NY Attorney Zahra Mushtaq Cheema Gets Five-Year Suspension for Mishandling Immigration Client Cases and Escrow Account Misuse

On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department suspended Attorney Zahra Mushtaq Cheema from practicing law for five years.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Zahra Mushtaq Cheem,” with case no. 2020-04643.

The suspension stemmed from a disciplinary case brought by the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District against Cheema. The Committee had charged Cheema with eight counts of professional misconduct related to neglecting client cases, failing to respond to clients, misusing her escrow account, and not cooperating with the Committee’s investigations.

A Special Referee, who oversees evidentiary hearings in attorney disciplinary cases, had sustained all of the charges against Cheema following a November 2022 report. Cheema admitted to the factual basis behind the charges as part of an earlier agreement, and the parties agreed that the only matters in dispute were the conclusions of law.

At issue were complaints from Cheema’s former immigration clients who said she did not complete their casework and failed to respond to their inquiries. Cheema was also found to have improperly used her escrow account to pay personal expenses. Additionally, the Committee accused Cheema of being uncooperative in its investigations.

While acknowledging Cheema experienced personal difficulties, including grief over her father’s death and family issues, the New York Court said her actions demonstrated poor judgment that affected vulnerable clients. It noted Cheema continued taking on new cases for years rather than fulfill her existing obligations to her retained clients.

In handing down the five-year suspension, the court found Cheema’s actions, including false representations made during the case, warranted a serious sanction. Cheema cannot apply for reinstatement until February 2029 at the earliest. She was also ordered to fully comply with post-suspension rules for disbarred or suspended attorneys.

The Disposition states:

“ORDERED that the respondent, Zahra Mushtaq Cheema, is suspended from the practice of law for a period of five years, effective immediately, and continuing until further order of this Court.”

According to avvo.com, Ms. Cheema is an immigration attorney in Uniondale, New York. She attended the Cuny School of Law, graduating in 2014. She acquired her law license in New York in 2015.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.