“Sarosh Zaiwalla, founder, is known for his high-profile, cross-border representation of PEP and UHNWI.”
Sarosh Zaiwalla founded Zaiwalla & Co in 1982 and oversees all activities relating to the firm. Recognised by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, he is a ‘hugely experienced litigator’ who has extensive experience acting for international clients in complex multi-jurisdictional cases.
Sarosh has been involved in over 1200 International Arbitrations and has acted for many prestigious clients including the President of India, China National Petroleum Corporation, Bank Mellat, NIDC of Iran and many other international private and public corporations.
He has twice been named by The Times as ‘Lawyer of the Week’, most recently in 2020 for his success for the Central Bank of Venezuela in a Court of Appeal case against the Bank of England in respect of its failure to comply with a request to return $1.8bn of Venezuela’s gold held at the Bank of England.
Sarosh was a member (1990 -2002) of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC Paris representing India. He was awarded with India’s Annual National Law Day prize by the Indian Prime Minister in 2002 for his outstanding contribution to the field of International Arbitration Law.
He has undertaken several overseas visits as part of business delegations accompanying the UK Government Ministers and the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Sarosh had the honour of being asked by the Dalai Lama to facilitate a dialogue with the Government of the People’s Republic of China with a view to finding a peaceful resolution relating to Tibet. He was also invited by the U.N Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to consult on issues relating to world order.
At the invitation of Harper Collins, Sarosh authored and published his first memoir titled ‘Honour Bound – Adventures of an Indian Lawyer in the English Courts’. Book launches were held in London, Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai. The book details Sarosh’s remarkable legal career and most interesting cases throughout the years and has been read over all the world since it’s launch.
Cases
Zaiwalla & Co defeats security for costs claim in novel £20m sanctions case
In Virgo Marine Inc and Nixie Marine v Reed Smith LLP and Barclays Bank PLC [2025] EWHC 1157 (Comm.), the High Court refused Reed Smith’s application for £6 million in security for costs against Zaiwalla & Co’s Dubai-based shipping clients. The claim arises from the freezing of approximately US$13.3 million held in escrow following Virgo Marine’s designation under US sanctions. Although Reed Smith later accepted that its London office was not subject to US sanctions and instructed Barclays to release the funds, the bank declined to do so.
Virgo and Nixie commenced proceedings in negligence, breach of contract and breach of trust. Mr Justice Foxton rejected Reed Smith’s security application, holding that there was insufficient evidence that Barclays would refuse to comply with an English court order, describing the contrary evidence as “thin and unpersuasive.”
Read moreZaiwalla & Co acts in Sali Berisha v Secretary of State for the Home Department
Zaiwalla & Co acts for Dr Sali Berisha, former Prime Minister of Albania and leader of the opposition, in a landmark challenge before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission concerning the UK Government’s decision to exclude him from entering the United Kingdom on grounds of alleged criminality and corruption. The case represents the first known challenge to the exclusion of a senior political figure from a friendly foreign state.
The proceedings raise fundamental questions regarding the lawfulness and proportionality of executive exclusion powers, the reliance on intelligence evidence in closed material procedures and the extent to which allegations may justify interference with an individual’s rights absent conviction. The challenge also addresses issues of procedural fairness, rationality and diplomatic considerations.
The outcome is expected to clarify the scope of ministerial discretion in matters engaging national security, foreign policy and public law principles.
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