us to stay in the forefront of new developments and to continue to offer our clients the best possible service.


AREAS OF PRACTICE

Our areas of practice include:

  • Acquisition and leveraged finance
  • Asset finance
  • Corporate debt rescheduling
  • Cross border finance
  • Debt capital markets
  • Domestic and offshore syndication
  • Offshore lending
  • Islamic finance
  • International issuance of debt instruments
  • Project finance
  • Real estate finance
  • Securitisation
  • Structured trade and commodity finance
  • Sukuk issuance

SELECTED AWARDS

  • Real Estate Deal of the Year 2020 – IFN Deal of the Year 2020 – Islamic Finance News
  • Equity Market Deal of the Year 2020 – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2020 – Asian Legal Business
  • Debt Market Deal of the Year (Premium) 2018 – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2018 – Asian Legal Business
  • Asia Deals of the Year 2017 – Asia Business Law Journal
  • Asian-mena Counsel Firm of the Year 2017 for Banking & Finance – In-House Community
  • Trade Finance Law Firm of the Year 2016 – IFN Law Awards 2016 – Islamic Finance News
  • African Deal of the Year 2016 – IFN Deals of the Year 2016 – Islamic Finance News
  • Malaysia Deal of the Year 2016 – IFN Deals of the Year 2016 – Islamic Finance News
  • Infrastructure & Project Finance Deal of the Year 2016 – IFN Deals of the Year 2016 – Islamic Finance News

RANKING

  • Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 – Band 1 for Banking and Finance, Band 1 for Debt Capital Markets in Malaysia and Band 1 in Islamic Finance in the Asia-Pacific Region
  • Asialaw Profiles 2023 – Outstanding for Banking and Finance, Outstanding for Capital Markets and Highly Recommended for Banking and Financial Services in Malaysia
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 – Tier 1 for Banking and Finance, Tier 1 for Islamic Finance and Tier 1 for Capital Markets in Malaysia
  • IFLR1000 31st Edition 2021/2022 – Tier 1 for Banking and Finance and Tier 1 for Capital Markets in Malaysia

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

  • Acted for the lead arranger for the Merdeka ASEAN Green SRI Sukuk of MYR2.0 Billion and Sukuk of MYR3.65 Billion established by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (“PNB”), for purposes of financing part of the construction of the Warisan Merdeka project in the historic Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara enclave. The Merdeka ASEAN Green SRI Sukuk Programme is the first in Malaysia to adopt the ASEAN Green Bond Standards and also complies with the requirements of the sustainable responsible investment (SRI) Sukuk under the Malaysian Launch and Lodge Framework. It won Debt Market Deal of the Year (Premium) 2018 - ALB Malaysia Law Awards - Asian Legal Business
  • Acted for Genting Berhad for an issuance of USD1.0 Billion 4.25 per cent guaranteed notes by Genting Berhad’s indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, GOHL Capital Limited which is offered entirely offshore and outside the United States of America in reliance on Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933.
  • Acted for Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd for its Islamic Medium Term Notes Programme of up to MYR10.0 Billion. It won Asia Deal of the Year 2017 – Asia Business Law Journal
  • Acted for the financier in relation to a term financing-i facility granted to Sime Darby TNBES Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd to part finance the development and construction of biogas power plants. It won Infrastructure & Project Finance Deal of the Year 2016 and Malaysia Deal of the Year 2016 – Islamic Finance News
  • Acted for syndicated financiers for an Islamic facility of up to USD780.0 Million granted to Yinson Production (West Africa) Pte. Ltd. in relation to a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. It won Africa Deal of the Year 2016 – Islamic Finance News
  • Acted for syndicated financiers for a multicurrency Sukuk Murabahah Programme of up to MYR7.0 Billion (and equivalent in USD) established by Sapura TMC Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sapura Energy Berhad. The first issuance under the Multi-Currency Sukuk Murabahah Programme is also the first unrated USD Sukuk to be raised onshore. It was awarded the prestigious Emas Sukuk by the Central Bank of Malaysia.
  • Acted for the finance parties in relation to the multicurrency Islamic syndicated facilities of USD2.3 Billion equivalent, granted to Sapura TMC Sdn Bhd, the subsidiary of Sapura Energy Berhad. It won the Debt Market Deal of the Year 2015 by Asian Legal Business at the ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2015, the Debt Market Deal of the Year 2015 by Asian Legal Business at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2015 and the Malaysia Deal of the Year 2015 by Asian Legal Business at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2015.

QUOTES

    “I find the service and quality from Zul Rafique & Partners to be excellent. They can sort out tricky issues and will go way beyond." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2023: Banking & Finance


    “Standout banking group, providing expert advice on all aspects of conventional, Islamic and debt-related financial transactions. Especially skilled in complex debt restructuring, asset-backed securities and project finance, with extensive knowledge of Shari’a-compliant structures. Acts for prominent Malaysian and international borrowers and lenders.” – Chambers Asia Pacific 2018: Banking & Finance – Band 1


    “The lawyers' dedication and reliability is appreciated by clients, who report that "they are extremely thorough in their work" and "provide a very consistent level of service." Clients also praise the team's technical proficiency, noting the "quality of advice and problem solving during structuring, along with the quality of its legal documents.” – Chambers Asia Pacific 2018: Banking & Finance – Band 1


    “Known to provide comprehensive advice to both domestic and international financial institutions, the team at ZUL RAFIQUE & partners is noted for its extensive experience in Islamic finance issues. It has the capacity to take on matters spanning a range of Shari'a principles including wakala, murabaha and ijara, among others. Project finance, asset-backed securities and debt restructuring are also key areas of expertise.” – Chambers Asia Pacific 2018: Islamic Finance – Band 2


    “One client praises the team "for their commendable services in the finance and banking area.". Another source highlights the "technical expertise and the sense of responsibility from partners when supervising their deal team on transactions."” – Chambers Asia Pacific 2018: Islamic Finance – Band 2


    “ZUL RAFIQUE & partners’ banking and finance practice was at the top of its game last year – the firm was involved in a number of eye-catching international syndicated facilities and acquisition financings.” – IFLR1000 2017 – Tier 1


    “Under the leadership of Loh Mei Mei, ZUL RAFIQUE & partners is commended for its ‘technical expertise paired with a great sense of responsibility from partners when supervising the team’” –Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 – Tier 1


    “The range of work delivered by ZUL RAFIQUE & partners’ range of dependable work including acquisition, project and Islamic finance makes it an outstanding practice.” – Asialaw 2018 – Outstanding


    “ZUL RAFIQUE & partners excels at debt capital markets, in addition to syndicated loans…..The practice is also highly capable in Islamic finance.” – Asialaw 2018 – Outstanding

Partners

  • Loh Mei Mei

    +603-6209 8244
    [email protected]

  • Kung Suan Im

    +603-6209 8244
    [email protected]

  • Ashela Ramaya

    +603-6209 8251
    [email protected]

  • Chan Kwan Hoe

    +603-6209 8242
    [email protected]

  • Celine Rangithan

    +603-6209 8244
    [email protected]