Sherif Rizk is a civil litigation lawyer with a passion for writing. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and graduated cum laude from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Social Sciences.
Sherif has held a number of prestigious academic posts in his career. In 2011, Sherif was selected from a pool of highly qualified applicants to be a research assistant on the Open A.I.R. (African Innovation Research) Project. This selection was based on Sherif’s superb interpersonal skills, as well as recognition for his academic credentials as one of the top students in his class.
Due to his expertise in international law and global affairs, Sherif was invited by a Member of Parliament in 2014 to author a report on the national security regime in Canada, and how it compares to other major countries around the world. That report has been relied on extensively in the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on National Security as Canada continues to look into oversight of its national security regime.
During law school, Sherif was also a highly respected leader and advocate for his fellow students. Sherif was elected as president of the Common Law Students’ Society (2013-2014), and was involved in the executive committee of the International Law Students Association for two consecutive years (2011-2013). He spearheaded numerous initiatives that improved student life on campus, such as the Task Force on Student Experience, and helped improve relations between students and faculty through various events. Sherif was also instrumental in forming the Law Students Society of Ontario, an organization that advocates for law students across the province to date.
Sherif completed his articles of clerkship at a civil litigation boutique firm in Ottawa, where he has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice and the Landlord Tenant Board. He continues to build on his successful accomplishments in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area, where he practices as the principal lawyer and founder of his own practice, Rizk Law Office. He regularly appears before various levels of court and administrative tribunals, and has built a reputation as a strong advocate for his clients.
In addition to practicing law, Sherif is a Certified Fraud Examiner, and holds a License en droit (LL.L) from the University of Ottawa.
Sherif is fluent in English, French and Arabic. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, and playing soccer.
Establishing Codified
In 2012, Sherif’s passion for critical thinking and analysis, as well as writing of the highest quality, drove him to take his writings to the public. He regularly comments on political and legal events in Canada and around the world, and also devotes his time to writing that would be of assistance to fellow lawyers.
The blog’s works are regularly cited by various local bar associations, and have a far-reaching audience in Canada and around the world, attracting hundreds of views on a consistent basis.
Sherif’s Memberships:
- Law Society of Upper Canada
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Peel County Law Association
- The Advocates’ Society
Sherif’s Publications:
- “Should the ICC Do Anything About CIA Torture?” slaw.ca (December 17, 2014)
- Parliamentary Oversight of National Security: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities (House of Commons, January 2014)
- Quoted in “Refugee Crisis Galvanizes Arab Community” – New Canadian Media
- Quoted in “What Do We Really Mean, When We Talk About Diversity?” – slaw.ca (October 31, 2013)
*Please note: Any research, writing attributed to Sherif is solely his and does not represent or speak on behalf of any of his past, present or future employers.