It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Sharif Shihata, our CEO’s beloved brother and Senior Partner at Shalakany Law Firm, recognised for playing a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s legacy. Sharif was a loving son, brother and friend to so many, and this tribute is a dedication from some of the many people who loved him. May his beautiful legacy live on, and may he stay in our hearts forever.
Until We Meet Again by Yasmine Shihata
As I write this tribute, I’m still feeling shock and sad that I’m actually writing a tribute to my own big brother, Sharif. I guess we take for granted that our siblings will be with us for all our lives, and we never imagine such a day happening; at least never so soon. So this is a tribute that is still hard for me to digest, even now.
Although Sharif and I grew up to be very different personalities, we are both Scorpios, and in some ways, we were very similar. We both always valued our privacy and grew up to have inner strength, empathy and compassion for others, and a deep love for our friends and family. Sharif always had a naturally curious mind and grew up loving music and theatre, as well as being passionate about causes (especially human rights and the ongoing occupation of Palestine).
From a young age, it was clear that Sharif approached life with thoughtfulness and never took shortcuts in doing what was right. Because our parents valued education, integrity and respect, Sharif grew up with a strong sense of responsibility, a calm, thoughtful nature and a quiet confidence that became his lifelong signature. These early values shaped his life journey and guided him through his life’s challenges.
As a son and a brother, Sharif was always there when we needed him, even in moments when quiet support was more powerful than words. Sharif was, and remains, a pillar in our lives. And he was always a constant in my life, especially when we were young and moved with our parents to different cities and different schools. We had to start over so many times and make new friends, but we always had each other. Even though we used to tease each other as kids, Sharif and my younger sister Nadia were my buddies at home and during our many family vacations around the world.
Sharif had a beautiful voice and loved singing; in fact, I always believed he should have become a professional singer. Yet he followed in my father’s footsteps and became an accomplished lawyer. Sharif first earned a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from Brown University, an experience he truly enjoyed and that brought out the activist in him, inspiring him to take part in a group trip to Palestine, which had a huge impact on his life.
He then furthered his legal education by obtaining a Juris Doctor (JD) from Boston University’s Law School and went on to practice law in both Egypt and New York, gaining international legal expertise.
After we both finished college, we somehow found ourselves living in Egypt with our beloved grandmother “Mamina”, which was such a fun and memorable time for us. As we had both lived abroad most of our lives, being in Egypt grounded us in a way we hadn’t experienced before, and it truly felt like ‘home’.
Sharif went on to become a distinguished lawyer and a partner at the Shalakany Law Office, one of Egypt’s oldest and most prestigious law firms. He was an expert in a broad range of legal areas, including corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and international arbitration. His dedication to his work led him to a solid career marked by depth and a commitment to excellence. His colleagues tell me how they admired his work ethic and ability to lead with intellect and heart. He became a mentor to those around him, as colleagues often turned to him for advice, knowing Sharif’s word carried weight and came from a place of conscience. He also gained a reputation for his meticulous preparation and calm yet compelling presence in every room he entered.
In both his professional and personal life, Sharif always treated people with respect, regardless of their background or circumstances. He knew the true measure of a person was not in their social status, accolades or titles, but in how they treated those closest to them.
Sharif was a big presence in stature, but he was also full of warmth, integrity, quiet wisdom and strength. In hindsight, what truly set Sharif apart was his inner resilience and how he quietly navigated life’s challenges so no one around him had to worry. Everyone close to him admired his ability to listen without judgment, his sharp humour, and how he was always there when we needed him.
Sharif was not driven by ego or applause; instead, he had a deep commitment to justice and to carving out his happiness on his terms. In a fast-moving world where so many are obsessed with appearances and social media, Sharif remained unfazed by it all. He knew that character, real connections, and compassion are what truly matter.
For all of us who knew and loved Sharif, he was a grounding presence and a reminder that the strongest people are often the gentlest, and that the greatest legacies are not just built through achievements, but through consistent love and care for others. I will always remember Sharif for his inner strength, beyond what I can even imagine, his determination, his loyalty, his sense of humour, and his amazingly detailed memory. Especially because, with time, I keep losing so much of mine, I used to joke with him that I needed him to help me remember my life!
Even in his last month with us, he battled his cancer with positivity, optimism, and an inner strength that I will forever be in awe of; so much so that he kept us all positive and hopeful with him. And strangely, I still feel his hopeful positivity around me to this day.
I know Sharif will live on in the hearts of all of us who love him, and his legacy will be one of love, generosity, dedication, purpose, and heartfelt connection.
I love and miss you already, Sharif, and I’m so incredibly proud of you and your courage to rise above the challenges you faced. I’m also so inspired by how you were always able to maintain a certain mature innocence that allowed you to live your life how you wanted: happy and hopeful. Until we meet again, I will continue to think of you every day with pride, fondness, and love always.
Gone but Never Apart by Nadia Shihata
Sharif was a remarkable big brother and human being. There’s almost ten years between us, so as a little girl, he was larger than life to me. I remember missing his daily presence deeply when he left our house for Brown University when I was nine. No more hanging out with him and my sister after school regularly in our basement, watching TV (Charlie’s Angels, The Fall Guy and, later, Oprah were favourites…) or listening and singing along to our favourite records on the turntable. I’d have to wait until he was home on vacation for that now.
But even without our daily hangouts and his new college life, Sharif was so supportive. When I was in eighth grade and got the lead in our (small) school’s musical, Sharif made sure to fly home to see it (twice!), and he was so proud of me, even though I’m sure the whole performance left much to be desired.
Sharif taught me so many things growing up, especially about protesting and fighting injustice at an early age. As a high school and college student, he regularly attended protests in support of Palestinian human rights, and I recall him telling me about these events, apartheid in South Africa, and the dignity and worth of all human beings.
As I grew older, we shared an interest in law and politics and enjoyed watching news programmes together, providing our audible commentary.
Sharif was a serious person and a brilliant lawyer, but he was never arrogant, cocky, or flashy. He let his work speak for itself. And he worked hard, perhaps too hard, rarely allowing himself a real vacation from his work.
But Sharif was also extremely funny, with a real flair for storytelling. He had an impeccable memory and often regaled my mother, sister and me with family stories from our childhood, made even more hilarious by his uncanny ability to impersonate and mimic the voices and catchphrases of others to perfection. He created “inside” jokes and his vocabulary that our family still uses to this day, based on his telling of real-life stories we all lived together. He could make even the mundane memorable.
To this day, we jokingly call our mum “Ham” based on his hilarious impressions of her and use the name of his childhood friend “Chantra” as an adjective to describe an overly studious person who never breaks any rules. Put simply, nobody can tell a story like Sharif.
Above all, Sharif was kind, generous and empathetic. He was what we all should strive to be: a good person who genuinely cares about others, even those he had never met or didn’t know well.
In his final weeks and days, he fought valiantly to stay in this world and showed more courage and strength than anyone else I know, enduring countless procedures, transfusions, and a literal inability to sustain himself with food, all with a smile. He wanted to be here for us and himself. He had so much more to give, and our world is poorer for his loss.
Sharif — I miss you and I love you forever.
From his Loving Mother Samia
“To my dear friends and family who have reached out to comfort me, Yasmine and Nadia, at the loss of our dear Sharif, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness and support, whether in person, through messages or calls, have overwhelmed us and helped us at this most difficult time.
Sharif, may he rest in peace, was an exceptional person — brilliant, kind-hearted, and caring, always ready to help others in any way he could.
He was also very courageous throughout his almost four-month ordeal fighting cancer, remaining positive, good-natured, and funny until the very end.
To Sharif, rest in peace, my dear son. We miss you so, so much. You will forever be with us in our hearts, guiding us from heaven with your love and wisdom, as you always did.”
Memories from Jumana Shihata
“Losing my dear cousin Sharif has been heartbreaking, but I take comfort that during his difficult journey, he felt deeply loved—and that we got to spend real, quality time together.
It’s incredible how much you get to know someone when they’re in a vulnerable state. I learnt so many little things about him—how he liked his coffee, his sweet tooth, his favourite TV shows, and even the small things that got under his skin.
I was struck by how, as his body grew weaker and his true self shone through; he never responded to his physical challenges with anger or frustration like one might expect. Even with all the pain, the wires, and the endless hospital routine, he stayed kind, kept a positive attitude, and genuinely believed he would be moved from the ICU room to normal room, then home. And in an almost poetic way, he eventually found his room in heaven.
Sharif was incredibly smart, sharp, present, and always observant. He had a memory like no other and a way of seeing the positive, even in the toughest of times.
A true lawyer at heart, he always fought for justice. He was a perfectionist and a workaholic, but also loved a good, laid-back chat. Whether it was world news or family gossip, he was all in. He always found the funny in all the serious, like a true Shehata. And he had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. As hard as it is to say goodbye, I know he is no longer suffering. I will always cherish this time that brought us closer in a way I never expected. It gave us the chance to share, reflect, and most importantly—to say goodbye with love. You are truly missed, Sharif.”
A Tribute from Khaled El Shalakany Managing Partner, Shalakany Law Firm’
”I am grateful, personally on my behalf and on behalf of all members of our firm who knew our late colleague Sharif Shihata, for this opportunity to write a few words about him.
As one grows older, one hopefully gains some wisdom and begins to truly appreciate the vast differences that exist between human beings, as well as the rare occurrence of genuinely kind people.
Sharif Shihata was a truly genuine and kind human being. In over thirty years with our firm, I do not recall a single instance where he raised his voice or rebuked or criticised anyone. He was extremely sensitive to other people’s feelings.
Sharif, a brilliant lawyer, acted over the decades as a mentor and teacher to many of our young lawyers. He was always patient, helpful and… always very supportive.
It was an honour and a privilege for me to have Sharif as a true friend and loyal colleague. Sharif is very sorely missed.”
