Founder and Senior Partner of Zaiwalla & Co, Sarosh Zaiwalla, is the first person of Indian origin to establish a solicitors’ firm in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London. Following his successful career, HarperCollins India has published Honour Bound, his memoirs recalling his successes in more than 1,000 international arbitration and litigation cases, as well as the struggles he has overcome to date in his lifetime.
His high-value litigation cases include those at all levels of the English courts, as well as notable successes in the Supreme Court. One of the chapters entitled: “My boys don’t trust Indians” describes the catalyst to bring about diversity in the judiciary and generally in the legal profession.
The book narrates the trials and tribulations Mr Zaiwalla endured throughout his journey as a lawyer, including the Indian High Commission blacklisting Zaiwalla & Co due to Mr Zaiwalla’s judicial decision as an arbitrator going against the Indian Government. It includes successes such as how he facilitated 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; and his involvement in the hosting of the first-ever dinner by a British Prime Minister for high profile Asian and other overseas business leaders in 10 Downing Street’s Cabinet Room.
His career spanning four decades has included victories for clients in India, China, Russia, Iran and Iraq. He instructed the young Tony Blair when the latter was practicing as a junior barrister; and acted as a bridge in Prime Minister John Major’s outreach to British Asian businessmen. Mr Zaiwalla has contributed to the development of English law and exported millions of pounds’ worth of legal services. There are also over 125 cases reported in the English and international law reports where Zaiwalla & Co has acted for one of the parties.
Zaiwalla & Co is renowned for handling unusual cases with a successful outcome. Among them was the largest sanctions-related damages case to be brought against the UK, in 2019 when Zaiwalla & Co successfully represented Bank Mellat, the largest Private Bank in Iran, whose alleged loss was approximately US $4 billion. Led by Mr Zaiwalla, the Firm took over the case after the client lost its initial application in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in 2011 with another City law firm, and the case was then included in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of the Year list.
In 2019, Zaiwalla & Co was Highly Commended in the Excellence in International Legal Services category at the Law Society Excellence Awards. The Firm was also shortlisted for Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year in the British Legal Awards 2019. These awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring achievements of a boutique law firm that has a record of successes in handling cases usually dealt with by much larger international law firms.
In Honour Bound, Mr Zaiwalla explains: “I carved out for myself a distinctive place on the English legal scene. In doing so, I believe I have shown what is possible with enough self-belief and professionalism… Wherever you come from, if you work hard, show integrity and apply yourself with skill, you will be respected in the English courts. The judges are honest and incorruptible, and long may this continue.”
