About

Provided by Zaiwalla & Co

Zaiwalla & Co specialises in high-value, multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution, acting for corporates, financial institutions, sovereign entities, and high-net-worth individuals. 

 

The Team’s expertise spans LCIA, ICC, GAFTA, LMAA, and DIAC arbitration, as well as high-profile litigation in commercial, banking, trade, and regulatory matters. The firm is particularly known for its sanctions and public international law work, including acting for a private Iranian Bank challenging its sanctions designation in the precedent-setting Supreme Court matter of Bank Mellat v HM Treasury (2011 – 2019)

 

Zaiwalla & Co has recently acted on three high profile disputes in the UK Courts: 

 

  • Viterra BV v Sharp Corp Limited (UK Supreme Court, 2024), a commodities dispute relating to the correct assessment of damages following a breach of an SPA.

 

  • Berisha v Secretary of State for the Home Department, acting for the former Albanian President challenging the UK’s decision to exclude a former President (the first ever challenge of its kind) (featured in The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024)

 

  • Central Bank of Venezuela v Bank of England, acting for the Venezuelan Bank in a US$4 billion Supreme Court dispute over Venezuelan gold reserves held in the Bank of England (featured in The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2023). 

 

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution Specialist Firms - UK-wide

Spotlight

What the Team is Known For

Zaiwalla & Co has strong experience across a broad range of litigious matters. The firm is noted for its work in commercial and banking disputes, as well as in arbitrations. It also has a strong reputation for its work challenging sanction designations.  

Work Highlights

Provided by Zaiwalla & Co

  • Zaiwalla represented the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) and the Maduro Board in relation to its dispute with the Bank of England. The dispute relates to EUR930 million worth of Venezuela's gold that the Bank of England has not released.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Members

Provided by Zaiwalla & Co

Leigh Crestohl