Firm Profile

Zaiwalla & Co

UK Guide 2024

Ranked departments
UK

Zaiwalla & Co

Zaiwalla & Co

Share profile

About

Provided by Zaiwalla & Co
UK
Managing Partner: Leigh Crestohl
Senior Partner: Sarosh Zaiwalla
Number of partners: 3
Assistant solicitors: 5
Other fee-earners: 2
Languages: The Zaiwalla team have French, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu speakers.

Firm Overview:
Zaiwalla & Co is a boutique firm with a diverse team of lawyers specialising in international commercial litigation and arbitration. In recent years it has developed a high-profile practice engaging with international sanctions, which supplements its longstanding sector expertise in banking, oil and gas and energy, construction, shipping and company disputes. The firm’s ability to think differently and achieve success is why it is chosen not only by companies in the Fortune 500 and Forbes lists, but by SMEs and private individuals all around the globe. Its strength is not only as technical specialists, but also in developing successful case strategy.

Main Areas of Practice:

Arbitration:

The practice covers the full range of international commercial activity, including shipping and commodities; energy, oil and gas; joint venture and shareholder disputes; construction; and sovereign investment disputes. The team has been involved in proceedings in all major commercial arbitral institutions including London Court of Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA). They also have extensive experience of applying to the High Court in London to overturn arbitration awards previously made against clients, as well as obtaining the recognition and enforcement of positive awards. In just one famous example, Zaiwalla & Co achieved the rare feat of persuading the High Court that an arbitrator had been apparently biased against their client (ASM Shipping v TTMI [2005] EWHC 2238 (Comm)).

Commercial Litigation:
The team’s litigation expertise spans a range of sectors including banking and financial services, energy, commodities, shipping aviation and professional services. They are known for setting precedents and winning cases in the highest courts in the UK and the EU, having acted in over 115 cases reported as having changed the law. Recent work includes acting against Punjab National Bank for 8 defendants in a successful jurisdiction challenge to a US $45 Million claim by the bank. The team also acted in a US $43 million breach of contract claim against a member of a Middle Eastern royal family.

Sanctions & Public International Law:

For over a decade Zaiwalla & Co have represented businesses and individuals who have been subject to government sanctions regimes, including travel bans, asset freezes and other methods of state sanction. It also advises on compliance issues arising from sanctions, trade restrictions and export controls as well as on obtaining export licences and authorisations from relevant regulatory bodies including the OFSI. Following their landmark Supreme Court win for Iranian Bank Mellat, overturning UK and EU sanctions and leading to damages claim for US$1.6 Billion, the team is now instructed by the Central Bank of Venezuela against the Bank of England for the release of almost US $2 Billion of blocked Venezuelan gold reserves.

Marine & International Trade:
Shipping law is the origin of Zaiwalla & Co’s practice, with more than 40 years’ experience in shipping disputes having produced many entries in the official English Law Reports. It provides specialist advice to shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, trading houses, marine insurers and brokers, and freight forwarders. The depth of experience in the team means that Zaiwalla & Co can advise on the majority of marine or trade related concerns, from straightforward soft commodity arbitrations to multi-party international litigations.

Clients:
The firm’s clients include HNWIs, private and public companies including banks, insurance, shipping trading companies, oil and gas firms and general commercial bodies.

Recruitment:
The firm welcomes speculative applications from international lawyers with drive and technical excellence.

Contacts:
Arbitration – [email protected]
Litigation – [email protected]
Marine & International Trade – [email protected]
Sanctions – [email protected]

Ranked Offices

Provided by Zaiwalla & Co