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Sharif Ahmed

Sharif Ahmed

Associate
Overview

With hands-on trial experience obtained early in his career, Sharif is an intellectual property litigator who fights for clients.

Sharif represents clients in complex intellectual property disputes across the country and has handled a variety of intellectual property matters that included design and utility patents, trademarks and trade dress, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition. He has experience in all aspects of the early and late stages of the patent litigation lifecycle, from complaint, motion to dismiss, and Markman practice to summary judgment, pre-trial conference, and jury trials. In just his first three years of practice, Sharif served as third chair in a high-profile three-week patent and trademark infringement jury trial in the District of Arizona, winning an eight-figure jury verdict, and cross-examined an expert witness and argued evidentiary issues in a bench trial before the U.S. Court of International Trade. He thrives and is at his most comfortable in the courtroom, and he’s never afraid to try a case when it’s in the client’s best interests.

Sharif enjoys legal strategy, healthy competition, and litigating to win for clients.

Known for gaining an exceptional amount of trial experience early in his career, Sharif has a reputation as a creative strategist who never approaches cases with a formulaic plug-and-play mindset. He prioritizes getting to know each client and their business personally so that he has a full understanding of where litigation strategy fits into the client’s “bigger picture.” Ultimately, Sharif fights as though it’s his own business at stake.

Industries

Services

Education

  • J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
    • cum laude
    • Jurimetrics, The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, Note & Comment Editor
  • B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Pharmacology

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Arizona

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Federal Bar Association, Phoenix Chapter
  • State Bar of Arizona, Intellectual Property Law Section

Languages

  • Arabic, conversational
Experience
  • Prevailed on behalf of a consumer products company in a high-profile three-week patent and trademark infringement jury trial in the District of Arizona; won an eight-figure patent and trademark infringement verdict, including a jury finding of willful infringement and alter ego liability.
  • Represented a consumer products company in a week-long tariff classification bench trial at the Court of International Trade. Cross-examined the government's marketing expert at trial and drafted and argued successful motions in limine that limited the testimony of multiple government witnesses. The court's favorable rulings on these motions were particularly notable and provided a roadmap for parties litigating against government agencies, including the court's exclusion of government testimony from a national import specialist within U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the basis that the specialist's testimony would have covered topics the agency had shielded under its deliberative process privilege. The court's ruling excluded the testimony, since neither we nor the court would have known if the government was omitting information disfavorable to its own litigation position.
  • Successfully defended an auto parts e-commerce company as lead counsel in a copyright infringement action in the Central District of California; prompted voluntary dismissal of the complaint after moving to dismiss and defeated an application to enjoin the company's sales and operations.
  • Experience in all aspects of the early and late stages of the patent litigation lifecycle, from complaint, motion to dismiss, and Markman practice to summary judgment, pre-trial conference, and jury trials.
  • As third chair in multiple federal trials, cross-examined expert witnesses and argued issues before the court, including motions in limine, evidentiary objections, and final jury instructions; advised lead counsel on evidentiary issues in real-time, including at sidebar, and coordinated evidence presentation.
  • Managed all aspects of trial preparation, including preparing pre-trial order documents and objections, cross-examination outlines, closing argument materials, and successful motions in limine that limited witness testimony.
  • In Discovery, assisted lead counsel during depositions and hearings, conducted research and drafted motions, interrogatories, and discovery requests.
  • In Early-Stage litigation, drafted complaints and applications for TRO and preliminary injunctive relief, and prepared pre-suit infringement analyses, claim charts, and demand letters.
  • In a previous patent prosecution role, drafted and prosecuted patents for a Fortune 100 aerospace and defense manufacturer, performed due diligence investigations for a Fortune 500 international mining company, and drafted patents for a major university's technology-transfer and commercialization group.
Outside the Office

Sharif and his girlfriend (also an attorney) enjoy getting out as much as possible and especially love to travel. At home in Arizona, they enjoy spending time with their two dogs, an energetic Aussie (Ahsoka) and a gangly Supermutt cattle dog (Vinny).

Community Leadership

Sharif is an active member of the Rotary Club’s Phoenix Arcadia Chapter, where he has served on the board and as membership chair since the summer of 2024.