Zaiwalla & Co > London, England > Firm Profile
Zaiwalla & Co Offices
Holborn Tower
137-144 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6PL
England
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Lawyer Profiles
- Solicitor Profiles
- Barrister Profiles
- Diversity
- Client Testimonials
Zaiwalla & Co > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 5
Delivering ‘top services’, Zaiwalla & Co is notably experienced in court applications arising from arbitrations, particularly for clients from India and the UAE. The practice’s track record also includes litigation mandates from Mongolia and Iran. ‘One of the leading disputes solicitors in London’, Sarosh Zaiwalla has longstanding experience in multi-jurisdictional litigation. Leigh Crestohl‘s ‘leadership and commercial nous are second to none’ and barrister Varun Zaiwalla acts in international commercial, energy, banking, property, trust and probate matters.Practice head(s):
Leigh Crestohl
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Zaiwalla & Co continue to build on their reputation as the firm to go to for innovative and paradigm-shifting solutions to the most complex legal issues.’
‘Zaiwalla & Co is a premium disputes firm, specialising in complex international cases. Through a combination of a small team with excellent market knowledge, they are able to offer top services.’
‘They successfully combine being resolute fighters for their clients’ interests with pragmatic realism.’
‘Leigh Crestohl’s leadership and commercial nous are second to none.’
‘Leigh Crestohl is a great asset and regularly thinks up clever and persuasive arguments on behalf of his clients.’
‘Sarosh Zaiwalla remains at the top of his game as one of the leading disputes solicitors in London.’
‘Sarosh Zaiwalla brings ingenuity, commitment and an extraordinary breadth of experience to every matter.’
‘Sarosh Zaiwalla is highly trusted by clients and has conducted some of the most important litigation in multiple fields over the decades.’
Key clients
Air India
Steppe Metal Powders
Virgo Marine
Melli Bank
Sharp Corp
Work highlights
- Acting for Sharp Corp against Viterra in a Supreme Court breach of contract claim, which concerns the correct method of valuing goods.
- Acting for a Dubai-based ship owner, who brought a $22m High Court claim against a law firm for tipping off the bank that the owner might soon be sanctioned, thus derailing an intended ship purchase.
- Acting for Air India against HMRC in a long-contested dispute relating to millions of pounds in customs duties.
Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail Tier 6
With an active cross-border practice, the ‘truly unique firm’ Zaiwalla & Co has developed particular expertise in the impact of international sanctions regimes on banking activities. The team is regularly called upon by international banks for representation against other major banking institutions and governments. ‘Amazing lawyer’ Leigh Crestohl brings extensive banking litigation experience to the team. Kartik Mittal is ‘extremely responsive and committed’ and experienced in the representation of international banks in UK litigation, as well as in disputes against Indian banks. Stephanie Limaco is another name to note.Practice head(s):
Sarosh Zaiwalla
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The senior partner Sarosh Zaiwalla and Leigh Crestohl are very capable senior solicitors in this field. They are ably supported by a group of highly motivated solicitors and legal assistants.’
‘Zaiwalla & Co it’s a boutique legal practice. Because of that they have a great capacity of being dedicated personally and around the clock to their cases and their clients. They have a great diversity of workers and they all have a great sense of partnership and collaboration.’
‘Leigh Crestohl is an amazing lawyer, dedicated to his work and always available to answer any given questions that his clients may have. Kartik Mittal is a bright lawyer, available around the clock to help his clients and with a very high sense of responsibility. Stephanie Limaco is an excellent bilingual lawyer, very intelligent and with great attention to details.’
‘Each member of the team had been chosen for the specific skills needed, but also all members had the full picture in view.’
‘Zaiwalla & Co is a premium disputes firm in banking litigation, specialising in complex international cases. Despite having a relatively small team, the quality is very high and their ability to conduct multiple major cases marks them out from the competition.’
‘Sarosh Zaiwalla remains at the top of his game as one of the leading disputes solicitors in London. He brings ingenuity commitment and an extraordinary breadth of experience to every matter. He is highly trusted by clients and has conducted some of the most important litigation in multiple fields over the decades.’
‘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.’
‘Sarosh Zaiwalla, Leigh Crestohl, Kartik Mittal and Stephanie Limaro together with their associates and staff amounts to a very talented offering.’
Key clients
Central Bank Venezuela
Melli Bank
Oleg Sergeev
Said Gutseriev
Nixie Marine/Virgo Marine
Work highlights
- Acting for the Central Bank of Venezuela in a $980m Supreme Court matter against the Bank of England relating to Venezuela’s gold reserves.
- Acting for Bank Melli in a $7.5m claim against ICBC Bank in relation to funds frozen in ICBC bank accounts.
- Acting for a Dubai-based shipping company in a breach of contract claim against the law firm Reed Smith, who joined Barclays Bank as a party to the proceedings.
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 7
‘Truly unique firm’ Zaiwalla & Co routinely represents parties from India, Russia and the Middle East in high-value international arbitrations. Leigh Crestohl oversees the majority of the department’s ongoing arbitrations. Acting in proceedings before arbitration tribunals (including ad hoc matters), Crestohl is experienced in significant international commercial arbitrations and investment disputes.Practice head(s):
Leigh Crestohl
Testimonials
‘A truly unique firm and a very talented, dedicated team.’
‘The firm provides 360-degree client care – a very talented offering.’
‘Zaiwalla & Co has a strong roster of international clients, particularly from India.’
Key clients
Sharp Corp
Central Bank of Venezuela
Work highlights
- Acting for Indian Commodity House Sharp Corp against commodity giant Viterra (formerly Glencore) in a Section 69 appeal in the Supreme Court, which relates to a GAFTA Tribunal decision on the valuation of goods in a loss and damages claim.
- Acting for a Dubai refiner of crude oil, Beneathco, in a SIAC case that is to be expedited due to OFAC sanctions.
- Acting for a Dubai company in two multi-million-dollar arbitrations that involve sanctions.
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leigh Crestohl | Partner | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Saurabh Bhagotra | Senior Solicitor | View Profile |
|
|
Henna Elahi | Senior Solicitor | View Profile |
|
|
Kartik Mittal | Partner | View Profile |
|
|
Sarosh Zaiwalla | Senior Partner | View Profile |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Varun Zaiwalla | Barrister | View Profile |
Diversity
Zaiwalla & Co is one of the first City law firms in London’s “square mile” started by a solicitor from a BAME background.
Today our London based team remains a rich mix of nationalities, races and faiths. Diversity is celebrated and welcomed at this firm, and allows us to better serve our international clients who are of equally diverse backgrounds. We are privileged to have a team of bilingual lawyers conversant in a range of languages including, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Hebrew, and Russian.
We want to see a marked change in the legal industry, and we are committed to pursuing diversity and equality in the legal profession, our firm being one of the first to champion that cause in the City decades ago. In keeping with those origins and values, we ensure that talented individuals are given a platform to prosper in our firm regardless of their individual characteristics or beliefs. Since 2017, the firm has maintained an annual scholarship for one Indian law student, who would not otherwise have the means, to come to the UK to pursue a one-year Masters in International Law at Sommerville College at the University of Oxford. The scholarship aims to give these young students an opportunity to advance their own professional careers and contribute to an advancing global legal framework.
In testament to our ongoing commitment to diversity, we also act pro bono for the MOBO Awards UK (Music of Black Origin).
Our firm’s Senior Partner, Sarosh Zaiwalla, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the Indian National Bar Association for Legal Excellence and his significant role in Indian Society. In 2017, Sarosh Zaiwalla won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society of Asian Lawyers Awards 2017.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘Excellent boutique firm with a dynamic and proactive approach to litigation. Easily capable of holding their own against much larger firms.‘
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘Stand out partners are Sarosh Zaiwalla, Leigh Crestohl.‘
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘Sarosh Zaiwalla brings valuable experience to litigation; Leigh Crestohl has a strong intellect and good judgment; and Kartik Mittal works hard to achieve the right result for his clients.’
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘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.‘
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘The practice is marked by an in-depth assessment of legal issues and great attention to detail.’
CLIENT:
COMPANY/FIRM:
TESTIMONIAL: ‘Unique perspective on the law, ability to spot a weakness and execute strategies beneficial to their client.‘