Alyiant Consultancy Limited has been founded in the Dubai International Financial Centre by Aly Shah. He is qualified as a lawyer and has practiced law in multiple jurisdictions for over 25 years. He has also been the Company Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel of a publicly listed international bank. Aly has been based in the United Arab Emirates since 2008. He completed his Master of Laws (LLM) and his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the United Kingdom and has qualified as a Barrister from The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London in 1994.
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Aly has experience in multiple jurisdictions covering Banking and Finance, Corporate and Commercial Matters and Joint Ventures, Mergers and Acquisitions.
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Aly’s experience on Banking and Financial Services includes the following from a compliance, regulatory and legal stand point: (i) the acquisition and licensing of activities undertaken by Banks and other types of Financial Institutions; (ii) the development and implementation of and advice on Conventional Banking products and services; (iii) the development and implementation of and advice on Islamic Banking products and services; (iv) the development and implementation of and advice on Consumer Banking products and services; (v) Investment Banking transactions; (vi) Bank Treasury departments products and services (including derivative products); and (vii) Non-Banking Financial Institutions on asset management and investments activities.
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His experience on Corporate and Commercial matters from a compliance, regulatory and legal stand point includes: (i) structuring of transactions and appropriate project entities in various jurisdictions; (ii) developing bespoke corporate governance, regulatory compliance and risk management frameworks for financial services and non-financial services based entities; (iii) implementing anti-money laundering regulations; (iv) project finance; (v) restructuring; (vi) insolvency; and (vii) drafting and negotiating contractual arrangements.
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Aly’s experience on Joint Ventures, Mergers and Acquisitions from a compliance, regulatory and legal stand point includes: (i) the establishment of joint ventures in different business sectors; (ii) share sale and purchase of entities in different business sectors; (iii) asset sale and purchase transactions in different business sectors; and (iv) court approved mergers.
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He has experience in International Arbitration matters, having represented claimants or respondents in arbitrations conducted under the Rules of Arbitration of the ICC, the LCIA Arbitration Rules and the DIAC Arbitration Rules, in London, Singapore and the U.A.E.
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Aly has co-authored several international publications (for the International Financial Law Review, Asian Counsel, Getting the Deal Through and the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria) on Joint Ventures, Banking Regulation, Restructuring, Insolvency and Anti-Corruption Regulations.
Akbar Shah
Senior Advisor
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Akbar Shah has over thirty-five years of experience in the banking and financial services sector. Having spent the bulk of his career in private banking at Citigroup and UBS, Akbar has held several senior roles across Citigroup’s Global Wealth Management business in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe over the course of three decades, including as the Asia-Pacific head of Citigroup’s Private Banking Platinum/Mega-Wealth business, head of Singapore, and as head of Citigroup’s Global Wealth Management business for the Middle East. Following his various roles at Citigroup and with his extensive experience with wealth management and private banking, Akbar is a trusted advisor to institutions, family offices and businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups operating across a broad range of geographies and industries in the financial services and non-financial services sectors. He provides holistic advice on growth strategy, business transformation, governance, management, succession planning and risk management.
Akbar graduated with an MBA from the University of Vermont, USA. He has attended several leadership programs, including Citi Private Bank’s Senior Leadership Program conducted by the Harvard Business School. He is a single-handicap golfer, ardent boxing fan and an avid reader. Akbar is based in Singapore.
Shermine Asghar
Advisor
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Shermine is a UK qualified Barrister experienced in handling a wide variety of corporate and
commercial matters including Joint Ventures, Mergers and Acquisitions, Divestitures,
Sponsorships, Licensing, Intellectual Property Rights, Restructuring, Arts Acquisitions and
Loans, Dispute Resolution Management, Compliance and Corporate Governance.
She supports the growth of arts and culture in the Middle East and advises companies and
institutions in the arts, design and cultural sectors. She is on the Board of Advisors of Art
Dubai and works with government and semi government entities.
She has resided in Luxembourg, Athens, Geneva, London, Paris, New York. She currently
resides in Dubai, UAE.