Balala, Hanaan Jalal

(Trainee Solicitor, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London, UK) Balala is a trainee solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, UK. She holds a common law degree, Shari‘a degree, and Masters in Comparative Law from the International Islamic University Malaysia. She received her Masters in Jurisprudence, BCL, and PhD in law from University of Oxford, Lincoln College. Balala is the recipient of the Gold Medal Award for Comprehensive Excellence at IIUM, of Outstanding Contribution to Debate and Public Speaking presented by Dr. Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia, and is also a two-time recipient of the Polonsky Award. Balala taught law and business studies for 2 years at the Oxford International College. She is currently working on a book titled Reclaiming Women’s Rights in Islam, to be published by I.B. Tauris.