Ayman A. Khaleq, co-leader of the Middle East practice, advises asset managers and institutional investors on private fund structuring and formation, bespoke investment platforms, and debt capital market transactions, particularly those involving cross-border transactions. He also counsels sovereign wealth funds on legal, regulatory, and governance matters regarding outbound investments, and advises global and regional financial institutions on the structuring and documentation of unique Islamic finance and investment solutions. He is admitted to practice in New York and registered as a California Bar foreign legal consultant and a Law Society of England & Wales foreign lawyer.
Ayman counsels international clients on doing business in the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in such sectors as healthcare, infrastructure, TMT, energy, sports, and education. He also advises on policy reform initiatives, privatizations, and restructuring in the MENA region and other emerging markets.
Ayman, who is fluent in Arabic and English, is a frequent speaker at international conferences on topics relating to foreign direct investment, investment management, and structured transactions (including Islamic finance). In addition, Ayman taught on transactional Islamic law and international investment law at George Washington University Law School (Washington, DC); Bocconi University (Milan, Italy), and Sorbonne University (Abu Dhabi, UAE). He is also a member of the International Bar Association’s Legal Practice Division, as well as a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Ayman is the leader of the firm’s Middle Eastern North African Lawyer Network.
Note: This list includes engagements completed prior to joining Morgan Lewis.
Investment Funds and Private Placements
Debt Capital Markets and Structured Transactions
Restructuring
Recognized, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Middle East (2024)
Leading Individual, Investment Fund Formation and Management, United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA (2023, 2024)
Recommended, Corporate Finance (Including Islamic Lending), United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA (2020, 2023, 2024)
Recommended, Capital Markets, United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA (2020)
Recommended, Investment Fund Formation and Management, United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA (2020)
Ranked, Islamic Finance, Middle East, Chambers Global (2009–2024)
Ranked, Investment Funds, Middle East, Chambers Global (2011–2024)
Ranked, Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance, United Arab Emirates, Chambers Global (2008–2021, 2023)
Ranked, Capital Markets: Debt, United Arab Emirates, Chambers Global (2008–2020)
Ranked, Corporate & Finance, Bahrain, Chambers Global (2011–2016)
Highly Regarded, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2018–2022)
Officer of the International Bar Association’s Legal Practice Division
Member of the Young Presidents’ Organization – Dubai Downtown Chapter
Legal 30 Power List, Private Equity Manager (2013)
Recognized, Capital Markets: Islamic Finance (United Arab Emirates), Who’s Who Legal (2009–2017)
Recognized, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in Corporate and Finance (Dubai), Legal Expert (2013)
Leading Lawyer, Asset and Fund Management; Corporate and Commercial; Energy and Natural Resources; Project and Infrastructure Finance; and Takaful and Re-Takaful, Islamic Finance News (2010–2012)
Recognized, Finance Law, United Arab Emirates, Best Lawyers (2008–2016)
Leading Lawyer in the UAE, IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms (2013)
Best of the Best, Legal Media Group's (Euromoney) Expert Guide to the World's The Best of the Best (2017)
Recognized, Islamic Finance, Legal Media Group's (Euromoney) Expert Guide to the World's The Best of the Best (2011, 2013, 2017)
Recognized, Islamic Finance and Investment Funds, Legal Media Group's (Euromoney) Expert Guide to the World's Leading Banking, Finance & Transactional Lawyers (2010, 2012, 2017)
Recognized, Islamic Finance, Legal Media Group's (Euromoney) Expert Guide to the World's Leading Emerging Markets Lawyers (2010)
Recognized, The Legal List, MENA FM’s MENA Fund Manager Power 4 (2011)
Recognized, Islamic Finance and Capital Markets, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (2009–2010)
Recognized, The Guide to the World’s Leading Islamic Finance Practitioners (2008)
Recognized, United Arab Emirates, Best Lawyers International in Finance (2008)
Member, Board of Advisors, George Washington Center for Law, Economics & Finance (C-LEAF) (2010)
Member, Islamic Finance News Panel of Experts (2009)