Overview

Mr. Sharif has worked on numerous franchise, distributorship and license agreements for world-renowned corporations including but not limited to: Subway International, Calvin Klein, D&G, Guess, Fossil, Esprit, Rebook, Second Cup, Ikea, Levis, Cartier, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse International, Reply, Betty Barclay, Max Mara, Stefanel, French Connection, Barnies, Ebel Watches, Mugg & Bean, Sleep High, Go Sport, Tom Tailor, Free For Humanity, KiKa, Tartine & Chocolate, Vans Co. Ltd., Yves Rocher, www.izzue.com, Arabian Oud, KAS Australia, Tony Roma’s Restaurant, Wing Zone and “Isuzu”.

Mr. Sharif has advised major foreign entities in relation to establishing joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and forming and establishing mixed and foreign limited liability companies in Saudi Arabia, including advising one of the foreign prospective investors in the “Al-Shobily Project” which has been referred to as a “mega project” on the official web sites of the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia (the project is set to attract (60) billion Saudi Riyals investments in Saudi Arabia), a major British real estate company in establishing a joint venture in Saudi Arabia and AMLAK Group, the second largest real Estate company in UAE in establishing a joint venture in Saudi Arabia to carry out a large real estate project in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Sharif’s diverse practice includes expertise in intellectual property and trademark matters, international transactions and Saudi foreign investment law matters. He was also involved in the widely-known methanol projects related to the Japanese shareholder consortium “Japan Arabia Methanol Company “Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Daicel Chemical and Ion Shipping” and was part of the development, financing and construction of a methanol plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, including the mergers and acquisitions transactions and the initial public offering of the project.

Mr. Sharif provides advice on Islamic finance and banking issues to both local and international clients and has helped numerous well-known clients to structure their finances according to Islamic finance tools, such as preparing a “promise to sell letter” to sell offices in the largest business tower in the Western province at The Head Quarter Business Park, valued in excess of (1.5) billion Saudi Riyals, preparing an Islamic lease agreement “Ejar Mantahi baltamleek” to develop a real estate project and preparing an “Ejar Mawasoof falzamah” for a major shopping mall in Jeddah.

Mr. Sharif has advised Fortis Bank and NAS Co. Ltd. in relation to extremely complex and sophisticated banking issues in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Sharif has worked on numerous construction agreements, development agreements, construction supervision agreement, consultancy and technical services agreements, contracting agreements, in addition to complex FIDIC Contracts. He has also had vast experience in pleading multiple cases and arbitration disputes in connection with commercial, banking, civil, labor, and intellectual property disputes before all courts and judicial committees in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Sharif has appeared in many local and international seminars and events speaking on topics including but not limited to franchise law and agreements, Islamic contracts and Islamic finance.

Mr. Sharif is a regular speaker at the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and has spoken in seminars at Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Makkah since 2005.

Mr. Sharif was chosen to be the only Saudi speaker at the Gulf Franchise Expo (the Expo will have speakers form UK, Germany, France, Malaysia, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, India) which was the largest Franchise Expo in the GCC States, and was held in Manama, Bahrain in April 2006.

Mr. Sharif was the only Saudi speaker at the Franchise Middle East Expo (hereafter referred as “FME”) held in Dubai, which is the largest Franchise Expo in the Middle East and North Africa held in Dubai, UAE, March 2007, the FME held in Dubai, UAE, May 2008, the FME held in Dubai, UAE, March 2009 and the FME held in Dubai, UAE, March 2010.

Mr. Sharif had the honor of being chose as the only lawyer speaking at the International Conference and Expo for Franchise, which is the second largest Franchise Expo in the Middle East and GCC States held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 2008.

Mr. Sharif regularly writes on franchise matters in international and local journals and in the print media and has written a draft paper on the Saudi franchise law as per the instructions of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, which is currently being reviewed by the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry. The paper codifies the law of Franchising.

Mr. Sharif has made significant contributions to the development of legal frameworks in Saudi Arabia. He was engaged by the Chamber of Commerce in Jeddah to provide expert input on the preparation and review of the new Saudi Companies law and regulations, as well as the Saudi Anti-Concealment law and regulations. Additionally, Mr. Akkad worked closely with the Ministry of Commerce on the preparation of the new Saudi Franchise Regulation and Law. He also played a key role in creating the Standard Franchise Model Agreements, which are now available on the Monsha’at website. MAK and Mr. Akkad, as the founding partner, have been officially appointed as legal consultants for the Ministry of Labor in Saudi Arabia, contributing to numerous key projects for the Ministry. Moreover, Mr. Sharif signed an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh to provide ongoing legal services to the Chamber.

Mr. Sharif due to his knowledge and experience in franchising and intellectual property matters was chosen as one of the thirteen lawyers worldwide, to contribute in a publication titled “In Good Company, Managing Intellectual Property Issues in Franchising” to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO), which is the most important intellectual property organization worldwide and also monitoring the most important intellectual property conventions (Paris and Berne). This publication is considered as a source of knowledge regarding intellectual property in franchising matters by businessman and professionals worldwide. Mr. Sharif holds the esteem of being the only Attorney from the Middle East to be a part of this dynamic group.

Mr. Sharif formerly worked in the legal department of the NCB in Jeddah specialising in banking and Islamic finance. His expertise in Islamic Finance covers a broad range of matters, dealing with complex legal issues arising from the transferring of “Tawarak” into the local Saudi market for the NCB, with an approximate value of (10) billion Saudi Riyals. He was also actively involved in the largest Islamic finance transaction by “Mudarabah” of the second GSM licenses in Saudi Arabia, the first project for asset Islamic finance by leasing in Saudi market in NCB with an approximate value of (2) billion Saudi Riyals and associate in a major project for issuing Islamic bonds “Sukuk” in NCB.

Mr. Sharif has served as a law instructor at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah for several years, teaching a variety of legal subjects. His courses have included, but are not limited to, the Law of Evidence under Saudi Arabia’s laws and Sharia principles, as well as the Law of Inheritance in Saudi Arabia.