Dr. Ibtissam Hameed

Senior Counselor, Banking & Finance

Ibtisam is a highly skilled banking and finance lawyer with deep experience advising local and international financial institutions, borrowers, and investors on complex financial transactions. She provides counsel on debt structuring, secured financing, regulatory compliance, loan documentation, and financial sector governance.

Her expertise extends to navigating Iraq’s financial regulatory landscape, ensuring clients receive clear, practical guidance on banking operations, capital structuring, credit facilities, and collateral arrangements. Ibtisam is recognized for crafting reliable financing structures that support both institutional objectives and sustainable long-term growth.

Main Experience

Advise international lenders on the structuring and security package of a multi-million-dollar syndicated loan involving cross-border guarantees, asset pledges, and regulatory approvals from Iraqi banking authorities.

Lead the legal review and negotiation of facility agreements, Islamic finance structures, and corporate credit facilities for major financial institutions entering the Iraqi market.

Support a foreign bank in conducting due diligence and risk assessment for project financing tied to infrastructure development, including fund flow controls and compliance with Iraq’s anti-money laundering regulations.

Represent a regional investment group in negotiations with private banks on refinancing arrangements, debt restructuring, and covenant renegotiations for distressed corporate borrowers.

Advise fintech and payment service providers on licensing, regulatory compliance, and cross-border financial operations under Iraqi Central Bank requirements.