About the Contributors ixinclude many of the world’s leading companies. To ensure the firm delivers
the sharpest focus to its work, it has focused its business on the following
core client sectors: energy, transport and infrastructure, financial institu-
tions, real estate, retail, technology, media and telecoms. The firm’s offering
is underpinned by in-depth knowledge of these sectors, backed by a full
range of commercial legal services, each tuned to the specific needs of these
industries.
Richard T de Belderis a partner at Denton Wilde Sapte, and has
recently returned to the UK after working as the managing partner of the
Abu Dhabi office. He has been involved in the Middle East since 1979, and
has spent 20 years living and working in the United Arab Emirates and
Oman. He has extensive experience advising on a wide range of financial
transactions in the Middle East, the UK and the US, including many Islamic
finance transactions such assukuk,murabaha,ijara,mudaraba,istisna’a,
musharaka,wakala, etc.
Durham Universityis the third oldest university in England, and its
teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies dates from the 19thcentury. The
university’s Islamic Finance Programme−the largest of its type−focuses
on academic and professional research. There are 25 postgraduate students
currently working on doctoral theses, and a master’s programme in Islamic
finance by research is also offered. Each July, the university hosts a summer
school in Islamic finance, and other regular seminars and workshops are
also organized. Three staff members are involved in the Islamic Finance
Programme−Professors Rodney Wilson, Habib Ahmed and Dr Mehmet
Asutay, all of whom have published extensively.
Professor Rodney Wilsonis the director of postgraduate studies at
Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs. He
currently chairs the academic committee of the Institute of Islamic Banking
and Insurance in London, and is acting as consultant to the IslamicFinancial
Services Board for its Shari’a Governance Guidelines. His previous consul-
tancy experience includes work for the IslamicDevelopmentBankinJeddah,
Saudi Arabia, and the ministry of economy and planning in Riyadh. He has
written numerous books and articles on Islamic finance for leading
international publishers, as well as professional guides.
Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance (IIBI) is a leading
organization dedicated to the promotion of Islamic finance by enhancing the
supply of suitably trained personnel for the Islamic banking industry. It is
the only organization of its kind in the West, and has made a significant
contribution to the education and training of people in Islamic banking and
insurance through a postgraduate diploma course being offered since the
early 1990s, publications, lectures, seminars, workshops, research and
Shari’a advisory services. IIBI also provides consultancy services to various
organizations for the development of education and training programmes in
this sector.