Dato’ Wan Ariff Wan Hamzah is a lawyer by profession having qualified as a Barrister-at-Law at Middle Temple, London and called to the English Bar in September 1969 and admitted to the Malayan Bar as an Advocate & Solicitor in July 1970. His legal firm Ariff & Company now run by his daughter and her partners and their associates specializes in corporate banking and maritime law.

Dato' Wan Ariff has practiced law in the early 70's at Rithauddeen & Aziz. In 1974 he set up and became partner in Ariff & Company, Advocates & Solicitors. Since 1980, he is the Director and Chairman of Gas Pantai Timur Sdn. Bhd., a company operating an industrial manufacturing plant, producing medical and industrial oxygen. Its subsidiary company, GPE Construction Sdn. Bhd. is involved in engineering services for the gas industry. 

Dato' Wan Ariff has been appointed as Company Director on June  1st, 2009 and Chairman effective July 21st, 2009.