Khodadad “Ko” Sharif has been an active member of the State Bar of California since June 1997, practicing law in both state and federal courts, and has overseen numerous civil, criminal, and family law cases. He is an experienced trial lawyer, having litigated both as plaintiff and defense counsel in civil matters, including felony criminal jury trials and complex family law disputes. Mr. Sharif serves on the court-appointed panel of CAA/GAL of the Probate division of the San Diego Superior Court.

Mr. Sharif volunteers with the Fee Arbitration Program of the San Diego County Bar Association and has successfully arbitrated many fee disputes since 2007. He has also volunteered for the Servicemember Civil Relief Act Pro Bono program at the SDCBA.

Mr. Sharif has taught the Business Law-140 course at Southwestern College (Chula Vista) since 2016. As an adjunct professor, he has served as the Grievance Chair for the college, serving its faculty union, and currently serving as the Grievance Officer for the Union. Further community involvement has taken Mr. Sharif from coaching soccer at AYSO to coaching the high school Mock Trial team at Otay Ranch High School (2010-2015). He is also a Founding Member of SB ELEVATE.

A graduate of University City High School (’87), Mr. Sharif continued his studies in Political Science at San Diego State University, minoring in Philosophy. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, his interest in comparative law led him to summer studies at his law school, sponsored by Cambridge University in the U.K., specifically at Gonville and Caius College and at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. During law school, he served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association and the Dean of Delta Theta Phi, also serving on various committees to promote a better environment for the students. To encourage diversity at his alma mater, Mr. Sharif has assisted in reactivating Delta Theta Phi at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He is also currently helping the SDCBA reach out to pre-law society groups at SDSU’s undergraduate program. His passion is to promote diversity at the bar and access to justice.

Mr. Sharif is fluent in Farsi.