Assists with debt capital markets, structured finance and other transactional matters.
Advises clients on data protection, privacy and cybersecurity matters.

Sahar advises clients on a broad range of debt capital markets and finance transactions using both conventional and Islamic finance structures. She completed her training contract in the firm’s London office, during which time she undertook a six month secondment to the firm’s Dubai office. She was awarded Most Promising Newcomer at the Law.com Middle East Legal Awards and received an honourable mention in the Rising Star of the Year – Private Practice category at the LexisNexis Middle East’s 2024 Women in Law Awards.

Sahar publishes regularly on data protection and privacy related developments (particularly in the MENA region) and assists with data protection, privacy, AI and cybersecurity matters, specifically focusing on UK, EU and Middle East legislation and regulation.

Sahar is also a London office Pro Bono Scholar and maintains an active pro bono practice.

Representative Work

Advised Ziraat Katilim Bankasi A.S. as obligor in connection with its debut international issuance of $500 million lease certificates due November 2026 issued by Ziraat Katilim’s wholly owned subsidiary Ziraat Katilim Varlik Kiralama A.S. This sukuk issuance was the first international issuance by a state-owned participation bank in Türkiye.
Advised Kuveyt Türk Katilim Bankasi A.S., one of the leading Turkish participation banks majority-owned by Kuwait Finance House, on the landmark issuance of US$350 million of fixed-rate resettable sustainability Tier 2 certificates due 2031, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange plc (Euronext Dublin). This is the world’s first sustainable regulatory capital sukuk issuance.
Advised Warba Bank K.S.C.P. on the establishment of a US$2 billion trust certificate programme by Warba Sukuk Limited and the landmark issuance of US$500 million sustainable trust certificates due 2029. The issuance represents the first-ever sustainable Sukuk issuance out of Kuwait.
Advised Capital Investments (DIFC) Ltd. and Capital Investments and Brokerage Company / Jordan Ltd. as the sole structuring agent and manager, respectively, in respect of Capital Bank of Jordan’s inaugural $100 million Reg S perpetual Basel III-compliant additional tier 1 capital securities offering. The capital securities have been admitted to trading on Nasdaq Dubai. The issuance is the first-ever additional tier 1 capital securities offering out of Jordan.
Advised Albilad Capital in relation to the update and drawdown under the SAR400,000,000 and SAR500,000,000 Sukuk issuance programme of Morabaha Marina Financing Company and Maalem Financing Company, respectively.

Represented the financier on a complex, multifaceted and multi-jurisdictional secured direct lending transaction whereby our client granted a term loan facility to a global fashion house originating from the Middle East.
Advised a number of Saudi Arabian entities in relation to legal due diligence of theirUAE operations in connection with a planned IPO on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).
Advising a U.S. leading autonomous vehicles company on compliance with the federal UAE and various free zone data protection regimes.
Assisted in data protection, privacy and cybersecurity due diligence in respect of the proposed acquisition of various entities in the GCC.
Advised an international investment platform in relation to the Dubai International Financial Centre data protection regime.
Advised an international corporation in connection with compliance with federal and emirate-level UAE and free zone data protection laws in the context of a regulatory investigation.
Advised a U.S. satellite network on GDPR matters and data protection documentation.
Assisted a multinational investment fund in complying with its obligations under the GDPR following a cyber-security attack.
Assisted one of the world’s largest asset managers in updating its data retention policies and in relation to data protection due diligence matters.
Advised a leading smart home service provider in relation to GDPR matters.
Advised a technology company in relation to GDPR obligations following a data breach.

Languages
Farsi
Dari

Education
L.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2018
LL.M., BPP University Law School, England, 2018
B.A., University of Oxford, 2017

Bar Admissions
Solicitor, England and Wales

Recognitions

Law.com, The Middle East Legal Awards, Most Promising Newcomer 2025.
LexisNexis Middle East’s 2024 Women in Law Awards, Rising Star of the Year - Private Practice: Honourable Mention.
The Legal 500 EMEA, Capital Markets, UAE; Banking & Finance: Corporate Finance (Including Islamic Lending), UAE 2025.
Global Banking & Markets: CEE, CIS & Türkiye Awards 2024, Sukuk Legal Adviser of the Year and Capital Markets Deal of the Year.
DataGuidance by OneTrust, UAE Privacy Expert.
Bonds, Loans and Sukuk Middle East Awards, Global Bank/FI Sukuk Deal of the Year, 2022 and Islamic Capital Markets Deal of the Year, 2022.
Akin, Pro Bono Julia Ghahramani Immigration Advocacy Award, 2022.
Islamic Finance News Awards, Turkey Deal of the Year, 2021.
Islamic Finance News Awards, Regulatory Capital Deal of the Year, 2020.