Fara is a specialist adviser to international companies and individuals on their inward investments into the UK, Europe and MEA. She works with businesses, funds and private clients on the financing of their investments and often acts as external general counsel for all legal aspects related to the investment.
She is an expert in financing and banking transactions covering a range of asset types, investment classes and industry sectors. She advises on a range of financial products and has developed them for many financial institutions in Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Fara is also well experienced in fintech related matters and has assisted with the establishment of institutions in a number of jurisdictions. She specialises in Shariah-compliant matters.
Fara has been recognised as one of the most influential women in the Islamic Business and Finance global industry. She was not only recognised for her professional expertise but also her contribution to the wider industry and the place that women have within it. She speaks regularly at international events and is a regular contributor to journals and magazines.
Expertise
- Investments
- Islamic banking and finance
- Leveraged finance
- Real estate finance
- Financial products
- Investment funds
- Debt capital markets
- Fintech
Experience
General Banking
- Advised on a USD100m development financing for a project in the UK.
- Advised on a refinancing for an offshore REIT, for its entire portfolio of properties in the UK.
- Advised on various financing for student accommodation in the UK.
- Advised on various financing for real estate in the UK.
- Advised on a USD working capital financing facility to a UAE conglomerate of up to USD125m.
- Advised on the amendment and restatement of a working capital facility to UAE based group of companies in excess of USD50m.
- Advised on ISDA product for an Asian bank.
- Advised on the development of a cash financing product for a lending entity in the UK.
- Advised on the English law security documents for various financing provided under Malaysian laws.
- Advised on the issuance of bonds for an Asian company of up to USD500m.
- Advised various international companies and funds on their respective investments in the UK and ME.
- Advising several funds on their respective acquisition of real estate in the UK.
- Advised several Asian government-linked companies on their business and real estate acquisitions in the UK.
- Advising international funds on its incorporation and operations in the UK.
Islamic Finance
- Advised UK, Asian and international banks on their Shariah-compliant domestic and cross-border syndicated and single, stand-by and revolving financing facilities.
- Advised international banks on the development of new Shariah-compliant financial products.
- Advised international financial entities on their new Shariah-compliant product for UK investments.
- Advising a Saudi real estate company on the issuance of a sukuk in Saudi Arabia.
- Advising a Qatari entity on the termination of its sukuk worth USD 270 million.
- Advised international banks on their Shariah-compliant derivatives product.
- Establishment of Shariah Supervisory Boards.
- Conducting regular due diligence and preparing reports on Islamic finance products for institutional clients.
- Liaising with and advising Shariah Supervisory Boards and scholars.
- Advised a UK carbon credit fund on its Shariah compliant Islamic medium term notes of up to £1,000,000,000.
- Advised a UK social housing fund on its Shariah compliant Islamic notes of up to £500m.
- Advised a Luxembourg ethical-focussed fund on its Shariah compliant Islamic notes.
- Advised on the issuance of bonds for an Asian company of up to USD500m.
- Advised a Saudi real estate company on the issuance of Islamic bonds (sukuk).
- Advised several real estate funds in London on its Shariah compliant term notes.
- Advised a London currency fund and global currency fund on its Shariah compliant term notes.
- Advised a German technology VC fund and life science VC fund on its Shariah compliant term notes.
- Advised a Mauritius fund on its Shariah compliant term notes.
Real Estate Finance
- Assisted a UK REIT on the facility for a portfolio of more than 100 properties.
- Assisted several real estate funds in London with its setup, including advising on the private placement memorandum and other relevant documentation for the establishment of equity funds.
- Assisted an offshore bank with the setup of its property mortgage product in the UK and assisted with the documentation.
- Assisted a UK property bridging loan provider with the capital injections from its investors in the form of debt financing and convertible loans.
- Advised Bahraini and Singaporean entities on the acquisition of certain land situated in Bahrain and the development and construction of certain properties thereon.
- Advised various financial institutions or its clients in relation to transactions relating to real estate with customers and security in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
- Assisted several Middle Eastern family offices on facilities for portfolios of properties with a value of more than £500 million.
- Assisted a UK entity on the sustainability-linked facility with a value of £100 million.
- Assisted a Kuwaiti conglomerate on the financing to acquire UK property with a value of up to £100 million.
- Assisted an Asian government-linked company on the acquisition of a block of serviced apartments.
- Assisted an Asian government on the acquisition of its embassy in the UK.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Chambers (2022-2025)
Recognised by Chambers UK 2025 for Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance
“Fara provides in-depth expertise on Islamic finance transactions.” Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for bringing a wealth of experience when advising on Islamic finance transactions. She is regarded for her expertise in Sharia-compliant products across jurisdictions, including in South-East Asia and the Middle East.
Recognised by Chambers UK 2024 for Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance
Recognised by Chambers UK 2023 for Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance
“Fara is excellent at handling matters related to Islamic financing.” Chambers UK 2023
“She is very responsive and provides excellent turnaround times in terms of deliverables.” Chambers UK 2023
Recognised in Chambers UK 2022 for Islamic Finance
“Fara has been exceptional. She is extremely knowledgeable and responsive.” Chambers UK 2022
Legal 500 (2015-2025)
Recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 2025 for Islamic Finance
“Fara Mohammad provides practical, pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised by the Legal 500 2025 for Bank Lending; Investment Grade Debt and Syndicated loans
“Fara Mohamed has knowledge of the Islamic financing space.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised in The Legal 500 for Islamic Finance (2023-2024)
“Fara Mohammad was very approachable. She was able to understand our requirement and suggest alternative solutions to meet our requirement.” The Legal 500 2024
“Fara Mohammad has in depth understanding of the different Sharia structures.” The Legal 500 2023
Spears 500
Top recommended Corporate lawyer by Spear’s 2023 – 2024
Cambridge IFA (Womani 2023, 2022, 2021, ranked 36) as an influential woman in global Islamic business & finance
Ranked by Cambridge IFA as one of the influential women in global Islamic business and finance (Womani 2021, ranked #36) Also ranked in years 2018, 2019, 2020.
Leading lawyer in Islamic Finance (IFN, 2010)
Career
Fara qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 2008 and also qualified in Malaysia in 1999. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, she worked at the following firms:
- Clyde & Co, London and Dubai
- Foot Anstey, London
- Norton Rose Fullbright, London
- Zaid Ibrahim & Co, Malaysia
- Shearn Delamore & Co, Malaysia