Guinness World Record Holder Fuad Shehadeh: Longest Tenured Lawyer
Image Credit: El Nuevo DiarioBY: Zane Ziebell/Contributing Writer
Fuad Shehadeh holds the Guinness World Record for the longest tenured lawyer. At 91 years old, Shehadeh has been practicing law in Ramallah, Palestine for over 66 years. The lawyer’s career, which precedes the founding of the State of Israel, has been one filled with hardship and adversity, but above all success.
Fuad Shehadeh was born in Jerusalem on July 13, 1925 to parents Boulos Shehadeh and Mary Sarronf. Both his mother and father were politically and socially active at the time, advocating for Palestinian awareness during the British Mandate for Palestine. His father established the Meraat as-Sharq newspaper, which was printed in Arabic and English.
During his early years, Fuad Shehadeh was heavily influenced by the political discussions his father would have with guests in their home. The conversations would captivate young Shehadeh as his father debated political and social ideas with his friends and colleagues. Shehadeh would listen with passion and intent while the conversations explored the political issues facing Palestine, exposing him to a whole new, fascinating world.
Shehadeh excelled in his studies, receiving his high school degree in 1942 from the Saint George School in Jerusalem. Afterwards, he traveled to Lebanon, where he attended the American University of Beirut. When disagreement arose about whether he should study medicine or law, Shehadeh decided to pursue banking in Beirut.
Shortly after, Shehadeh returned to Jerusalem to study law at the Jerusalem Law School in 1948 – the same year that the state of Israel was declared. A year later in 1949, the budding lawyer helped move his brother’s law firm from Jaffa to Ramallah, where it is still open today.
From the time of his graduation from law school, the political atmosphere in Palestine made it difficult for Shehadeh to succeed. Everywhere he went he was faced with new challenges and obstacles to serving Palestinians. With his integrity and unwavering moral character, Shehadeh was able to overcome these barriers and establish himself as one of the most successful and influential Palestinian lawyers.
In 1959, Shehadeh and his lifelong partner Labibeh Shamieh got married. They had four sons together; Waleed, Nabil, Nadeem, and Kareem. With all his success in business and law, the future was bright for the family man. But in 1978, tragedy struck while on his way to represent a client in Palestine. Shehadeh was in a terrible car accident that took the vision from one of his eyes. Years later, he lost sight in his second eye, making the lawyer blind.
Despite this setback, Shehadeh pushed through his disability to continue practicing law. He currently holds licenses to practice law from the Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian Bar Associations. And with the help from his brothers and sons, Shehadeh went on to open business and trade organizations that operate in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, and Yemen.
Today, Fuad Shehadeh is 91 years old. His law firm, A. F. & R. Shehadeh Law Firm, specializes in civil and commercial law. His son Waleed is running businesses in Jordan and Palestine.
As of May 31, 2016, Fuad Shehadeh holds the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest career as a lawyer. This achievement, along with a life full of success, is just another example of the dedication and preservation shown by this Palestinian lawyer.