Dilnawaz A. Cheema
Lead Counsel
Mr. Cheema is lead counsel at Cheema & Co. and advises on a broad range of areas including constitutional, commercial, dispute resolution, civil, regulatory, service, property, real estate, corporate, utilities, projects and banking amongst others.
Mr. Cheema was previously appointed as Consultant to the Attorney General for Pakistan (MP – II scale) and has worked at some of the leading law firms of the Country. During his time at the Attorney General Office, he has acted on various matters before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, including the landmark 21St Constitutional Amendment case heard by the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and has acted for Pakistan in various international treaty arbitrations against different foreign entities. He was in addition called on to routinely advise on and act in matters relating to the constitution, procurement and accountability.
He has worked extensively with various internationally renowned law firms and has been involved in providing advice and assistance on diverse matters to the Government along with working closely with several Federal Ministries and other public bodies, including in particular the Ministries of Finance, Law, Water and Power, Petroleum, the National Accountability Bureau and the Punjab Revenue Authority.
Mr. Cheema frequently appears before the Superior Courts in various matters and in addition represents clients before different subordinate courts, tribunals, special forums and arbitral panels.
Qualifications/ Affiliations
- University of Warwick, UK
LLB (Hons.) Law Degree - The College of Law, UK
Professional Diploma in Corporate Legal Practice (LPC) - Warwick Foundation Program, UK
Foundation in Law - Punjab Bar Council
Licensed Practitioner - Lahore High Court Bar Association
Member For Life - Lahore Bar Association
Member For Life
Major Engagements
- Successfully acted in the landmark 21St Constitutional Amendment case heard by the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
- Acted in a matter relating to the challenges made to various amendments to several labor related laws including Workers Welfare Fund Ordinance 1971, Employees Old Age Benefits Act 1976, Companies Profits (Workers’s Participation) Act 1968, Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923, West Pakistan Industrial And Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance 1968 and the West Pakistan Minimum Wages for Unskilled Workers Ordinance 1969.
- Acted as lead counsel from Pakistan in an arbitration proceeding before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes brought by a major foreign power investor.
- Acted for Pakistan in an arbitration proceeding before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes brought by a major foreign mining investor.
- Acted in respect of a challenge to certain electricity surcharges introduced under the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997.
- Acted in connection with a challenge to a large acquisition of land by the Punjab Government under the land acquisition laws before the Lahore High Court.
- Represented the managing director of a prominent public sector entity before the Lahore High Court with relation to certain employment disputes.
- Successfully represented a major hospitality company against a gas supplier before the Honorable Lahore High Court.
- Acted in a dispute relating to the payment liabilities between a major Karachi based utility entity and a prominent power provider.
- Acted in the matter concerning the sale of shares of OGDCL before the Supreme Court.
- Advised three independent power purchasers in a multi – million dollar arbitration claim against a gas supplier in Lahore under the LCIA Rules.
- Acted in the implementation proceedings of the case relating to the appointment of the Chairman of OGRA before the Supreme Court.
- Advised and acted for a major insulator manufacturer in its disputes with a transmission company.
- Represented a leading fertilizer manufacturer before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Courts at Lahore and Islamabad regarding its challenges to, inter alia, gas allocation and supply policies of the Government of Pakistan.
- Acted in a petition seeking the disqualification of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on the allegation of lying to the nation, before the Supreme Court.
- Advised and prepared for an independent power producer a composite request for arbitration concerning 9 different disputes.
- Represented several independent power producers in their constitutional petitions before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the power purchaser.
- Advised a leading refrigerator, A/C, fridge manufacturing company on its takeover/ merger by another market leader.
- Advised nine independent power producers in a multi – million dollar arbitration claim against the Power Purchaser under LCIA Rules.
- Acted in the “Dharna” case before the Supreme Court.
- Acted in the missing person’s case before the Supreme Court.
- Successfully represented a major school facility against its unlawful sealing before the Lahore High Court.
- Successfully represented a major public company in a dispute against the SECP before the Lahore High Court.
- Acted in the seniority of judges case decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
- Advised, on a continuous basis, different independent power producers with respect to their various legal, commercial and operational issues concerning amongst others their project agreements, including Power Purchase Agreements and Implementation Agreements.
- Advised a major sugar mill business on its Energy Purchase Agreement with the Central Power Purchasing Agency (Guarantee) Limited.
- Represented a Pakistani company before an ICC Arbitral Tribunal (based in Lausanne) in its dispute with a leading US corporation regarding licensing and technology transfer agreements.
- Advised an international telecom company and prepared a legal report on international data transfer and general local law compliance.
- Represented a class of serving police officers in a service related dispute against the police department before the Lahore High Court.
- Advised a prominent corporation with respect to a large scale corporate due diligence.
- Advised international law firms and clients from time to time in relation to Pakistani laws and regulations.
- Acted in a winding up petition filed before the Honorable Islamabad High Court against a major airline company.
- Acted in the Universal Service Fund case before the Supreme Court.
- Acted in a matter relating to the arrest and detention of a major accused connected with international terrorism.
- Advised a major real estate development organization with respect to its corporate structuring and transaction documentation in connection with a large construction project.
- Appeared for a large group of companies in various corporate matters before the Lahore High Court and other forums.
- Successfully represented a major departmental store in a dispute concerning boards and signage before the Lahore High Court.
- Advised a large schools network with respect to a major franchise agreement.
- Represented companies involved in civil and constitutional disputes before the High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Faheem Ashraf
Senior Associate
Mr. Faheem Ashraf is Senior Associate at Cheema & Co. and represents clients and advises on a broad range of areas including civil, criminal, rent, family, guardian, utilities, constitutional, commercial, corporate, litigation, regulatory, administrative, departmental, revenue, environmental, service and tax matters.
Mr. Faheem Ashraf began his practice at one of the leading law firm of Pakistan. Mr. Faheem was previously appointed as legal adviser at leading multinational paint companies and a leading group of textile mills of the Country. Currently he is a legal adviser of the leading group of construction companies and a major banquet and marriage hall organization of Lahore.
Qualifications/ Affiliations
- Punjab University
LLB - Punjab Bar Council
Licensed Practitioner - Lahore High Court Bar Association
Member For Life - Lahore Bar Association
Member For Life
Major Engagements
- Successfully acted before the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan in the matter of sealing, commercialization and closing down the operation of more than 170 marriage and banquet halls situated at Lahore.
- Successfully acted before the Honorable Lahore High Court in the matter regarding unlawful sealing of the five separate marriage hall organizations.
- Acted in the matters of a major school facility against its unlawful sealing before the Honorable Lahore High Court.
- Acted in a winding up petition filed before the Honorable Islamabad High Court against a major airline company.
- Acted in a matter of a major hospitality company against a gas supplier company before the Honorable Lahore High Court.
- Successfully represented the leading catering organization with respect to restoration of its disconnected electricity by WAPDA/LESCO.
- Acted in a matter of a class of serving police officers in a service related dispute against the police department before the Honorable Lahore High Court.
- Successfully represented clients resulting in their acquittal before the Anti-Terrorism Court in a matter related to false implication of abduction for ransom.
- Acted for a managing director of a prominent public sector entity before the Honorable Lahore High Court with relation to certain employment disputes.
- Successfully represented major multinational paint companies with respect to dispute with their employees.
- Acted for a major insulator manufacturer in its disputes with a transmission company.
- Represented a major public company in a dispute against the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan before the Honorable Lahore High Court.
- Successfully represented clients before District, Session and Magisterial Courts in respect of several criminal disputes including bail matters and petitions for directions of the courts.
- Successfully represented the clients before the Civil Courts, District Courts and Utility Courts in respect of several disputes related to supply of electricity, gas and water and also advised and assisted clients in getting connections of the utilities.
- Successfully acted in several domestic disputes related to property and custody & guardianship of minor before the Guardian Courts, Civil Courts, and District Courts.
- Regularly completed registration and other procedures for companies before the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and prepared incorporation documents of the companies.
- Regularly assisted on registration of partnerships.
- Advised on matters related to the social securities of the employees and matters related to the rights of labor of different classes of organizations.
Waqas Arshad Kahloon
Mr. Waqas Arshad Kahloon is an associate at Cheema & Co. and has experience with civil, criminal, trial, regulatory, family, labour and banking matters amongst others. Mr. Waqas regularly appears before Criminal Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts, Banking Courts, Accountability Courts, Magisterial Courts, Civil Courts and other tribunals and different authorities across the country. Mr. Waqas is engaged on several matter on behalf of various clients including major businesses and prominent individuals.
Qualifications/ Affiliations
- University of Punjab
B.A-LLB (Pakistan College of Law) - Arizona State University (America)
(In Collaboration with Pakistan College of Law) Certified Course of Law Clinic - Arizona State University (America)
(In Collaboration with Pakistan College of Law) Certified Course of Legal Writing - Arizona State University (America)
(In Collaboration with Pakistan College of Law) Certified Courses of Legal Research - Punjab Bar Council
Licensed Practitioner - Lahore Bar Association
Member For Life
Saljook Rauf
Mr. Saljook Rauf is an associate at Cheema & Co. and regularly appears before various forums on behalf of clients including Civil, Session and District Courts, Minerals and Mines Courts, Federal Tax Ombudsman, Accountability Courts, Magisterial Courts, Family Courts amongst others. Mr. Saljook regularly advises companies (particularly with respect to the SECP) and is regularly involved on transactional and commercial matters.
Qualifications/ Affiliations
- University of London International Programmes
(LLB Hons) Law degree UK - University of London International Programmes
Diploma in Law UK - Punjab Bar Council
Licensed Practitioner - Lahore Bar Association
Member For Life