“There’s no way in hell I could have planned this all to happen the way that it did, but it happened just right.”
Sharif Gray’s path to becoming a trial lawyer wasn’t linear, but every turn sharpened his focus: helping people in their most difficult moments through skilled advocacy. A former Army JAG officer, federal law clerk, and prosecutor, Sharif now devotes his practice to representing individuals seriously injured through negligence, misconduct, or abuse of power.
At Virginia Military Institute, Sharif was valedictorian and elected to the Honor Court, where he prosecuted students in peer jury trials — his first exposure to real courtroom procedure. That experience, along with a deep respect for service and justice instilled by his Egyptian-American upbringing, set the foundation. After law school, he joined the U.S. Army JAG Corps. While stationed at Fort Bragg, he represented elite soldiers — Delta Force, Rangers, Green Berets — often accused of misconduct or facing career-ending charges. It was in those trenches, defending people with everything on the line, that he discovered what trial advocacy could truly mean.
Sharif later prosecuted in the Richmond area, then transitioned into personal injury law, where he found his home. Since then, he has quickly earned a reputation as a thoughtful, disciplined trial lawyer — one who cares deeply, prepares relentlessly, and fights with conviction. His courtroom results reflect that mindset: a $1.5M verdict in a Virginia trip-and-fall case, despite the formidable obstacle of contributory negligence; a confidential settlement for a man wrongfully arrested and jailed for five days; and career-saving outcomes for service members on the brink.
He continues to push himself through elite-level trial education. A graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming and holder of an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University, Sharif is constantly learning — and teaching. He believes that representing people isn’t just about compensation, but about accountability, deterrence, and restoring dignity.
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA)
American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Trial Lawyers University attendee
Graduate, Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College
Keenan Trial Institute (formerly the Reptile Method)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) (select coursework)
Trip and Fall Verdict – $1.5M jury verdict in a Virginia premises liability case despite the contributory negligence standard (2023)
Wrongful Arrest Settlement – Confidential six-figure result for a client wrongfully imprisoned for five days; case resolved after key video evidence surfaced (2023)
Military Defense – Federal Conviction/Discharge – Secured medical retirement and honorable discharge for senior Army officer facing other-than-honorable separation after federal conviction (2016)
International Defense Trial – Defended service member in sexual assault trial overseas (Egypt); led case solo with successful outcome (2015)
The inaugural edition of the Trial Lawyer's Journal set a new standard for law journal publications. With limited ads and one-of-a-kind content, it was created to celebrate wins both in and outside the courtroom.