About the Founder
Harvard Law educated and Big-law trained
Raised by an immigrant single mother who instilled in her, by example, the values of hard work, independence, grit, fearlessness and the importance of dreaming big, Ms. William obtained her law degree from Harvard Law School in 2010 and her Bachelors degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of California Los Angeles in 2006. She grew up in a large extended family in a vibrant Egyptian American community often traveling to Europe and the Middle East and thereby developing a love for all things international. Ms. William is a proud graduate of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California. She, her spouse and two daughters reside in Los Angeles.
Ms. William provides legal, business and strategic advice to companies of all sizes, individuals, governments, and financial institutions, domestically and internationally. Prior to launching Pacific Ivy Law Group, Ms. William practiced law in the New York offices and Los Angeles office at three of the top law firms in the world. She is licensed to practice law in California and New York and is fluent in Arabic and conversant in Spanish. Ms. William has also spent time in Tokyo, Japan at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, one of the most highly regarded law firms in Japan.
Ms. William is direct, practical, responsive and trustworthy. She is a fierce negotiator who takes a personal and measured approach.
Sherry A. William
Education
Harvard Law School
*Harvard Law Negotiation Workshop
*Harvard Law Mediation & Negotiation Clinical
*Harvard International Law Journal
Cambridge University
UCLA
Bar Admissions
California
New York
Languages
Arabic
Spanish
Beyond the firm
Leadership
Harvard Law School Association, Executive Committee Board Member
Harvard Law School Association of Los Angeles, President 2019-present, Board Member 2015-present
League of Egyptian American Professionals, President 2018-present
Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California, Board of Governors
Coptic Education Foundation, past board member
Speaker Engagements
National Conference of Women's Bar Associations, Speaker 2022
Corporate World Intelligence, Speaker 2021
Awards
Los Angeles Business Journal, Women's Leadership Awards
Pro Bono Service
Greater Boston Legal Services, Immigration Fellowship
Good Shepherd Shelter, Immigration pro-bono services
Jenesse Center Inc., Impact LA, Immigration and Housing pro bono services
Real Estate Broker License
California
New York
Meet some of the team
Erika Chowana, Attorney
Erika is licensed to practice law in California with a B.S. in Business Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. She has experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, and a background in employment law and corporate law. She worked in-house at a Fortune 500 and in the healthcare, research and biotechnology, internet software, property management, and e-commerce industries. During law school, she enjoyed working with entrepreneurs, start-ups, landlords and tenants, and obtained a specialization in intellectual property law. She focused efforts on helping law students compete in the external honors moot court program as Assistant Director, as well as Vice President of the Law & Business Society, and won first place for best contract draft in an intellectual property law competition. In her free time she enjoys running, yoga, soccer, interior design, and spending time with her husband and daughters.
Sarah Amiran, Attorney
Sarah is a first-generation immigrant from a British-Persian family. Her upbringing provided an international experience which guides her to this day as she provides diversity, inclusivity, compassion, and creativity in her practice. Sarah graduated from the University of Illinois and received her J.D. from Seton Hall University. She has concentrated her career, both in private practice and as in- house counsel, serving the needs of corporate clients, real estate transactional law, and donating time to benefit the needs of Chicago communities deprived of traditional counsel. Sarah is licensed to practice in Illinois. She lives in Chicago with her family.
Maria Sanchez, Attorney
Maria R Sanchez is a passionate, dynamic, and creative lawyer. In the over 10 years of practicing law she has proven to be exemplary in learning complex skills with highspeed and proficiency, and a proven history in success in negotiating and closing all types of transactions and collaborating cross-functionally. She is skilled in strategically managing people, projects, contracts, risk and change. Maria received her Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Women Studies, Psychology and Government from New Mexico State University. Maria is licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico. She is a lifelong New Mexico resident and lives in Bernalillo New Mexico with her two dogs Dobby and Winky.
Caroline Denning, Attorney
Caroline Denning is a North Carolina attorney. Caroline is a proud alumna of Elon University and NCCU School of Law and is currently seeking a LLM (Master of Laws) in Taxation through Villanova University. As the granddaughter of multi-generational farmers, Caroline values family and a hard day’s work. Caroline’s passion is helping clients with their unique legal needs.
Rameses Neale, Legal Intern
Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Rameses is a forward-thinking go-getter aiming to pursue a career providing legal counsel to individuals and corporations at the intersection of intellectual property law and technological innovation. Mr. Neale obtained his Bachelors of Philosophy and joint-minor in Politics & Law from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2022, where he focused on the legal and ethical regulation of artificial intelligence. While preparing for law school, he serves as an intern at Pacific Ivy Law Group and runs a blog reporting on and critiquing developments in AI law, legislation, and public policy.