"They deliver excellent client service and are value for money. A highly competent team."

The first London city firm started by a solicitor born outside of Europe, Zaiwalla & Co draws on its multi-cultural legal team to provide English law services to a wide range of international clients.

The firm has always had a pioneering approach to both the law and it's client base. In the 1980s, the firm acted for the Indian Government in all of its shipping matters (arising out of India's then food shortage).  In the 90s it was the first English law firm,  along with Clifford Chance, to enter China, and consequently acted in China's first  London arbitrations. From 2011 onwards, at a time when other firms were still hesitant, Zaiwalla & Co represented private Iranian clients to challenge international sanctions in what became groundbreaking litigations in the UK and EU Courts. 

This international experience gives the Zaiwalla team a true understanding of different business cultures and importantly, the client's perspective.

• CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)

  Clients in CIS countries in particular from Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus, benefit from Zaiwalla & Co’s understanding of their business culture combined with our lawyers’ insight into the English legal system.  We provide fluent Russian and Ukrainian speakers both in London and through our overseas consultant network. This means our clients are kept informed and involved at every stage of the legal process, can make the right commercial decisions and gain practical and effective advice. Working closely with sister law firms in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kiev and L’viv, and in association with a leading Ukrainian law firm, clients throughout the CIS enjoy a seamless service whether their legal needs are local, cross-border or London-based.

  Lawyers from Zaiwalla & Co are currently acting in several High Court actions involving parties from Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. The world’s largest oil producer Rosneft is a client and we worked with their existing legal team to advise on the Company’s litigation strategy in the matter of OJSC Rosneft Oil Company v Her Majesty’s Treasury - another of the Lawyer’s Top 20 Global disputes litigated in the English Courts 2015. 

• Iran

  Clients in the Middle East now have access to Zaiwalla & Co’s unique service through our recently established Iran Law Unit. We have Farsi speaking lawyers with an unparalleled insight into doing business in Iran: a huge untapped market with a young population of c. 80 million with unprecedented trade and commercial opportunities to match.

  Having challenged sanctions imposed on many Iranian entities and individuals by the Council of the European Union and OFAC of the US Department of the Treasury, our lawyers are now working with Iranian companies following the removal of certain sanctions in January 2016. This first-hand experience of Iran combined with our knowledge of the English legal system means that our clients have unique access to specialist understanding of this very complex business environment.

  Clients who can benefit from the services provided by our Iran Law Unit include:

  • Domestic and international companies seeking investment and other commercial opportunities in Iran including conducting sufficient due diligence and general corporate and commercial advice on setting up business ventures in Iran.
  • Iranian private and public sector companies and other entities seeking help with their contentious and non-contentious legal needs in the UK
  • Businesses and individuals interested in returning or entering Iran 
• India

  India has always been our strongest link as it is where our origins are and where our first instructions came from. We have maintained the strong bonds between us and have played a significant part in the country’s development over the past 20 years. This means we know how to get things done, and know and understand the Indian and UK systems to the benefit of our clients. Dual-qualified English/Indian lawyers mean we are perfectly placed to advise Indian companies and individuals on business matters.  

  The roots of our mutually beneficial relationship with India were laid in 1984 when the firm was appointed solicitors for the Indian High Commission. Since then we have built our practice to the extent that Zaiwalla & Co lawyers currently act for prestigious companies such as the state-owned Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, the Indian Oil Corporation and PEC Ltd.  

  Clients in both the UK and India can access the expertise of the Indian-qualified lawyers in our London office: our understanding of both cultures and legal systems means we offer excellent and practical advice on all aspects of Indian law from company law to joint ventures and tax. Whatever the issue, we know the right people in the right places to get things done.

• China

  British and International companies trust Zaiwalla & Co for practical and effective advice on Chinese Law and Chinese trade customs for their business ventures with China.

  Thirty years’ experience of acting for Chinese clients means that we have witnessed periods of tremendous growth and have grown with it. Our understanding of the Chinese economy and the legal processes ensures that British, European and Chinese clients benefit from smooth interaction and effective legal action which overcomes language differences, time zones and keeps costs down.

  Acting for Chinese state-owned companies in their London and ICC international arbitrations has led to a unique insight into legal matters in maritime, construction and international trade with China. Another first is acting for the Chinese government in the only three arbitrations in London that they have ever been involved in.

  Zaiwalla & Co’s Chinese clients include:

  • Chinese National Petroleum Companies
  • China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation
  • China Petroleum Engineering Construction Corporation
  • China Minmetals Corporation

  The firm facilitated a political mediation between 10 Downing Street and the Chinese Government relating to the handing over of Hong Kong.

  A representative of the firm has also accompanied Mr Michael Heseltine (the former Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Board of Trade) on two of his ministerial visits to China and members of the firm were also part of the official team accompanying the Lord Mayor of London on his official visit to Beijing, Shenzhen, Forshan and Shanghai in September 2010.