People
Jawad I. Ali, Managing Partner of our Middle East offices, has extensive experience advising clients on complex cross border corporate, finance and investments matters related to real estate, private equity and M&A transactions.
Jawad is a pioneer in developing and implementing Shari'ah-compliant financing and investment structures. These include lease finance (Ijara), acquisition finance (Ijara wa-iqtinah), construction finance (Istisna'a-Ijara), trade finance (Murabaha) and joint ventures (Musharaka) that are regularly used in financial and investment transactions globally. He regularly advises banks, financial institutions, private equity and real estate firms, and sponsors in structuring and implementing U.S., European, Middle Eastern and global Shari'ah-compliant real estate and private equity funds and transactions.
In addition, Jawad is a trusted counsel to many of the Firm’s family office and ultra-high net worth clients in the Middle East. He is regularly called upon by these clients to provide advice on matters related to their global investments in a variety of sectors and any disputes related to the same.
Jawad is frequently invited to speak on the investment environment and capital flow in and out of the Middle East as well as Islamic finance and investment matters. He is also regularly cited by independent legal directories and client-based surveys, and has been recognized among the Best of the Best in Euromoney's biennial list of top law practitioners worldwide.
He is a highly recommended Islamic finance lawyer in the Middle East by Chambers Global 2020 and Legal 500 EMEA 2019. Chambers Global has identified Jawad as a "well-established figure in all forms of Shari'a-compliant transactions, including real estate and private equity investments" and market commentators recognize him as "a strong player" who is "grounded in all elements of Islamic Finance." Furthermore, in its most recent edition, clients describe Jawad as "an eminent guy" and "a prominent name" within the Islamic finance space.
Jawad has held and continues to hold several leadership positions at the firm including: Deputy Head of The Middle East & Islamic Finance Practice Group (2007-2017), Member of the Firm’s Policy Committee (2015 – 2017), Head of EMEA Corporate Finance & Investment Team (2018 – 2019), Global Head of the Firm’s Islamic Finance Practice Group (2017 to present), and Chair of the Corporate Finance & Investment Practice Key Global Clients Initiative & Committee (2019 to present).
LL.M., Boston University, cum laude
LL.B., Liverpool University, UK, with honors
A-Levels, Stafford House Tutorial College, UK
New York
American Bar Association
Arabic
October 9, 2020
IFLR1000 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Top Financial & Corporate Law Firms in Jurisdictions Worldwide
July 13, 2020
Jawad Ali discusses law firms turning to technology to face the post COVID-19 landscape
February 14, 2020
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
Investment Funds, Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant funds sponsored by Kuwait Finance House and KFH Capital on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of commercial, residential, healthcare, logistics and hospitality assets in the U.S., UK and Europe with aggregate value in excess of US$2.0 billion.
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant funds sponsored by Dimah Capital Investment Company on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of commercial and residential assets in the U.S. and U.K. with aggregate value in excess to US$800 million.
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant sponsored by Arcapita Investment Limited on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of residential and logistics assets in the UAE with aggregate value in excess of US$300 million.
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September 15, 2020
The Dubai International Financial Centre Implements the New Data Protection Law
August 10, 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on Financings Secured by Real Estate Assets
July 28, 2020
Distressed Debt Opportunities in the COVID-19 Environment- the UAE and Saudi Arabia
October 9, 2020
IFLR1000 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Top Financial & Corporate Law Firms in Jurisdictions Worldwide
July 13, 2020
Jawad Ali discusses law firms turning to technology to face the post COVID-19 landscape
February 14, 2020
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
Investment Funds, Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant funds sponsored by Kuwait Finance House and KFH Capital on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of commercial, residential, healthcare, logistics and hospitality assets in the U.S., UK and Europe with aggregate value in excess of US$2.0 billion.
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant funds sponsored by Dimah Capital Investment Company on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of commercial and residential assets in the U.S. and U.K. with aggregate value in excess to US$800 million.
Advised a number of Shari'ah-compliant sponsored by Arcapita Investment Limited on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of residential and logistics assets in the UAE with aggregate value in excess of US$300 million.
See more
September 15, 2020
The Dubai International Financial Centre Implements the New Data Protection Law
August 10, 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on Financings Secured by Real Estate Assets
July 28, 2020
Distressed Debt Opportunities in the COVID-19 Environment- the UAE and Saudi Arabia
October 9, 2020
IFLR1000 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Top Financial & Corporate Law Firms in Jurisdictions Worldwide
July 13, 2020
Jawad Ali discusses law firms turning to technology to face the post COVID-19 landscape
February 14, 2020
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
LL.M., Boston University, cum laude
LL.B., Liverpool University, UK, with honors
A-Levels, Stafford House Tutorial College, UK
New York
American Bar Association
Arabic