Muhammad Akhlil Ridza
Senior Associate
Akhlil is an energetic and enthusiastic Senior Associate in Mohamed Ridza & Co. His practice spans corporate transactions, banking & finance (including Islamic finance), fintech/regulatory matters, and real estate/conveyancing. He combines hands‑on deal execution with practice innovation whilst taking time to assist in firm related activities. In his tenure, he has advised on board‑level mandates, led multi‑disciplinary ESG initiatives firmwide, and is currently serving as the Chair of LAWorld NextGen (Asia Pacific) to deepen regional collaboration and referral pathways. He regularly advises on multiple different practice areas spanning from Corporate Commercial to areas such as Cybersecurity, ESG Advisory and Fintech. Akhlil has also been nominated and shortlisted for the ALB Young Lawyer of the Year category for year 2025. Trained under the firm’s partners, Mr Mohamad Nazran bin Basirun and Puan Naseem binti Abdulla, he brings a practical, solutions‑oriented approach to time‑sensitive transactions.
Notable credentials and contributions
Akhlil plays an active leadership role within and beyond the firm. Since 2025, he has served as Chair of LAWorld NextGen (Asia Pacific), where he coordinates cross‑border collaboration, knowledge sharing and referral initiatives among member firms across the region, enhancing regional visibility and long‑term pipeline development. He is also regularly invited to speak and moderate sessions at schools and universities on topics including cybersecurity, ESG, cryptocurrency and Islamic finance, translating complex and emerging legal issues into practical insights for students and young professionals.
In addition, Akhlil leads the firm’s ESG Division, where he authored and implemented the firm’s internal ESG Sustainability Report, making MRCO the first (and currently only) Malaysian law firm with a live internal ESG reporting regime. He also designed and maintains a live ESG‑aligned contractual clause database used across banking & finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and telecommunications matters, enhancing drafting efficiency, consistency and client outcomes. This work contributed to the firm’s broader ESG market positioning following its recognition as ALB ESG Firm of the Year 2025.
From a transactional perspective, Akhlil has been involved in a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, including investments, acquisitions, shareholder issues and the drafting, negotiation and review of transactional documentation. He has played a role in the restructuring of one of Malaysia’s largest renewable energy providers, working alongside senior stakeholders on complex restructuring objectives. His experience also includes advising on anti‑corruption compliance frameworks under section 17A of the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission Act, as well as acting on multiple local and cross‑border banking and finance transactions.
Akhlil has particular experience in Islamic finance, having advised on the conversion of conventional financing facilities into Shariah‑compliant structures and prepared wassiyyah and hibah instruments for Islamic estate planning. He also advises international and local clients on fintech‑related regulatory matters, including Malaysian requirements for e‑money and e‑wallet issuers. His real estate practice includes supporting and leading loan documentation for property acquisitions and handling developer‑side documentation for housing projects and related financing facilities.
In the mergers and acquisitions and investment space, Akhlil has conducted numerous legal due diligence exercises for property acquisitions and investment transactions, and regularly advises clients on corporate housekeeping and legacy corporate compliance issues. He also works closely with international counsel, providing Islamic finance guidance to foreign law firms on Malaysian structures and advising international clients on regulatory procedures in Malaysia across multiple practice areas.