Adil Hussain

Adil focuses particularly on conventional, Shariah compliant and multi-sourced financing matters and has been involved in a number of leading financing transactions in the Middle East region and internationally. He has also advised on the structuring and development of a number of first-of-their-kind financing products.

Adil has built up a wealth of regional experience having previously worked in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for a number of years. Adil is regularly cited in legal directories as being a leading banking lawyer and draws particular praise for his Islamic finance knowledge.

Prior to joining the Firm, Adil handled the following matters:

• ABC International Bank - Advising and negotiating on the restructure of financing arrangements extended by ABC International Bank to one of its Kuwaiti clients who had invested in a number of shopping centres in England & Wales which are now in distress, due to the insolvency of some tenants and the pressures brought on by the Covid pandemic.
• FIM (DIFC) - Advising FIM in connection with the structuring and financing aspects of the Vibe Student Living, Kingston upon Thames. Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC AED 160 million Islamic facility with Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC in relation to the acquisition of two schools in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Natixis (DIFC) - Providing on-going advice to Natixis in respect of Islamic finance law points in the Middle East region as a whole. This involves advice on standard principles and extends to complex and specialist matters including cross-collateralised Murabahas, Islamic finance and structuring advice.
• Credit Suisse - AG Advising on KSA law aspects of financing extended by Credit Suisse AG to Al Obeikan Group entities in the Kingdom. The financing was structured as a master Murabaha arrangement and was backed by security and guarantees, further supported by promissory notes.
• FIM (DIFC) - Advising on an acquisition financing in respect of our client’s acquisition of leasehold title over a logistic asset located in a free zone in the UAE. The transaction was structured as an Ijarah facility, incorporating a head lease, sub-lease and sub-sub-lease structure due to the nature of the asset being acquired and its proposed sub-lease to an operator of the logistic asset.
• Bidaya Home Finance Company - Sole adviser and Transaction Counsel for establishing a SAR 1 billion Sukuk Programme and the first issuance under it. This landmark initiative represents the second real estate focused, non-banking financial institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish such a programme for the purpose of tapping the Islamic debt capital markets.
• Aldara Medical Corporation - Advising with the structuring of the development finance which was used to construct the Aldara Hospital & Medical Centre in Riyadh and assisting with refinancing some SAR 675 million of its structured Debt.

• Whilst acting as General Counsel at Gatehouse Bank plc, Adil was shortlisted as finalist for “Best In-House Lawyer of the Year 2009” by The Lawyer magazine.
• Shortlisted candidate for the FT Innovative Lawyers 2009 innovative individual award.
• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers International 2008 in the field of Islamic finance (Copyright 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.).
• Chambers Global 2022 - Adil Hussain is very knowledgeable, commercial and easy to deal with." "He is technically very good and blends that with strong commercial acumen. He has shown the ability to come up with some really interesting solutions to tricky problems".
• Chambers Global 2021 – “Adil Hussain is Clyde & Co's global head of Islamic finance. He frequently acts for borrowers on murabaha as well as assisting lenders with cross-border financings. Sources say he "always impresses," with one client adding that his primary strengths are his "in-depth knowledge of local law issues and very practical legal advice".
• Chambers Global 2020 – “He’s commercial and business minded. He’s available day and night and able to answer any question.
• Chambers Global 2018 - "He has excellent knowledge and experience in Islamic finance transactions. He is able to provide Shari'a-compliant solutions and is respected by opposing counsel as well as Shari'a scholars".
• Legal 500 UK 2016 - At Clyde & Co LLP, practice head Adil Hussain "sets himself apart by being able to draw on his knowledge, as well as his relationships with scholars and practitioners, to offer practical and up-to-date guidance".
• Chambers Global 2016 - Islamic finance specialist Adil Hussain is particularly acknowledged for his regular handling of matters with a Saudi Arabian component. Clients regard him as "as very knowledgeable in his relevant field".
• Chambers Global 2015 - Adil "is well regarded for his work in Saudi Arabia, particularly his knowledge of Shari'a-compliant banking matters".
• NB: Ranked consecutively since 2007

• Law Society of England and Wales - Member