Our People

Sarosh Zaiwalla

Senior Partner

Career Summary

Sarosh Zaiwalla founded Zaiwalla & Co. Solicitors in April 1982 with offices in Chancery Lane, London. He oversees all the activities relating to the firm which over the years has exported millions of pounds’ worth of legal services.

Over the years he has been involved in over 1200 International Energy, Maritime and Construction Arbitrations in London and worldwide either as a solicitor, Counsel, party-appointed Arbitrator or Sole Arbitrator. He has acted for many prestigious clients including the President of India, China National Petroleum Corporation, Bank Mellat and NIDC of Iran and various International Public Corporations.

Sarosh was a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC, Paris, from 1990 to 2002. He is also a CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) mediator.

He was asked by the Dalai Lama to facilitate a dialogue with the Government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) with a view to finding a peaceful resolution relating to Tibet. He was also invited by the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon for an extensive consultation on issues relating to World Order.

Sarosh has undertaken several overseas visits as part of the business delegation accompanying the UK Government Ministers and the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Cases

International Arbitrations

Participated in over 1,200 International Arbitrations either as Solicitor, Counsel, Party-Appointed Arbitrator or Sole Arbitrator.
Conducted a major Energy Arbitration in London on behalf of Chinese Petroleum Corporations CNPC and CPTDC, which concerned a joint venture with LG Caltex for the construction of an LPG storage tank in Maoming, China.
Conducted for CPECC (China Petroleum and Engineering Construction Company): An Arbitration in London concerning the construction of a gathering station for the Kuwait Oil Corporation.
Conducted a large two-week Maritime Arbitration before Cedric Barclay as Sole Arbitrator in New Orleans.
Conducted numerous International Arbitrations in London for the Government of India, ONGC, IOC and other Indian multi-nationals.
Handled an Arbitration for the National Iranian Oil Company in London concerning the Russian Oil Rig Sakhalinskaya.

Experience as International Arbitrator

ICC - Appointed to a panel of arbitrators in US$multi-million dispute between a Gulf state-owned satellite agency and a Lebanese television company. The Tribunal is chaired by Professor Herbert Kronke, President of UNIDROIT, and the dispute is under UNCITRAL rules.
Appointed as Sole Arbitrator to determine a US$multi-million dispute concerning a joint venture between English and Chinese companies.
ICC - Member of the Arbitration Tribunal chaired by the former Court of Appeal Judge Sir Anthony Evans, along with the former Solicitor General of India Mr Harish Salve, which sat for four weeks in Mumbai, India. This US$multi-million dispute concerned the construction of a power plant in Karnataka in India and was governed by Indian Law.
Appointed Arbitrator by a Danish Company, Volund, in a Tribunal chaired by Lord McKenzie Stuart (former President of the European Court of Justice) along with Mr Pathak (former Chief Justice of India and Member of the International Court of Justice). This US$multi-million dispute concerned the construction of a power plant near New Delhi.
Appointed as Sole Arbitrator by the ICC Court to determine a US$multi-million dispute between a Japanese multinational and Indonesian Company concerning the construction of water pipelines in Malaysia.
LMAA - Appointed as Arbitrator by a Ukrainian Shipping Company in an arbitration concerning a charter-party dispute governed by English law.
Appointed as Sole Arbitrator by the ICC Court to determine a maritime dispute between an Iranian Shipping Company and a Far-East Shipping Agency.
Appointed as an Arbitrator, in a US$ 300m international dispute, to a panel chaired by Bruce Harris, former President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Appointed as Sole Arbitrator by the President of the Law Society of England and Wales to determine a contractual dispute between a well-known British food manufacturer and a Jordanian company.
Appointed to an Arbitration Panel by the Russian Federation in a US$400m dispute concerning the exploration of a coal mines in India.
Appointed Sole Arbitrator by the President of the Law Society of England and Wales to determine a US$multi-million commercial dispute concerning parties from Israel.

Mediation

Accredited Mediator of the Centre of Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London.
In 1994 facilitated a Third Channel confidential dialogue between the UK Prime Minister and the Chinese Government to resolve certain difficulties that had occurred relating to the Hong Kong handover in 1997.
At the personal request of the Dalai Lama, initiated a dialogue with the Government of the Peoples Republic of China in relation to the resolution of the Tibet dispute.
Facilitated a successful 2-day mediation in Dubai in relation to a shipping partnership dispute.

Practice Experience

As a solicitor, handled numerous cases in the English Courts, up to the House of Lords and now the UK Supreme Court, as well as the Courts of the European Union.
Conducted the UK Supreme Court case of Hashwani v Jivraj, “the UK’s most important court case of 2011.”
Recently succeeded for Bank Mellat of Iran against the UK Government in the UK Supreme Court challenging legality of Iran nuclear sanctions.
Advising clients on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Advising on major projects and delivery contracts.

Specialist areas

International
Commercial
Contractual
Energy
Construction
Maritime

Specialist knowledge of South Asia, the CIS, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa

Awards/Scholarships

Awarded the India National Law Day Award 2002 by the (then) Indian Prime Minister in New Delhi for, a unique contribution in the field of International Arbitration.’

Professional Memberships

Panels of Arbitrators

Member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris from 1990-2002
Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIA)
Supporting Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA)
Member of the Indian Council of Arbitration, Delhi
Member of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
Member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Korean Commercial Arbitrators Board

Professional Associations

Member of the Law Society of England and Wales
Member of the Bar Council of India
Member if the Council of the Harris School of Public Policy, the Chicago University
Trustee of the British charity “The Unity of Faith”
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Manufacturers & Commerce
Appointed as a Freeman of the City of London in 1998 and Liveryman in 2012

Publications

Authored numerous articles which have been published in Law Journals.

Other Activities

Chairman and co-convener, with Tony Baldry MP, of the Asian Business Breakfast Club. This Club meets occasionally in the House of Commons and other venues. The object of this forum is to bring about economic cooperation between businesses in Asia and Europe.

Our People

Sarosh Zaiwalla

Senior Partner

Recent News

Rohit Ralleigh comments on Gazprom and Overgas reaching a final settlement in Global Arbitration Review and World Pipelines

Zaiwalla & Co featured in the Dubai press this week in relation to its success in overturning a controversial judgment in the Venezuelan gold case

Leigh Crestohl discusses Brexit and a new era for commercial arbitration in The Times

Sarosh Zaiwalla's News, Cases & Articles

Indian news channel NDTV: '3 Indians Among 100 Most Connected Men In UK'

Millionaire oligarch case dismissed by High Court

Sarosh Zaiwalla meets Indian PM Narendra Modi at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF)

Sarosh Zaiwalla hosted a lunch on Tuesday 20 November 2018 in honour of His Excellency Mr Justice George Oguntade, The High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla comments in The Economic Times regarding Brexit and its impact on students and professionals from India

We’re supporting the CII ‘Showcase of Indian Companies in the UK’ -Thursday 25 April 19, Central Hall, Westminster

'The lawyer who tried to halt the war in Iraq'. Sarosh Zaiwalla interview in the Financial Times.

Arbitration Centre in Mumbai opens

Zaiwalla & Co.’s Founder and Senior Partner has accepted appointment as Patron at Indian National Association of Legal Professionals (INALP)

Russia ordered to pay $50 billion to the former owners of Yukos - Zaiwalla & Co featured in The Letter of the Law

Founding Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla discusses his approach to law at the Indo-UK Legal Summit

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla comments in The Law Society Gazette in relation to the liberalisation of the Indian legal market

London loves Business magazine speaks to Sarosh Zaiwalla on Immigration

Zaiwalla & Co attended the National Conference on Strengthening Arbitration and Enforcement in India .

The Competition Stiffens

Sarosh Zaiwalla profiled in The Law Society Gazette

Times of India- Sarosh Zaiwalla comments on UK Court's 3 fold increase of Force India boss's permitted living expenses.

Sarosh Zaiwalla featured in The Times following the London launch of his memoir, Honour Bound

Founder and Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla mentioned in The Telegraph India

Sarosh Zaiwalla named in GQ's 100 Most Connected Men 2016

High Court rules Bank Mellat damages claim should proceed

Sarosh Zaiwalla: New UK visa rules will prevent brain drain from India

The London Asian Business Awards 2017 - Zaiwalla & Co LLP have won!

Zaiwalla & Co speaks to The Economic Times on how the Nirav Modi scandal will affect diamantaires

Sarosh Zaiwalla examines the duty of full and frank disclosure and PNB’s USD $45m fraud claim in The Daily Guardian

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla has been appointed onto the Council of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla awarded ‘The Lifetime Achievement Award'

High Court Keeps Diamond Trading Heir’s Assets Frozen

Senior Partner, Sarosh Zaiwalla travels to Goa on 12 - 14 October 2017 to speak at the Maritime Challenges at the Forum for Integrated National security (FINS)

The Times of India speaks to Sarosh Zaiwalla on extradition rules in the case of Indian billionaire fleeing to the UK

Zaiwalla & Co Solicitors Winter Drinks Reception - Thursday 29th November 2018 - The Wallace Collection

Sarosh Zaiwalla featured in the media: Can the UK Courts rule on who governs Venezuela?

Sarosh Zaiwalla wins the first Society Icon Award 2018

Clarifications and Corrections

How Vijay Mallya could fight extradition on political grounds

Senior Partner, Sarosh Zaiwalla interviewed by the Sunday Guardian

Sarosh Zaiwalla's recent meeting with President De Klerk of South Africa

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla interviewed in The Hindu regarding Vijay Mallya's extradition hearing

Sarosh Zaiwalla appointed as a Patron at Healing Little Hearts featured in The Times Law Brief and UK Fundraising

Zaiwalla & Co's statement on the Judgment released in Banco Central de Venezuela's claim against the Bank of England

Sarosh Zaiwalla and Zoya Burbeza attended St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

UK’s hard take on Brexit is the best option

Zaiwalla & Co.'s Founder and Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla is nominated in the Best Lawyers 2021 in the UK

Sarosh Zaiwalla, Senior Partner of Zaiwalla & Co, received the Lifetime Achievement Award 2017

Zaiwalla & Co LLP ranked in Chambers & Partners 2020 UK edition

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla comments on the arrest of Nirav Modi

Sarosh Zaiwalla comments on the prospect of the UK facing challenges to new sanctions regime

Former banker ordered to hand over foreign pension income to ex-wife in landmark divorce ruling

Make the most of all that comes

Sarosh Zaiwalla featured in The Times of India

Zaiwalla & Co receives a commendation for Law Firm of the Year (small) at the prestigious Law Society Excellence Awards 2018

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla comments in The Hindustan Times regarding Vijay Mallya extradition

Proposed Arbitration Law May Be A Misstep For India

Sarosh Zaiwalla featured in The Times' Lawyer of the Week

Zaiwalla & Co attending the Global Legal ConfEx, 8 September 2016, London

Zaiwalla Christmas Reception at the Law Society, 30 November 2017

Zaiwalla & Co announce promotion of Leigh Crestohl to Partner

Daily Mail publishes apology to former Director General of UNESCO

London Court of Appeal dismisses Punjab National Bank USD $45m fraud claim

Zaiwalla & Co featured in the media in relation to Venezuela filing a $1bn lawsuit against the Bank of England

Zaiwalla & Co litigation team have been recognised in the Legal 500, UK Edition.

Judgment in the case of Sergei Polonskiy v Alexander Dobrovinsky & Partners LLP and Others

Zaiwalla & Co ranked in The Legal 500 2021 UK edition

Erdenet Mining Corporation v Government of Republic of Kazakhstan

Indian firms ‘blocking’ free legal market plans

Indian firms 'blocking' free legal market plans

Amendments to the Indian Arbitration Act: the need to adhere to finality is good, but justice is better

Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla pays tribute to football legend Diego Maradona

Zaiwalla & Co - Spearheading the Indian Legal Roots Globally

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