Christopher von Strandmann
Partner
Chris heads up the banking, financial service and Islamic finance team at Harold Benjamin. Chris is a dual-qualified solicitor in England & Wales (2007) and Ireland (2014), with extensive experience working across leading Magic Circle, US and West End firms. He specialises in banking & finance and Islamic finance, acting for a range of institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals.
His practice spans conventional and sharia-compliant financing, property development and investment transactions, and complex cross-border deals.
Experience
• Acting as English law counsel for a Chinese Issuing Bank on a $950m EPC contract and deferred payment agreement for a construction project in Iraq.
• Advising on the USD10bn restructuring of Dubai Group, including drafting Islamic and conventional facility agreements and UAE law security documents.
• Leading Islamic finance transactions worth over £300m for Al Rayan Bank PLC.
• Drafting LMA-style Master Murabaha Agreements and wakala precedents for UK Islamic banks.
• Advising the Islamic Development Bank on sharia compliance and structuring for infrastructure projects across Africa.
• Acting for high-net-worth individuals and family offices on UK property acquisitions, financings, and restructurings.
Education
Chris holds a 2:1 in Law (LLB) FROM Kings College, London and a commendation on the LPC. He is fluent in English and German and brings a global perspective to his work, having held senior legal roles in the Middle East including Head of Legal & Compliance at Lazard Saudi Arabia.
Contact
E: chris.vonstrandmann@haroldbenjamin.com
T:+44 20 3096 0823