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Lovells’ Islamic finance team in Dubai has closed a $1bn (£490m) convertible Islamic bond deal, just five months after moving across from Denton Wilde Sapte to set up the office.

The team advised JP Morgan, Barclays Capital and Citi as joint lead managers on a five-year convertible sukuk for Middle East natural gas producer Dana Gas, which gives investors the option to convert their investment into shares in the company.

The Lovells team was led by former Dentons partner Rahail Ali, alongside corporate partner Imtiaz Shah, who moved across with Ali.

The banks are relationship clients of Ali’s and the deal began before the team left Dentons on 1 May, but lawyers were not instructed until around June. The team was approached by Barclays Capital, which later brought in Citi and JP Morgan.

Of the four convertible sukuks to date in the region, Lovells’ Dubai office has advised on three. Ali said: “Since opening our Dubai office we have closed deals well in excess of $8bn (£3.9bn), with a number of exciting transactions in the pipeline.”

However, the banks instructed Linklaters to advise on UK capital markets issues. Linklaters’ team was led by London capital markets partner Andrew Roberts, assisted by associate Piers Summerfield.

A partner at a rival firm said: “It is only a matter of time before you will see one firm advising on Islamic law and straight capital markets, but [Lovells] is not there yet.”

Clifford Chance (CC), led by Dubai capital markets partner Debashis Dey, advised Dana Gas. CC advised the company on its listing in 2005.

The deal was completed despite being slowed by market conditions in August during the credit crunch, which is hitting capital markets deals across the world.

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