OUR PEOPLE

MR. SAIF ALSHAMSI

Founder | Managing Partner

Saif Alshamsi  is the founder and senior partner of The Legal Group, Head of the Litigation Department and the chairperson of the firm’s decision-making bodies. His guiding philosophy of an unwavering passion for excellence has led the firm through its continuing success.

He has over twenty five years’ experience in commercial and civil disputes in the GCC and MENA region, having executed over 2000 disputes in the UAE alone.

Saif has earned considerable recognition from his clients and the legal fraternity for his ability to offer simplistic yet effective solutions to the most complex problems. His clear and pragmatic approach towards the practice of law has given him wide acclaim in several high value and complex legal matters.

We at The Legal Group value and respect our founder and hold him in high regard for his constant training and teaching to our team, associates and staff.

HATEM ABDEL GHANI

Partner | Director of TLG

Hatem relies on his deep knowledge and expertise in Intellectual Property Rights in providing insightful advice particularly in relation to the brand protection strategies of his portfolio comprising over a hundred high profile international clients. Due to his high level of competency in this area, Hatem is widely acknowledged as an expert to conduct trainings on behalf of his clients, for the Intellectual Property enforcement authorities in the MENA region focusing on eliminating counterfeiting activities.

He has gained specialist experience of over twenty years in the area of Intellectual Property Rights beginning with an assignment in an English company and later a local law firm before joining The Legal Group. Hatem has also held a lectureship in the Jerusalem Open University for three years.

A member of the International Trademark Association for over a decade, Hatem has received invitations by the Japanese Trademark Organization, to deliver lectures on Intellectual Property enforcement in the Middle East. In 2010, he was invited by the American Patent Office to give a lecture on Intellectual Property enforcement in North Africa. His contributions have been instrumental in carrying out enforcement activities in several areas of the MENA region.

Hatem graduated with a degree in Economics and Political Science from the Andhra University, India and further obtained his Post graduate qualifications from the famed Aligarh Muslim University in India.

JAMILA CHERRAF

Partner| Senior Legal Consultant
Manager Morocco, and North Africa Region
Direct office UAE & Morocco

Jamila’s portfolio of clients includes several prestigious international brands, mainly from Europe and the United States. She provides her expertise in brand protection and Intellectual Property Rights’ enforcement across various industries including garments, luxury goods, cosmetics, electrical goods and power tools.

Jamila has focused on handling all dispute resolution and enforcement cases relating to the Intellectual Property requirements of clients.

A member of the International Trademark Association, she regularly attends trainings organised by various Government Departments and Trade Commissions in the UAE and abroad in an endeavour to keep constantly updated.

Armed with a post graduate Degree in Business Law from a French University and proficiency in French, English and Arabic, Jamila also has an enriching experience in Intellectual Property Rights in the GCC and MENA Region to complement her academic credentials. Her prior experience includes specialisation in due diligence and various other aspects of Corporate Law.

MADIHA SHEIKH

Partner| Senior Legal Consultant
Manager Pakistan, Iran, and South Asia Region
Direct office UAE & Pakistan

Madiha assists international clients across the MENA region, primarily in the fashion, luxury, retail and technology sectors on contentious and non – contentious matters pertaining to their intellectual property rights and litigation needs.

She brings to the team a strong understanding of the regional regulatory framework, ensuring that clients are provided legal solutions consistent with their business objectives and operational needs on a range of transactional, prosecutorial and enforcement matters.

With an academic background in law, strategy and project management she has legal and corporate advisory experience in areas of intellectual property, corporate governance, dispute resolution and real estate arbitration.

MOHAMMAD AL SHARIF

Partner | Director of IP Prosecution Division

Mohammad Al-Sharif has strong experience in the fields of Trademarks, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Patent and Unfair competition law.

For both the international and domestic markets, Mohammad has extensive experience in conducting clearance searches and advising on searches, providing practical and commercial advice on infringement issues, filing strategy, portfolio management and portfolio review. He prepares files and prosecutes of national and International trademark applications.

Mohammad has been active for many years in running large trademark portfolios for large multinational corporations including those in the cosmetics and garments industry, insurance and financial services, spare parts industry and many other sectors.

He frequently appears for clients in hearings at the UAE Trademark Office before the Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal, both opposing third party trademarks and defending against oppositions by third parties.

He is a member of various international organizations, such as APAA, AIPPI and INTA and a regularly attends international trademark conferences.

Mohammad Al-Sharif graduated from the Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Amman-Jordan with a degree in Computer Science.

HARSHIKA BARLINGE

Legal Consultant

Harshika is a Professional IP Lawyer offering expert legal advice and presentation in the field of Intellectual Property since 2016. Harshika’s practice focuses on advising on all aspects of trademarks, copyright and design prosecution along with a steady practice in brand protection and IP enforcement. Harshika has received her law degree from Indian Law Society’s (ILS) Law School, Pune. She also has a specialised Diploma in Intellectual Property Law.

RAISA ABDUL RAHMAN

Advocate & Arbitrator

Raisa has vast experience and a clear understanding regarding the laws and procedures of the Courts and Arbitration centers throughout the U.A.E. This helps her gain deep insights into the client requirements and their court cases and provide sound legal advice as well as appropriate solutions.

Raisa has a post graduate degree in Law from The University College of Ajman City. Also, she is a licensed Lawyer and Arbitrator.

She has completed several courses and received certifications from various Courts and Arbitration Centers around the U.A.E, in different aspects of Law.

RANIA MOHAMED

Senior Legal Consultant

Experienced Legal consultant with a demonstrated history of broad set of skills applicable across different sectors and roles. Having progressive ten years of experience in Legal sector with rich knowledge of intellectual property laws.

Rania has immense experience and a clear understanding of the laws and the Court procedures throughout the U.A.E. This helps her gain deep insights into the client requirements and their court cases and provide sound legal advice as well as appropriate solutions.

she is handling the Criminal disputes and enforcement cases relating to the Intellectual Property requirements of clients such as (Trademarks, industrial design, patents, Copyright and related rights, parallel import) as well as representing various international clients before the Public Prosecutions and Criminal Courts in the UAE.

Rania gained strong experience in Trademarks registrations oppositions and Appeals, where she appears for clients in hearings before the Trademark Office at the Ministry of Economy in UAE, both opposing third party trademarks and defending against oppositions by third parties.

She has prior experience in practicing as a lawyer in Egypt where she has legal advisory experience in diverse areas including Intellectual Property rights, Admiralty law, Civil, Real estate, Personal status, and employment. She is a licensed lawyer in Egypt since 2010 and a registered Legal Consultant in UAE since 2015.

HASSAN MABIRIIZI

Partner | Director of Research Division

Hassan has a strong background of over eight years in research before joining The Legal Group. His focused efforts, dynamism and logical approach have constantly helped in bringing new levels of effectiveness and quality to the Research and Investigations team. His contribution has been pivotal in all aspects of the daily operations of his team.

Hassan has been extensively involved in coordinating and facilitating numerous brand awareness trainings for Customs and Police officers, anti – counterfeiting exhibitions and raids as well as brand protection trainings throughout the UAE.

Hassan’s academic qualifications include a Higher Diploma in Tourism and Travel agency management from the College of Professional Management, Britain, a Diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Institute of Uganda, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also a Certification in Computer Applications. He has five years’ experience in the tourism sector also.

SOUKAINA FARTAT

Marketing Manager

Soukaina has had the privilege of pursuing her MSc International Business at North Carolina State University in the U.S, and prior to that, she has completed her master's in management from SKEMA Business School in France.
She is trained in International business development and business consulting.

For a broader international exposure, Soukaina has multiplied transnational professional experiences in Morocco, France, Japan, Singapore, the U.S, and currently Dubai. She also speaks 4 languages.