Holland & Knight has hired noted Islamic finance specialist Oliver Agha as a partner in the UAE, as it looks bolster its banking and finance, infrastructure, and real estate capabilities in the Middle East.

Agha, who will head Holland & Knight’s Islamic finance and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) practices, was most recently heading Agha & Co, a boutique Islamic finance firm he set up with four associate attorneys in 2010.

A New York-trained lawyer, Agha has expertise in the fields of projects, project finance, energy, public-private placements (PPPs), and Islamic finance, including insurance (takaful), Islamic arbitration and dispute resolution.

“We are very pleased with Oliver and his team’s addition. Our clients will benefit greatly from this team of sophisticated finance and projects attorneys when they are conducting business in the region," said Steven Sonberg, managing partner of Holland & Knight, in a statement.

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