Datin Shelina Razaly Wahi

Areas of Focus

Biography

Datin Shelina Razaly Wahi has been a partner at Abdullah Chan & Co since 2014, specialising in aviation and aerospace law. She began her career as a litigation lawyer, later moving in-house with multinational and start-up companies across the oil and gas, media, F&B and aviation sectors. As Legal Director of AirAsia X, she played a pivotal role in growing the airline from a single aircraft in 2007 to more than a dozen wide-body aircraft by 2014 and oversaw its successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2013. She is a graduate of the University of Bristol, a Barrister of Lincoln’s Inn, England, and was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1998.

At Shell Malaysia, Datin Shelina served in various roles, including acting as the focal point for all HR-related legal matters and taking direct responsibility for managing all major litigation matters. With Astro Malaysia, she took a break from law to pioneer a 24-hour children’s channel in Bahasa Malaysia.

In addition to her legal practice, Datin Shelina is currently the Secretary of the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association and assists member companies in their dealings with government agencies, banks and other industry stakeholders.

Datin Shelina is a board member of three listed entities and also sits on the board of one public company.

She has authored the Malaysian chapters on aircraft finance and liens (Sweet & Maxwell).

Her practice focuses primarily on commercial aviation – including acquisitions, finance leases and operating leases, sale/leaseback transactions, and asset financing. Her team also works with clients in the general aviation sector on acquisitions and disposals, financing, and regulatory matters.

Aerospace is an active and growing sector in Malaysia, and Datin Shelina advises clients in the manufacturing, services, MRO, and design sectors of aerospace – including cross-border transactions, contracts, compliance, and regulatory matters. She has advised various aerospace and aviation clients on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, share/equity disposals, as well as service contracts and supply contracts.

Datin Shelina has been a finalist for the Aviation Lawyer of the Year in the Women in Business Law Awards (APAC) 2022 and has been recognised in the Euromoney Expert Guides “Women in Business Law” in 2021 and 2022 as a leading practitioner for aviation in Malaysia, in addition to her inclusion in the Euromoney Aviation Expert Guide every year from 2019 to 2021.

More recently, she was awarded the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association (MAIA) Phoenix Award in July 2025 in recognition of her work towards establishing a financing ecosystem for Malaysian SMEs in aerospace. Datin Shelina is also ranked by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2025) as a Notable Practitioner in Aviation; by IFLR1000 (2025) as a Highly Regarded Leading Individual for Aviation; and by Asialaw (2025) as a Distinguished Practitioner in Aviation.

Representative Work

Landmark Transactions and Key Capabilities

• Transaction counsel for the borrower in relation to a syndicated financing for a fleet of aircraft, amounting to RM4.1 billion (2025).
  
• Advising the SME borrower in relation to the first successful disbursement of the SME Financing Ecosystem facilities for the aerospace industry in Malaysia (2025).
  
• Advised a State Government entity in relation to the purchase and financing of a pre-owned G550 jet for the use of the senior members of the State Government (2024).
  
• Led aircraft and engine acquisitions, including leasing, financing, and sale/leaseback transactions.
  
• Managed HR, operations, and engineering contracting matters in aviation.
  
• Handled regulatory approvals and negotiations for new airline destinations in Australia, China, the UK, Japan, and Korea, including air rights, air traffic negotiations, and airport-station setup.
  
• Served as the primary liaison with Malaysian and international regulators, including civil aviation authorities and government ministries.
  
• Authored the Malaysian chapters on aircraft finance and liens (Sweet & Maxwell).
  
• Advised clients on commercial aviation transactions, general aviation, aerospace manufacturing, MRO, design, and regulatory compliance.
  
• Assisted in corporate advisory, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and disposals in the aerospace sector.
  

Languages

English and Malay

Qualifications

LLB (Hons) University of Bristol.

Barrister of Lincoln’s Inn, England

Bar Admissions

Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya

Recognitions

Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2025): Notable Practitioner in Aviation.

IFLR1000 (2025): Highly Regarded Leading Individual for Aviation. Shortlisted Winner for Regional Award – Industry Expertise for “Aviation and Shipping Lawyer of the Year”.

Asialaw (2025): Distinguished Practitioner in Aviation.

Finalist for Aviation Lawyer of the Year (2022): Women in Business Law Awards (APAC).

Euromoney Expert Guides (2021 & 2022): “Women in Business Law” as a leading aviation practitioner in Malaysia.

Euromoney Expert Guides (2018-2023): Aviation Expert.

Affiliations and Public Service

Secretary, Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association.

Board member of three listed companies and one public company.



Works closely with government agencies, banks, and other industry stakeholders for her clients.

Insights and Achievements