DATUK ADNAN SEMAN @ ABDULLAH is an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, admited on 9th February 2002. He is the principal partner of the firm and completed his Bachelor of Laws at International Islamic University Malaysia in the year of 2000. He also holds a Master in Management from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK) in 2012.
He started his career as a lawyer in Messrs. Hisham Sobri & Kadir and was exposed to a wide spectrum of civil litigation maers mostly in the area of corporate and banking, receivership and general litigation. He was also exposed to corporate documentation and advisory works. In the year of 2004, he established the firm, Messrs. Adnan Seman & Associates which was then changed to the name of Messrs. Adnan Sharida & Associates at the end of 2009.
As a former university debater, footballer and chess player; he had represented the Malaysian Bar Premier Soccer Team in the annual Malaysia and Singapore Bar and Bench games from 2001 until 2014, Asia Football Cup for Lawyers at Bangkok, Thailand in 2007 and at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2017 and World Football Cup for Lawyers at Antalya Turkey in 2006 and at Rovinj, Croatia in 2012.
In the first edition of Dato’ Mahadev Shankar Chess Competition, a national closed chess tournament for lawyers in 2004, he won all rounds and declared as champion. He represented and became the first board player for the Malaysian Bar Chess Team in the Malaysia & Singapore Bar & Bench Games in 2007 at Singapore.
He is an energetic lawyer whereby apart from his involvement in sport events, he was also a committee member of Muslim Lawyers Association for three terms, from 2007 until 2012. He is often invited as Panelist in Radio and Television Programs such as “Assalamualaikum” at TV Al-Hijrah, “Selamat Pagi Malaysia” at Rangkaian Televisyen Malaysia, “Buletin Utama” at TV3, “Berita Awani” and “Debat Awani” at Astro Awani and “Ruang Bicara” at Bernama News Channel on various topics covering legal, political and current issues. His views were also reported in various printed newspapers and news portals.
Datuk Adnan specializes in General Litigation covering various fields of legal dispute such as defamation, construction disputes, intellectual properties cases, commercial disputes, contentious land and probate maers and other civil cases. In his early years of practice, he was entrusted to handle high profile cases which are the civil suit by actress Wardina Saffiya against Mydin Hypermarket, the civil suit by Tudung Mama’s brand against the famous boutique Tudung Fareeda and the vicarious liability suit involving Amy Search’s Restaurant Cheng Ho.
In the years later, among his notable clients that he had represented were Mejar Jeneral (B) Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom in the defamation suit against Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin, a member of Parliament and another suit against Yang Berhormat Akmal Nasrullah, the past director of NOW. He also successfully defended Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik and co-defendant, Shahbudin Husin in the RM 1.1 Billion defamation suit by Deepak Jaikishan. He was appointed by Dato Ibrahim Ali at the Court of Appeal in the appeal against the commial order of the High Court which was applied by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The appeal was then allowed and the said commial order was set aside. Further, Dato’ Ibrahim Ali appointed him to take over at the appeal stage of a defamation suit filed by the Chief Minister of Penang, Yang Berhormat Lim Guan Eng and successfully won the appeal at the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal’s decision was overturned by the Federal Court with majority decision of 2:1.
Datuk Adnan also handled numerous legal disputes involving well-known personalities such as Aets Sdn. Bhd. against 4 members of the famous rock band, Search; Sobella Beauty Sdn. Bhd. against Uqasaha Senrose; Dato’ Seri Hasmiza (Dato’ Seri Vida); the famous nasyid band, Brothers; Fareeda Beauty; Dato’ Ahmad Azhar bin Othman (Awie Wings) and many others.
Our Datuk Adnan also specializes in construction disputes. He acted for Capital Highway Builder Sdn Bhd (CHB) against Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) where the High Court has allowed CHB’s claim of RM 19,000,000.00 and the Court
of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal. Other lawsuits won by him are JNA Ikhtisas Sdn Bhd’s RM 2.4 Million claim against Government of Malaysia and successfully defended Ecobuilders Sdn Bhd from RM 2.1 Million’s claim by EZ Engineering Work Sdn. Bhd. Recently, the High Court allowed the claim by the firm’s client, GPR Construction Sdn. Bhd. against Sri Ternak Properties Sdn. Bhd. around RM 1 million and the case is pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.
He also represented his clients in mediation and arbitration and has completed an arbitration hearing in Singapore Arbitration Centre over a commercial and construction disputes between a Malaysian developer and an Indonesian Government linked company amounting to RM30 Million. He was also appointed as counsel to represent a Malaysian company that produced the most famous 3D animated characters in Badan Arbitrase National Indonesia (BANI) and successfully resolved the dispute to a selement. In 2020, he succeeded in an another arbitration claim at Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) where the sum of around RM 1.3 million was awarded.
In this era, individuals and companies acknowledge the importance of registering trademarks to protect their rights from any infringement. Thus, Datuk Adnan is a registered Trademark Agent and since he has a wide experience in conducting trademark registration as well as intellectual property disputes, several of his current clients are pursuing intellectual property actions in relating to the their copyrights, industrial designs and registered trademark.
At present, Datuk Adnan is handling matters not only in Civil Courts but also in the Industrial Court. He had also appeared in the apex court for several cases and in Arbitration Centers. With his vast knowledge and experience, he is capable to advice clients accordingly to ensure the protection of the client’s interest and to uphold justice in the Courts of law. Among the notable court cases reported in law journals are as follows:
1. JNA Ikhtisas Sdn Bhd v. Kerajaan Malaysia [2015] 2 MLRH 498
2. CD Integrated Sdn Bhd v. Emerico Sdn Bhd [2021] 2 MLRA 567
3. Lim Guan Eng v. Ruslan Kassim & Another Appeal [2021] 3 MLRA 207
4. Syed Nadri Syed Harun & Anor v. Lim Guan Eng & Other Appeals [2019] 2 MLRA 387
5. Dato Ibrahim Ali v. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim [2015] 1 MLRA 211
6. Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy & Ors V. YAB Dato Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi & Ors; Dato Ibrahim Ali (Intervener) [2018] MLRHU 1719
7. Mohd Khaidir Ahmad V. Mohd Iqbal Zainal Abidin [2018] MLRAU 282 (The appeal filed by Mohd Khaidir was dismissed by the Court of Appeal)
8. Chai Kin Loong v. Roslan Ariffin & Anor [2019] MLRHU 1083
9. Majlis Peguam Malaysia v. Ajmain Abd Rahim [2019] 5 MLRA 446
10. Ajmain Abd Rahim v. Nik Suhaidi Nik Othman & Anor [2018] MLRHU 985
11. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad v. Aliran Wibawa Sdn Bhd & Ors [2018] MLRHU 143 (On appeal the High Court’s decision was reversed)
12. Tetuan Abdul Aziz & Associates v. Sunshine Haven Sdn Bhd [2016] 6 MLRA 596
13. Amir Muhammad Ilia Syahid Indra Zain Putra & Anor v. Putera Hang Jebat Mohamed Jin & Ors [2019] MLRHU 1295
14. Export-Import Bank Of Malaysia Berhad Lwn Life Paradise Sdn Bhd [2020] MLJU 177
15. Muhammad Said Amin v. Haszeri Hussin (Encl. 31) [2013] MLRHU 847 (On appeal the High Court’s decision was reversed)
DATIN SHARIDA BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN is one of the partners of the firm. She completed her legal studies at International Islamic University Malaysia in the year 2000. Upon completion of the requisite pupilage at Messrs Nik Saghir & Partners, she was then admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor in December 2003. Our partner started her career as a Legal Assistant in Messrs Abdul Aziz & Associates and at her early stage of practice she was responsible for handling general litigation in the said firm.
In 2005, Datin Sharida was attached to the Conveyancing and Banking Department of the said firm. She generally attends to the preparation of agreements, security documentations for conventional and Islamic Banking and various legal matters.
Her career took the next step when she joined Messrs. Adnan Seman & Associates in the year 2008 and was in charge of the conveyancing department relating to preparation of Sale and Purchase Agreements, Construction Agreements, Loan Documentations, Share Sale Agreement, Shareholders Agreement, Joint Venture Agreement, Contract Agreements and etc. On 15th October 2009 she was promoted to be a partner of the firm alongside with Datuk Adnan Bin Seman @ Abdullah.
Her current main areas of practice are conveyancing, housing and corporate loans and also corporate legal works. With more than seventeen (17) years of experience in the Conveyancing and Banking Department, she is able to deliver clients first-rate services while ensuring all legal requirements are complied with accordingly and what is most important, protecting the best interest of the clients.
NASRUL HADI BIN MAT SAAD, holds an LLB. (Hons) from International Islamic University Malaysia whereby he graduated with honors in Bachelor of Law. After reading in the chambers of Mr. Mohamed Razif bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yeop, he was then admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya on 14th April 2007. He started his career as Legal Assistant in Messrs. Abdul Aziz & Associates and exposed to various litigation cases inter alia, a wide spectrum of civil litigation matters covering mostly banking litigation as well as contract disputes. He was also exposed on various criminal trials.
He later joined Messrs. Adnan Seman & Associates. In this firm he was given opportunities to conduct numbers of full trials of general litigation maers and also assisting partners in advising clients with regard to legal issues and changes of law. He then set up his partnership under the name of Messrs. Syamsir Nasrul Khalil & Shahidan as a partner from September 2010 until Mac 2012.
On 1.04.2012 he decided to rejoin the firm as a partner and his current primary areas of practice are tort, commercial and contractual disputes, debt recoveries, application for specific reliefs, winding up and insolvency, trust, probate and administrative disputes, employment and industrial disputes and professional negligence.
Besides civil litigation, he is able to handle criminal trials and ensuring a fair trial be provided to the accused. He is now a senior advocate and solicitor with a persistent effort and passion towards the law and justice.
IZYAN ANIS BTE MUSANIF read law in the International Islamic University Malaysia whereby she graduated with honours in Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Law (Syariah). She underwent pupilage with Messrs Adnan Sharida & Associates in the Chamber of Datuk Adnan Bin Seman @ Abdullah and was called to the Malaysian Bar on 11th January, 2013. She was exposed to various areas of Laws, Corporate, General Litigation and General Conveyancing.
Upon completion of her pupilage, she was retained in the same firm as Legal Assistant and aached to Conveyancing and Banking Department where she assists Datin Sharida in conveyancing maers involving transfer, sale and purchase agreement, loan security documentation, tenancy and lease agreement, probate, documentations for housing development projects, corporate agreement and various real estate matters.
Since 14th June 2013, she was promoted as a partner of the firm. With her hard-working attitude coupled with her continuous passion towards legal practice especially in the area of conveyancing and corporate matters, she is ready and able to advice clients and ensuring them the best solution to initiate while being able to achieve clients’ satisfaction upon receiving instructions.
HARIS BIN MD NOR read law in the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia whereby he graduated with honours in Bachelor of Law & Shariah. During his Bachelor’s Degree program, he also took concurrent diploma course namely the Diploma in Judicial and Advocatory Practice (DIJAP) as support for his future in practicing the Syariah Law in several States in Malaysia. He graduated for the Bachelor’s Degree program and DIJAP in 2017.
Immediately after his graduation, he started his Syariah pupillage as a requirement in obtaining Syarie Practicing License in the State of Negeri Sembilan and Selangor at a legal firm named Messrs. Nizam Harlina & Co. under the supervision of his Master, Mrs. Siti Harlina Binti Shahran, a senior advocate and solicitor and a Syariah lawyer for over 20 years of practice. After completing his pupillage for nine months solely focused in handling Syariah cases, he decided to venture in civil litigation practice and thus joined Messrs. Adnan Sharida & Associates.
To date, he had obtained three (3) Syariah Practicing License namely in Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territories of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan), and Selangor. Having these practicing certificates, he is able to provide, among others legal advice; drafting settlement agreements, Islamic wills, hibah agreements; attending court trials (in Mal and criminal cases) and any other matters relating to Syariah dispute and/or Syariah law. After five years with the firm, the firm sees a need to have Mr. Haris as a partner considering his optimistic, and can-do approach to all of his tasks and responsibilities.