Linklaters has appointed Neil Miller as global head of Islamic finance.

Based in Dubai, Miller will join the firm’s UAE practice and will be responsible for co-ordinating and further developing the existing Islamic finance practice that Linklaters has.

Linklaters’ Islamic finance practice was previously led by its capital markets partner Richard O’Callaghan. Miller tells GTR that the pair will work closely together but he will also seek to broaden Linklaters’ footprint in other practice areas.

Miller has specialised in Islamic finance for over 18 years and spent the last two years in Dubai as KPMG’s global head of Islamic finance. Before joining KPMG he was a partner at the law firm Norton Rose in its London, Bahrain and Dubai offices for over 21 years and helped establish its Islamic finance group.

Commenting on his new appointment, Miller tells GTR: “I have been working in the Islamic finance sector since 1995 and have been privileged to work on many transactions that have helped the industry grow and innovate. I hope to be able to continue working on cutting-edge innovative transactions that will help the industry better deliver its value proposition to customers in those jurisdictions where it operates. I will also be investing much of my time in the human capital of the firm and expect to help mentor many of the talented and enthusiastic lawyers who wish to gain more Islamic finance experience.”