International Litigation & Arbitration Lawyers

A London disputes boutique acting for governments, financial institutions and international businesses in matters of real commercial and geopolitical consequence. 

View our practice areas

A heavyweight disputes team with international reach 

Zaiwalla & Co is a boutique London practice specialising in high-level disputes with an international dimension. Led by Leigh Crestohl, Kartik Mittal and Varun Zaiwalla, with Senior Partner Sarosh Zaiwalla overseeing the firm’s most demanding matters, the team is regularly instructed in proceedings involving state actors, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals. 

Our work frequently engages sanctions regimes, cross-border finance and politically sensitive issues. Many of our cases test novel or uncharted areas of law. More than 125 matters have been reported in the English Law Reports, and several have featured in The Lawyer’s annual list of the UK’s top disputes. 

About our firm →

Practice Areas

Our Expertise

  • Sanctions and International Law

    Counsel on UK, US and EU sanctions measures, regulatory challenges and matters engaging public international law.

  • Dispute Resolution

    Strategic oversight from early dispute assessment through negotiation, formal proceedings and enforcement under English law.

  • Commercial Litigation

    High Court and appellate advocacy in cross-border contractual claims, fraud proceedings, asset recovery and enforcement actions.

  • International Arbitration

    International arbitration proceedings under LCIA, ICC and other leading rules, including high-value commercial and treaty-related disputes.

Landmark Cases

  • Bank Mellat v HM Treasury

    Zaiwalla & Co successfully challenged the UK Treasury’s designation of Bank Mellat under the UK’s Iran sanctions regime in a landmark Supreme Court judgment. The case, recognised by The Lawyer as one of the top 10 cases of 2013, involved the first closed material procedure ever conducted in the Supreme Court. The Court held that…

    Read more

  • Zaiwalla & Co challenge $16m blocked as a result of sanctions

    A Dubai-based petroleum products trader accused a U.K. broker on Tuesday of wrongly withholding $16.5 million from its cash account due to U.S. sanctions targeting Iran, at the beginning of a London trial.

    Read more

  • Zaiwalla & Co defeats security for costs claim in novel £20m sanctions case

    In a judgment dated 14 May 2025, the English High Court refused an application by the English solicitors firm Reed Smith seeking £6m in security for costs from Dubai-based ship owners who claim the UK law firm negligently and unlawfully ordered its Bank, Barclays, to freeze the ship owners’ funds held by the firm in…

    Read more

  • UK Russia Sanctions Face Landmark Test At Supreme Court

    The U.K. sanctions regime faces a major test as billionaire Eugene Shvidler seeks to have his financial restrictions cast off, the first case to challenge Russian sanctions to reach the country’s highest court.

    Read more

  • Landmark Supreme Court Judgment: Zaiwalla & Co Secures Victory for Sharp Corp Limited in a High-Profile GAFTA Case

    The UK Supreme Court has delivered a landmark judgment determining the correct measure of damages under a sale of goods contract. This judgment arose from an appeal by Rotterdam-based Viterra BV (formerly known as Glencore Agriculture B.V.) against an English Court of Appeal ruling in favour of Delhi-based buyer Sharp Corp Limited (“Sharp”). The case…

    Read more

“An éminence grise with the most fantastic touch.”

Global reach, jurisdictions

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Our Jurisdictions

Our News & Insights

View all insights

What people say

“Zaiwalla & Co is a boutique litigation and arbitration firm that offers an excellent combination of legal and strategic knowledge in different matters. Furthermore, the firm diversity allows them to operate confidently across jurisdictions and to relate with international clients in an efficient way.”
“A truly unique firm led by the eponymous Sarosh Zaiwalla and backed by a very talented dedicated team. The firm provides 360 degree client care to some of the most commercial clients litigating in London today.”
“Zaiwalla & Co, being a boutique law firm, offers a service to its clients to solve their legal problems in an efficient and personal way, knowing that all partners, solicitor and paralegals are offering all their knowledge and time to the legal problem that the affected person is having.”
Third example Lorem ipsum
“A London disputes boutique acting in high-value litigation, arbitration and public international law matters.”
ABC Company Litigation & Dispute Resolution
“The team absolutely punches above its weight- it regularly achieves success against larger firms not just in commodities arbitrations, but in appeals (including all the way up to the Supreme Court).”
“Zaiwalla & Co has excellent international experience; the firm's work often has a multi-jurisdictional dimension.”
“Zaiwalla's attitude, communications, client focus, accuracy and quality are the firm's key strengths.”
“The most important attribute that stands out is collaborative approach with an open mind by all members of the team.”

Get in touch with us

Speak to our team about your legal needs and how we can help.

Contact us →