For nearly 25 years, much of Umar’s work has been at the intersection of ethics, sustainability, and social impact and wealth. He has advised responsible sponsors, investors, and business owners seeking to build positive impact through participatory, inclusive, and more responsible projects. ​

His work includes structuring a variety of investment vehicles focused on real estate, including acquisitions, refinancings, development, and the design of novel residential and commercial real estate structures.

Umar is adjunct faculty at graduate law schools in the US where he teaches courses at the intersection of business, faith and responsibility. He is the author of A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance: Character and the Common Good (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2017) and has spoken at numerous forums. Umar previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Hartford Seminary, a graduate educational institution. ​

Umar earned his J.D. from Temple University and his BA and MA from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice only by the Bars of New York, Texas, and Washington DC.