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ZAIWALLA & CO: BREAKING NEW GROUND IN INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on September 11, 2013

3 min read

· Last updated: June 11, 2018

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History and Foundation of Zaiwalla & Co

Thirty years ago, Zaiwalla & Co was the first law firm in the City of London to be established by a person of Indian origin. Since then, the firm has changed the law 97 times, been involved in over 1000 arbitrations and had its cases mentioned in the media hundreds of times.

Sarosh Zaiwalla

Sarosh Zaiwalla

 

Expertise in International Banking Law

Zaiwalla handles all types of substantive, contentious and non-contentious legal matters for Banks based in London and elsewhere. The firm is at the cutting edge of international banking law having won cases, at the EU Court of Justice and UK Supreme Court, to remove Iran’s largest private bank from sanctions blacklists.

Landmark Sanctions Cases: The Bank Mellat Story

In October 2009 economic sanctions were imposed by the UK government on a private Iranian bank known as Bank Mellat; a year later, the highly influential EU Council included the bank on a blacklist on the basis that it was a state owned business involved with Iran’s nuclear proliferation project. Zaiwalla & Co was instrumental in the eventual decision to lift those sanctions and is now pursuing substantial damages in response.

Zaiwalla logo

Zaiwalla logo

A Multinational Team for Worldwide Cases

Fundamentally, Zaiwalla & Co is an international law firm, experienced in cases which transcend national barriers. Indeed our team members are drawn from all parts of the world, giving the firm precious insights into both the challenges and opportunities that face its clients.

Leadership and Firm Culture at Zaiwalla & Co

Run by Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla with Partner Pavani Reddy at the heart of London’s legal district in Chancery Lane, the firm is renowned for taking on the hard cases with a tight nit and specialist group of lawyers.

Thirty years ago, Zaiwalla & Co was the first law firm in the City of London to be established by a person of Indian origin. Since then, the firm has changed the law 97 times, been involved in over 1000 arbitrations and had its cases mentioned in the media hundreds of times.

Sarosh Zaiwalla

Sarosh Zaiwalla

 

Zaiwalla handles all types of substantive, contentious and non-contentious legal matters for Banks based in London and elsewhere. The firm is at the cutting edge of international banking law having won cases, at the EU Court of Justice and UK Supreme Court, to remove Iran’s largest private bank from sanctions blacklists.

In October 2009 economic sanctions were imposed by the UK government on a private Iranian bank known as Bank Mellat; a year later, the highly influential EU Council included the bank on a blacklist on the basis that it was a state owned business involved with Iran’s nuclear proliferation project. Zaiwalla & Co was instrumental in the eventual decision to lift those sanctions and is now pursuing substantial damages in response.

Zaiwalla logo

Zaiwalla logo

Fundamentally, Zaiwalla & Co is an international law firm, experienced in cases which transcend national barriers. Indeed our team members are drawn from all parts of the world, giving the firm precious insights into both the challenges and opportunities that face its clients.

Run by Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla with Partner Pavani Reddy at the heart of London’s legal district in Chancery Lane, the firm is renowned for taking on the hard cases with a tight nit and specialist group of lawyers.

Key Takeaways

  • Zaiwalla & Co was the first City of London law firm founded by a person of Indian origin.
  • The firm played a key role overturning UK and EU sanctions on Bank Mellat, leading to a major damages settlement.
  • It specialises in high‑value, multi‑jurisdictional disputes, sanctions and public international law.
  • Based in London’s legal district, the firm serves international banking clients with a multicultural team.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Zaiwalla & Co and when?
Sarosh Zaiwalla founded the firm in 1982, becoming the first City of London law firm established by a person of Indian origin.
What landmark sanctions case did the firm handle?
Zaiwalla & Co successfully challenged sanctions against Iran’s Bank Mellat in both UK and EU courts, leading to their removal from blacklists and a substantial damages settlement.
Where is Zaiwalla & Co based?
The firm is based at Holborn Tower, 137‑144 High Holborn, London, in the Chancery Lane legal district.
What are the firm's main practice strengths?
Zaiwalla & Co specialises in international arbitration, sanctions and public international law, commercial and banking litigation, and multi‑jurisdictional dispute resolution.

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