GENERAL - BENER law office one of the best reputed Turkish law firms joins ISFIN.

www.businessislamica.com - Bener Law Office is a full service Turkish law firm with a strong international practice. The firm has a reputation for serving clients’ needs by providing not only advisory and transactional work but by seeking to add value through implementing tailor-made, best-practice solutions.

Managing Partner, Erim BENER says that: “We have had a successful track record in advising foreign investors in Turkey and have been involved in many Islamic finance related investments in the country”. (source)

FINANCE -Turkish Parliament approves bill for Islamic production deal

A bill that allows Turkey to join an Islamic production deal was postponed in 2004. DAILY NEWS photo (source)

UK - EVENTS -SPEECH - Deputy Governor's Keynote Address at the ISRA-IIBI 2nd Annual International Thematic Workshop 2010: "The Polemics of Governing Law in Islamic Finance"

Speaker : Dato' Muhammad bin Ibrahim Venue : The Thomson Reuters Building, London Date : 29 November 2010 Language : English

Let me first thank the organizers for inviting me to speak at this ISRA-IIBI 2nd Annual International Thematic Workshop 2010. Although I very much regret not being able to be in London in person, I am thankful for the many advances of modern technology for the opportunity to briefly address all of you this morning. I am also happy to note that this event is a continuation of international collaboration between the organizers, the International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA), the Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance (IIBI) and Thomson Reuters, following the success of the inaugural workshop held last year. The theme of this year's workshop, 'The Polemics of Governing Law in Islamic Finance: Recent Developments and the Way Forward', is most apt. With the emergence of Islamic finance as a new growth area in the global financial landscape, this Workshop provides an excellent forum to exchange views and information on topical legal issues in Islamic finance. As Islamic financial activities are increasingly crossing national boundaries, it is critical for more such dialogues to take place at an international level, in order to gain wider perspectives that can contribute to the development of a legal framework for Islamic finance that is internationally facilitative.

LAW - Malaysia sets up committee to enhance its legal framework as ‘The Laws of Choice’ for Islamic finance transactions

IN a move to position and strengthen its existing legal framework as ‘the Laws of Choice’ for Islamic financial transactions, Bank Negara Malaysia, the central bank, last week established a Law Harmonization Committee (LHC) comprising members from among key government stakeholders, including the Attorney General's Chambers as well as industry players and experienced Islamic finance legal practitioners.