In 1980, Sherman joined the law firm of Maxwell &amp; Maxwell as an associate, serving both as a consulting attorney and a trial lawyer during the very tumultuous period, which followed the 1980 Liberian coup d'état. Although Sherman was a recent graduate from Harvard Law School, he was entrusted to manage the legal affairs of the firm's corporate clients including Citibank, Chase Manhattan Bank, Tradevco Bank, and BCCI, along with engineering and construction companies Vianini, Leminkainen OY, Societa Lavori Porto Della Torre and Buccimazza Industrial Works.