Druces LLP has appointed Afsor Ullah as head of Islamic finance, alongside his promotion to fixed share partner — a significant step in the firm’s strategic investment in Shariah-compliant finance and its growing international practice. Afsor joined the firm as a partner in the real estate and Islamic finance teams, where he has played a key role in strengthening capability across Shariah-compliant structures, including Murabaha, Ijara, Mudaraba and sukuk transactions. His client base spans Islamic banks, financial institutions, family offices and private investors across the UK, the GCC and major offshore jurisdictions.
Afsor’s appointment comes amid rising demand for Shariah-compliant solutions in real estate, structured finance and cross-border investment. Recognised as a next generation partner in the latest Legal 500 UK edition, he will lead the development of Druces’ integrated Islamic finance offering in collaboration with the firm’s property finance, real estate, corporate and private wealth teams. This forms part of a broader growth strategy supported by established groups in capital markets, property finance and private wealth.
Reflecting on his appointment, Afsor said he is ‘honoured to take on the role’, noting that the market for Shariah-compliant finance ‘continues to grow in scale and sophistication’. He said he looks forward to building on the firm’s platform and supporting clients ‘across the UK, GCC and internationally’.
CEO Edward Gordon-Hall said Afsor has made an ‘imminent and significant impact’ since joining the firm, pointing to his ‘technical depth, sector knowledge and relationships across the Middle East’. He added that the promotion is a ‘natural progression’ and reflects both Afsor’s contribution and the firm’s commitment to expanding this important practice area.
