Zaiwalla & Co

Senior Partner

Sarosh Zaiwalla founded Zaiwalla & Co in April 1982 and oversees the firm’s activities.

Over the years Sarosh has been involved in over 1200 International Energy, Maritime and Construction Arbitrations in London and worldwide either as a solicitor, counsel, or a sole/party-appointed arbitrator. He has acted for many prestigious clients including the Indian Government, the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as well as some of the largest corporations in the world such as Rosneft (Russia –  Oil/Gas).

He was a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC, Paris, from 1990 to 2002 and was awarded the India Annual National Law Day 2002 by the Indian Prime Minister for his outstanding contribution to the field of International Arbitration Law. He is a qualified CEDR mediator.

He has advised United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, and was asked by the Dalai Lama to facilitate a dialogue with the Government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) relating to a resolution on Tibet.

In 2019, Sarosh authored and published his first memoir ‘Honour Bound – Adventures of an Indian Lawyer in the English Courts’, with book launches in London, Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai. The book has been read worldwide and details Sarosh’s remarkable legal career and most interesting cases throughout the years.

The Times named Sarosh as ‘Lawyer of the Week’ in 2020 for his success in the Court of Appeal in favour of his client, the Central Bank of Venezuela against the Bank of England for the return of Venezuelan gold valued at $1.8bn. This very case also appeared in The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2023. Zaiwalla & Co were this year highlighted and featured in The Lawyer for their work on the case, with it being recognised as one of the Top 10 cases of its kind across the entire year. The Top 10 List features the most impactful and noteworthy appeals set to be heard each year.

Mr Zaiwalla was invited by Mongolia’s Ministry of Law & Justice to receive a Medal of Honour, on behalf of the Mongolian Government.

For the second year running, Mr Zaiwalla has been recognised in the 2024 Edition of ‘The Best Lawyers in the UK for commercial Dispute Resolution and was also awarded with an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to law by the University of Bolton in 2022.

Mr Zaiwalla’s charitable endeavours include the Ratanshaw Bomanji Zaiwalla Annual Scholarship which allows for one Indian law student, who would not otherwise have the means, to come to the UK to study a one-year Masters in International Law at Sommerville College at Oxford University. Mr Zaiwalla set up this scheme back in 2017, so far funding seven students the opportunity to study at Oxford.

English Hindi Gujarati

Panel of Arbitrators

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