Syed Ali Raza

Ali is a Managing Partner at Common Law Chambers which is a complete service firm that provides all legal, transactional and policy solutions under one roof to clients from both public and private sector. Ali frequently ensures representation before higher judicial forums and has remained part of several important cases of the country. He has expertise in handling delicate corporate matters, providing transaction advisory services and carrying out complex negotiation. He has taught at country’s largest university; continues to be a visiting faculty member at one of the leading law colleges of Pakistan for University of London LL.M. Program; and remained associated with the Punjab Judicial Academy for training of judges. To his specific credit, Ali has successfully handled legal interests of one of the global telecom giants in Pakistan; developed legal feasibilities for one of the leading aviation and infrastructure companies of Turkey; conducted legal due diligence for setting up of software technology park in Pakistan; developed OHS and Environmental Law Compliance Register for Swedish Group; remained National Legal Consultant of ILO; and mapped the legal and policy canvas of Energy Sector in Pakistan for revamping of a public utility agency. Ali has thorough understanding of constitutional, administrative and judicial frameworks of Pakistan. He has also drafted several legal reports, authored specialized opinions and rendered expert opinions on human rights and civil matters individually and in collaboration with global consulting companies.

Earlier, he was a Member and Legal Advisor at Public Affairs Unit of Chief Minister’s Office of Punjab in the largest province of Pakistan. He provided strategic legal and policy support to top political leadership, ministers, rank government officials; and to various institutional reforms taskforces, working groups and committees etc. in wide range of areas including criminal justice system, heritage conservation, urban planning, youth & sports and environment. Ali played a significant role in finalizing key legislations that focused on conservation of heritage sites; labour laws; accountability; youth and sports development; wildlife; and preparation of commercialization policy for the mega city of Lahore.

He has been the youngest member of a statutory board that engaged youth through sports. At present, he is also serving as an elected director on the Board of one of the oldest and leading listed companies of Pakistan. He has thorough knowledge of Sugar and Distillery Sectors and have been practically involved in related affairs. Earlier, as a Legislative Fellow of the US State Department, Ali worked for the Office of 1^st Ward Alderman in Chicago and assisted in contextualizing legislation regarding regulation of plastic bags and submitted opinion on Chicago Infrastructure Trust Plan. Moreover, in recognition of his successful legal reforms work in the Punjab Solicitor’s Department, UN selected him to represent Pakistan in Young Leaders in Governance Program at Bangkok, Thailand. As a young lawyer and human rights activist, Ali received an award from the Punjab Bar Council in 2008. He also represented Pakistan at the WISCOMP Conflict Transformation Forum in New Delhi, India.

In 2009, he worked as a forum assistant for the Supreme Court of Singapore’s Asia Pacific Judicial Reforms Conference. He was a Member and Youth Law Minister in the first ever Youth Parliament of Pakistan and subsequently member of Performance Reviewing Committee of the Punjab Assembly, both initiatives of PILDAT. Ali has contributed to legal and public policy debate in Pakistan and Asia through various articles that have appeared in newspapers and international law journals. His latest paper on blasphemy laws in Pakistan and free speech was presented at National University of Singapore in December 2018 and is being published by Hart & Bloomberg in book titled “Religious Offences in Common Law Asia. For details: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/religious- offences-in-common-law-asia-9781509937301/