Islamic Finance Council UK in shortlist of three for prestigious award

The Ethical Finance Innovation Challenge and Awards (EFICA), sponsored by Thomson Reuters and the Abu Dhabi Investment Bank, received close to 150 applications from across the globe for this year’s prestigious award, which was established to recognise the contributions made by organisations in the promotion of Islamic and ethical finance. The Islamic Finance Council UK, of which Shepherd and Wedderburn consultant, Graham Burnside is a founding Advisory Board Member has made it to the final shortlist for the coveted accolade.

Islamic finance forms an increasingly mainstream part of the financial world, with double digit year-on-year growth in its commercial use worldwide.

Graham said: “Being shortlisted is a huge achievement in itself and a recognition of the work that the Islamic Finance Council UK has been doing to promote the role of Islamic finance in the wider ethical finance arena.”

“I am looking forward to the final stage of the competition in Dubai on 4 October, where representatives from each of the three shortlisted organisations will present their ethical and Islamic finance solutions in front of an audience of peers and industry experts. It will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas.”

Notes

Graham Burnside is a Consultant at leading UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, which has the largest banking team in Scotland.

Regarded as Scotland’s leading expert in Islamic finance, Graham has a formidable track record and is considered something of a pioneer in the field. Possibly best known for having structured and documented the first and only Shariah-compliant mortgage products operating under Scots law, he has also advised on the first fully Shariah-compliant commercial real estate financing in Scotland. Graham is an Advisory Board Member of the Islamic Finance Council UK (IFC).