Team
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Management
Christopher H. Johnson
Managing Director
Christopher H. Johnson
Managing Director
Christopher H. Johnson, a U.S. trained and qualified lawyer, specializes in international and domestic transactions and claims, representing global firms in all aspects of international business. He has been active in Saudi Arabia since 1978 and has maintained an office in Riyadh since 1984.Chris has served as Chairman of AmCham Saudi Arabia, the Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce (MECACC) and KKR Saudi Ltd. He has participated in many U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council and served as an expert witness on Saudi law before various courts and arbitral tribunals and as an advocate and arbitrator in ICC Arbitration. His practice currently focuses on global financial institutions in all aspects of their global and local operations, cross border regulatory, corporate and commercial issues, corporate governance, registrations, liquidations, disputes and mergers & acquisitions.Previously, he served as Director, Chairman and President of the humanitarian air service provider AirServ, and as Commissioner and Chairman of Vint Hill Economic Development Authority charged by the Virginia General Assembly to develop a decommissioned U.S. Army base as a Northern Virginia neo-traditional town center.
- Email:chris@alshariflaw.com
Mohammed Al-Sharif
Founder
Mohammed Al-Sharif
Founder
Mr. Al-Sharif is a Saudi trained and licensed lawyer who has extensive experience advising the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Justice, the mayor of Riyadh, the royal family, and other Saudi clients on their financial and commercial issues. His practice includes litigation before the Board of Grievances and Shari’a Courts, corporate mergers & restructuring, foreign investment, infrastructure, transportation, mining, independent power production, regulatory, and customs matters.
Corporate
Waleed Mousa
Senior Legal Counsel
Waleed Mousa
Senior Legal Counsel
Waleed Mousa, a Sudanese and UK trained and qualified lawyer, specializes in commercial and corporate law. Waleed primarily advises local and international clients on corporate registrations, conversions, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, liquidations, customs regulations, compliance, contracts, intellectual property, and real estate issues.
In the corporate realm, Waleed counsels international companies across various sectors in corporate registrations, advisory and governance matters, corporate re-organizations, and mergers and acquisitions in all type of companies and JVs, industrial, services, trading, real estate, professional and engineering, industrial licenses, environmental licenses for industrial plants, industrial waste management agreements, industrial lands lease agreements with various industrial cities around Saudi, civil defense and industrial cities regulations, raw material regulations and exemptions, and other domains. His comprehensive approach to corporate law reflects a commitment to providing strategic counsel that aligns with the evolving needs of businesses. Waleed's practice extends beyond corporate and employment matters to include advising financial institutions on the cross-border provision of financial services. His role involves navigating the complexities of regulatory frameworks, particularly under the Saudi Capital Market Authority Law and regulations, where he provides insightful counsel to financial entities, facilitating their compliance with legal requirements and optimizing cross-border operations for a variety of clients.
- Email:waleed@alshariflaw.com
Farishta Baha
Senior Legal Counsel
Farishta Baha
Senior Legal Counsel
Farishta Baha is a U.S.-licensed attorney with over 15 years of legal experience. She currently serves as Senior Legal Advisor, advising multinational companies on corporate structuring, licensing, and complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and reorganizations. Her practice also includes advising on employment matters under Saudi Labor Law, with experience in drafting employment contracts and internal policies, as well as guiding clients through dispute resolution and strategic settlements. In addition, she counsels financial institutions and investment firms on cross-border services and regulatory compliance under the Capital Market Law and SAMA regulations, with particular focus on cross-border offering compliance.
Earlier in her career, Farishta practiced construction litigation in Illinois, where she represented owners, architects, general contractors, and subcontractors in matters involving personal injury claims. She also handled liability claims arising out of transportation accidents (trucking, auto), premises liability, as well as general casualty claims.
Matthew Kirkham
Senior Legal Counsel
Matthew Kirkham
Senior Legal Counsel
Matthew Kirkham, a U.S.-trained and qualified attorney, has been practicing in Saudi Arabia since 2016 and advises multinational companies on dispute resolution, white-collar crime and compliance issues, commercial contracts, competition law, and data compliance. He has established numerous LLCs in KSA and has handled several M&A transactions and corporate transformations.
Before his time in Saudi Arabia, Matthew was a state prosecutor of white-collar, capital, and other major offenses, including trials, appeals and habeas corpus. He has argued before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit and Supreme Court. Clients have included Alibaba, Amazon, Amereller, Bentley, Bridgestone, Dell, Ernst & Young, European Union Commission, Embassy of Japan, Goldman Sachs, Google, Kingdom Centre, KKR, Lockheed Martin, Mastercard, Mitsubishi, Morgan Lewis, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) (secondment), Simmons & Simmons, Sumitomo Chemical, Taylor Wessing, and Uber.
In the cultural and educational sector, he has represented World Learning in establishing its Saudi presence, and SpringerNature and MacMillan in their Saudi licensing and registration matters.
Matthew has co-edited and contributed to the globally-circulated Saudi Arabian Update, and contributed to Data Guidance, a privacy intelligence platform for privacy professionals. In addition, has served as government relations chair for the American Business Group of Jeddah and finance chairman for MECACC.
- Email:matthew@alshariflaw.com
Nidal Al-Alwani
Legal Counsel
Nidal Al-Alwani
Legal Counsel
Nidal Al-Alwani, a Syrian trained and certified lawyer, brings over 12 years of experience in legal work in Saudi Arabia. Nidal specializes in commercial and corporate law, particularly corporate registrations, conversions, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, liquidations, customs regulations, compliance, contracts, intellectual property, and labor issues. He is proficient in drafting comprehensive contracts and memos in Arabic and English, providing in-depth legal research with exceptional attention to detail and substance.Nidal has extensive experience in corporate formations and governance, having contributed to the establishment of dozens of companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He handles share sales and purchases, partner exits and entries, mergers and acquisitions operations, and is skilled in drafting powers of attorney and shareholder resolutions in both Arabic and English. He also provides legal recommendations and identifies solutions compliant with the Companies Law and its executive regulations for optimal M&A transaction approaches. Additionally, Nidal specializes in competition law and its executive regulations, and has successfully issued dozens of MISA licenses while competently responding to questionnaires from global companies regarding Saudi Arabian law.In the transportation sector, Nidal provides legal advice to international companies, with particular expertise in ride-sharing regulations for app-based transportation and specialized counsel in maritime transportation law. He also has expertise in movable asset finance, particularly in registering mortgages on movable assets and advising on regulations that guarantee rights in movable assets.
- Email:nidal@alshariflaw.com
Nour Elnour
Legal Counsel
Nour Elnour
Legal Counsel
Nour Elnour, a Sudanese trained and licensed lawyer, is a highly experienced attorney who has practiced law in the Kingdom since 2004. Nour specializes in company registrations, liquidations, intellectual property, real estate, and corporate compliance as well drafting resolutions. Nour manages the firm’s secretarial work, maintaining licenses, registrations, and compliance for dozens of clients with diligence.
Nour also has uniquely robust experience in working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain visas, navigating often mercurial and challenging regulations and systems to craft tailored solutions for clients.
In addition, Nour advises firms on their corporate operations, providing creative and effective counsel adjusted to the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of the Saudi legal system.
- Email:elnour@alshariflaw.com
Fahad Al-Mutairi
Junior Associate
Fahad Al-Mutairi
Junior Associate
Fahad Al-Mutairi, a Saudi and U.S. trained and Saudi qualified lawyer, joined the firm in 2025. He specializes in corporate law, labor law, commercial law, and insurance law and has a strong foundation in advising companies on contract matters and dispute resolutions. He holds an LLM in Law from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Law from the Islamic University. Additionally, he holds multiple professional certifications and provides comprehensive legal solutions to clients across various sectors.
Sameer Al-Zahrani
Junior Associate
Sameer Al-Zahrani
Junior Associate
Sameer Al-Zahrani, a Saudi and UK trained and Saudi qualified lawyer, joined the firm in 2024. He completed his training period to obtain a lawyer license at the Judicial Training Center. He is specializing in corporate law, international commercial transactions, and business dispute resolution. He has a strong foundation in advising businesses on legal matters related to corporates, contracts, Labor law, and commercial arbitration.
Sameer’s interests include construction law, including contract negotiation and dispute resolution. He is also skilled in maritime law, with a strong understanding of shipping, marine insurance, and the carriage of goods by sea.
Additionally, Sameer is well-versed in competition law, able to advise clients on antitrust issues and market regulation and ensure compliance with fair competition standards. Passionate about supporting businesses' growth and success, Sameer is focused on offering tailored legal solutions that help companies navigate legal challenges and capitalize on business opportunities.
- Email:sameer@alshariflaw.com
Albara Al-Benayah
Junior Associate
Albara Al-Benayah
Junior Associate
Albara Al-Benayah, a U.S. and Saudi trained and Saudi qualified lawyer, joined the firm in 2024. He completed his training period to obtain a lawyer’s license at the Judicial Training Center, and now specializes in corporate law, labor law and commercial law, and has a strong foundation in advising companies on contract matters.
- Email:albara@alshariflaw.com
Sarah Al-Obaid
Junior Associate
Sarah Al-Obaid
Junior Associate
Sarah Al-Obaid, a Saudi trainee lawyer, joined the firm in 2023. Prior to joining our firm, Sarah had received co-op training from the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, worked on a variety of hearings and cases, and conducted legal research. Her current practice focuses on corporate and labor law and litigation, and she assists with secretarial work, registrations, and commercial matters.
- Email:sarah@alshariflaw.com
Bashair Al-Sharif
Junior Associate
Bashair Al-Sharif
Junior Associate
Bashair Al Sharif is a Saudi trainee lawyer who joined Al-Sharif Law Firm in 2025. She holds a master’s degree in law and brings over four years of experience from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in Saudi Arabia, where she served as a Legal Specialist in the Legal Advisors’ Department at the Deputy of Enforcement Office.During her time at the MoJ, Bashair focused on resolving enforcement-related legal matters and provided procedural support to both judges and beneficiaries. She played a key role in drafting legal projects, formulating improvement proposals for existing regulations, and contributing to ministerial circulars and official guidelines and procedural manuals. Her responsibilities also included a range of internal administrative and organizational functions.At Al-Sharif Law Firm, Bashair’s practice centers on corporate law and litigation. She continues to leverage her strong background in legal research and advisory services to support clients in a wide range of legal matters. Her experience within the public sector and her academic foundation allows her to deliver practical and strategic legal insight across various areas of law.
- Email:sarah@alshariflaw.com
Bassam Al-Benayah
Trainee Associate
Bassam Al-Benayah
Trainee Associate
Bassam Al-Benayah, a U.S. and Saudi trained trainee lawyer, joined the firm in 2025. He is currently in the final stage of obtaining his legal license. Bassam focuses on labor law, dispute resolution, and negotiation strategies. He also has a strong interest in emerging legal fields, particularly the legal frameworks surrounding the Personal Data Protection Law and the Anti-Cybercrime Law in Saudi Arabia. Before joining the firm, Bassam gained legal training experience at a legal consultancy firm, where he was involved in drafting legal memoranda, reviewing contracts, and client coordination.
- Email:bassam@alshariflaw.com
Amar Al-Akhdari
Trainee Associate
Wejdan Al-Subaie
Trainee Associate
Litigation
Mohalab Osman
Senior Legal Counsel
Mohalab Osman
Senior Legal Counsel
Mohalab Osman, a Sudanese trained and qualified lawyer, is an experienced attorney with a Bachelor of Arts in Shari'a and Law from Omdurman Islamic University and a post-graduate diploma in Law from Khartoum University.
In his role as the head of litigation at Al-Sharif Law, Mohalab is responsible for managing a diverse range of legal issues, including contract disputes, criminal matters, and commercial disputes. His expertise extends to various facets of employment law, including contract drafting, workplace investigations, disciplinary matters, and resolution of employment disputes. His thorough approach to legal matters reflects a comprehensive understanding of both litigation and employment law intricacies.
Mohalab brings unique and extensive experience with the Saudi legal system and has successfully overseen a wide variety of complex litigation cases and corporate matters. His clients have included industry-leading companies, public institutions, and high-profile individuals.
- Email:mohalab@alshariflaw.com
Ali Al-Shehri
Senior Attorney
Ali Al-Shehri
Senior Attorney
Ali Al-Shehri, a Saudi trained and qualified lawyer, has served as a Senior Saudi Attorney with Al-Sharif Law Firm since 2011. He specializes in commercial and civil claims, with special experience in commercial law, anti-money laundering regulations, copyright issues, trademark registrations, appeals, and estate planning. Ali also serves as an Advisor to the Legal Committee of the Council of Ministers, responsible for drafting and reviewing proposed and existing laws. Ali is admitted to practice in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Justice Law License No. 29/46), is a Ministry of Justice recommended arbitrator and holds an LL.B. from King Saud University.
- Email:alshehri@alshariflaw.com
Osama Al-Masud
Senior Attorney
Osama Al-Masud
Senior Attorney
Osama Al-Masud a Saudi trained and qualified lawyer, has worked as a senior attorney at Al-Sharif Law since 2014. He specializes in complex commercial, civil, and real estate litigation, and has particular expertise in commercial law, large estate cases, and serves as a consultant for several companies involved in financial technology, real estate fund establishment, and the formation of financial companies and investment entities, and he is proficient in filing appeals and cassation requests, as well as resolving major disputes. Additionally, Osama is proficient in drafting contracts and agreements in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He serves as a consultant for fintech (financial technology) companies and artificial intelligence technologies, with multiple contributions to legal technology. Osama is also actively involved in corporate governance, preparing and auditing internal regulations.
- Email:osama@alshariflaw.com
Fahad Al-Rajhi
Attorney
Fahad Al-Rajhi
Attorney
Osama Al-Masud a Saudi trained and qualified lawyer, has worked as a senior attorney at Al-Sharif Law since 2014. He specializes in complex commercial, civil, and real estate litigation, and has particular expertise in commercial law, large estate cases, and serves as a consultant for several companies involved in financial technology, real estate fund establishment, and the formation of financial companies and investment entities, and he is proficient in filing appeals and cassation requests, as well as resolving major disputes. Additionally, Osama is proficient in drafting contracts and agreements in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He serves as a consultant for fintech (financial technology) companies and artificial intelligence technologies, with multiple contributions to legal technology. Osama is also actively involved in corporate governance, preparing and auditing internal regulations.
- Email:fahad@alshariflaw.com
Abdulrahman Al-Qarni
Attorney
Abdulrahman Al-Qarni
Attorney
Abdulrahman Al-Qarni, a Saudi trained and qualified lawyer, joined the firm in 2022. He has a wide range of experience in government, corporate, and commercial matters. He has experience dealing with labor and commercial issues, including filing lawsuits, researching regulations, and pleading. Abdulrahman has been trained in the use of the Kingdom’s financial crime system as well as in financial, penal, commercial, labor disputes, human rights cases, contracts, endowments, and inheritances.
Bandar Al-Zahrani
Junior Associate
Bandar Al-Zahrani
Junior Associate
Ali Al-Shehri, a Saudi trained and qualified lawyer, has served as a Senior Saudi Attorney with Al-Sharif Law Firm since 2011. He specializes in commercial and civil claims, with special experience in commercial law, anti-money laundering regulations, copyright issues, trademark registrations, appeals, and estate planning. Ali also serves as an Advisor to the Legal Committee of the Council of Ministers, responsible for drafting and reviewing proposed and existing laws. Ali is admitted to practice in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Justice Law License No. 29/46), is a Ministry of Justice recommended arbitrator and holds an LL.B. from King Saud University.
- Email:bandar@alshariflaw.com
Noura Al-Jlban
Trainee Associate
Noura Al-Jlban
Trainee Associate
Noura Al-Jlban, a Saudi trainee lawyer, joined the firm in 2024. She holds a law graduate from Shaqra University currently working in the Litigation and Corporate Departments at Al-Sharif Law, handling commercial and labor cases, drafting contracts and legal memoranda, and communicating with government entities. Her experience includes working in the Legal Affairs Department at Al-Iman General Hospital contributing to internal investigations and applying health regulations and medical error laws, as well as training at Taajeel Law Firm and Areej Law Office where she worked on labor, commercial, and personal status cases. She has also provided legal support for volunteer initiatives with the Law Department volunteer team and served with the Saudi Red Crescent. Her knowledge spans Saudi legal systems including Labor, Health Professions Practice, Personal Status, Commercial, Companies, and Maritime Law, with skills in commercial disputes, labor compliance, company formation, and trademark registration. Currently in the final stages of obtaining her law license and professional accreditation from the Saudi Bar Association, she combines legal research abilities with practical experience in case management and communication with government agencies.
- Email:noura@alshariflaw.com
Mariam Al-Jamea
Trainee Associate
Mariam Al-Jamea
Trainee Associate
Mariam Al-Jamea, a Saudi trainee lawyer, joined the firm in 2025. She has over four years of combined experience in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, currently practicing in litigation and corporate law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Her career includes working in the legal department of a private company in Dubai and at a law firm, where she developed expertise in UAE labor law, employment contract drafting and management, company formation, and commercial licensing. She has handled visa procedures and maintained relationships with government entities across multiple Emirates, giving her practical knowledge of administrative processes in the UAE legal system. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Sharjah and a Diploma in Islamic Banking, bringing both conventional legal training and specialized knowledge of Islamic finance principles to her practice. Fluent in Arabic and English, she is able to work effectively in both languages, which is particularly valuable for cross-border matters and international clients.
- Email:mariam@alshariflaw.com
Basil Al-Halfi
Trainee Associate
Basil Al-Halfi
Trainee Associate
Basel Alhafi, a Saudi-trained trainee lawyer, joined the firm in 2025. He focuses on labor law, commercial law, and company law, with a particular interest in dispute resolution and legal compliance. Before joining the firm, Basel gained valuable legal experience at the General Department of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Sports, where he contributed to drafting legal memoranda and reviewing contracts. He also developed his legal research skills during his studies at Majmaah University.
- Phone:+966 (0)55 000 9269
- Email:Basil@alshariflaw.com
Government Relations
Ahmed Al-Naghaimsh
Abdullah Al Daham
Badr Al-Gheeelan
Saad Al-Sanie
Business Administration
Siwar Elias
Siwar Elias handles business administration as well as paralegal work across Saudi regulatory matters, managing documentation and filings for company formations, foreign investment licenses, employment compliance, and corporate governance. She prepares and reviews shareholder resolutions, board minutes, commercial contracts, and compliance filings for submission to Saudi authorities including MISA, the Ministry of Commerce, GOSI, and ZTCA.As the main client contact for many matters, she collects required information, explains regulatory requirements, and tracks pending approvals through government processes. She coordinates between lawyers, clients, and government relations officers to meet filing deadlines, while maintaining compliance calendars that track license renewals, statutory filings, employment deadlines, and contract obligations. Her work ensures legal procedures move forward on schedule and meet Saudi regulatory standards.
Education
Yarmouk University – Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Languages
Arabic
English
Education
Yarmouk University – Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Languages
Arabic
English
- Phone:+966 (0)56 054 1286
- Email:siwar@alshariflaw.com
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