Waqqas Mir

Practice Areas

Waqqas’s practice covers a diverse range of legal areas, both contentious and non-contentious. His key practice areas include:

Commercial and Civil Law: Handling complex commercial disputes and advising clients on contractual matters and corporate governance.

Constitutional Law: Representing clients in constitutional matters across various High Courts, including cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Competition and Antitrust Law: Expertise in antitrust and merger control, with significant experience advising on Pakistani competition law and enforcement.

Taxation Law: Advising and representing clients on tax-related disputes and regulatory matters, including landmark cases involving significant provincial revenue.

Media and Telecommunication Law: Advising and representing clients in matters related to digital rights, internet law, and telecommunication regulations.

Environmental and Animal Rights Law: Frequently handling cases related to environmental regulations and animal welfare, often appearing in High Courts to advocate for these causes.

Regulatory Compliance: Providing transactional and advisory support on capital markets, public-private partnerships, public procurement, and other business regulations.

Career

Waqqas has built a reputation as a versatile and dynamic legal professional. His career has spanned both litigation and advisory roles, with significant contributions to competition law and regulatory matters in Pakistan. A highlight of his early career was his tenure as Joint Director (Legal Division) at the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) from 2009 to 2010, where he developed expertise in competition law and policy.

In his private practice, Waqqas regularly represents major corporations and public sector organizations in High Courts and tribunals across Pakistan. His litigation experience includes high-stakes commercial disputes, constitutional challenges, and tax matters. In 2019, he successfully defended legislation related to the Punjab Revenue Authority in a case involving billions of rupees in revenue, solidifying his reputation as a skilled advocate in high-value cases.

On the transactional side, Waqqas advises local and international clients on regulatory compliance, merger control, capital markets, and public-private partnerships, helping clients navigate the complexities of doing business in Pakistan.

Professional Memberships

Waqqas is affiliated with the following organizations:

Pakistan Bar Council: Registered as an Advocate of the High Court.

Lahore High Court Bar Association: Active member, contributing to the advancement of legal discourse.

International Bar Association (IBA): Member, engaging in discussions on competition law, digital rights, and data protection.

Publications

Waqqas has a strong academic and professional writing background, with several noteworthy contributions:

Getting the Deal Through’s Merger Control (Pakistan Chapter): Annual contributor, providing detailed insights on merger control laws in Pakistan.

Academic Papers: Published articles on topics such as competition law, constitutional interpretation, and regulatory frameworks.

Opinion Pieces and Columns: Writes frequently for leading newspapers on topics such as digital rights, internet law and policy, data protection, online surveillance, and privacy.

Personal

Recognized as an authority in competition law through contributions to international publications.

Appointed amicus curiae by the Lahore High Court on multiple occasions, reflecting his legal expertise and credibility.

Industry Sector Expertise

Waqqas has provided legal representation and advisory services to clients in a variety of sectors, including:

Finance and Taxation: Advising corporations and public sector organizations on tax-related matters and revenue disputes.

Telecommunications and Media: Providing regulatory and advisory services to media companies and telecommunication operators, with a focus on digital rights and compliance.

Environment and Animal Rights: Advocacy in environmental protection and animal welfare cases, showcasing his commitment to public interest matters.

Regulatory and Public Sector: Advising regulatory bodies and public-private partnerships on compliance and governance issues.

Capital Markets and Mergers: Advising clients on complex merger control issues and capital market regulations.

Work Highlights

Some of Waqqas’s most significant professional accomplishments include:

Successfully defending legislation relating to the Punjab Revenue Authority, securing billions of rupees in revenue for the provincial government.

Representing major corporations and public sector organizations in constitutional, commercial, and tax disputes across Pakistan.

Advising foreign and local clients on regulatory compliance matters, including merger control and public procurement regulations.

Appointment as amicus curiae by the Lahore High Court on four occasions, assisting the court in cases related to taxation, energy, constitutional interpretation, environment, and local government.

Contributing annually to Getting the Deal Through’s Merger Control Guide and being recognized as an expert in competition law.

Advocacy in High Courts on environmental and animal rights issues, furthering public interest causes through litigation

Education