Mumbai, Jan 31, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Harper Collins India’s Honour Bound is the official story of one of India’s leading lawyer in the United Kingdom, Sarosh Zaiwalla, the Mumbai-born founder and senior partner of the City of London solicitors’ firm Zaiwalla & Co LLP.
An insightful diary of the adventures of the international law firm based at the heart of London’s legal district, Honour Bounds recites the company’s most high profile, challenging and controversial cases, as Sarosh Zaiwalla shares his wealth of engrossing anecdotes.
He leaves no holds barred as he opens up on everything from an unexpected relationship with an volatile Mafia boss in the mid 1990’s, a successful 10 year plus association with the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) resulting from a lunch encounter at the House of Lords and working with the Iranian Government right through to the Gandhi families in India and attempting to get the then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to speak with Saddam Hussein.
The book, Honour Bound, unveils a series of revelations and anecdotes spanning over three decades, including how he successfully sued the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter for libel on behalf of renowned Bollywood idol Amitabh Bachchan and his brother Ajitabh. The newspaper had accused the Bachchans of taking bribes in connection with the purchase of Swedish-made Bofors field guns by the Indian army when Rajiv Gandhi was India’s prime minister.
Little did he know at the time, the success in this case would turn Zaiwalla’s life into a state of turmoil. Other cases include the unprecedented successes in saving $50 million for India, during a time when the country was facing a stringent foreign exchange crisis in the 80s and early 90s.
Sarosh Zaiwalla founded Zaiwalla & Co. Solicitors in April 1982, overseeing all of the firm’s activities, which over the years has exported millions of pounds’ worth of legal services in the English Courts. Within this elegantly written, detailed account of legal adventures, success,mishaps, trials and tribulations, Sarosh Zaiwalla’s story spotlights the journey of an Indian solicitor vying for the biggest cases overseas as a non-English national.
He admits, with some humility, that a small part of his success has been due to good fortune otherwise known as being ‘in the right place at the right time’, yet his memoirs will bring readers closer to the world of a highly successful Indian lawyer in a foreign land, with an international client base.
Speaking ahead of the Mumbai launch event, Sarosh Zaiwalla said: “Over the years I have been involved in over 1000 International Arbitration cases across the world and acted for many prestigious clients including the President of India, China National Petroleum Corporation, Bank Mellat and NIDC of Iran and International Public Corporations. Honour Bound is an assemblage of my journey, which spans over three decades.
“There were many challenging and exciting events throughout my career. The first case is always more challenging but equally as satisfying. I still have such fond, vivid memories of winning my firm’s major cases such as the Indian government’s first successes in the House of Lords.
“I am ecstatic to the response that the book has received so far and I hope to give people an insight into the changing legal industry during my career, the highs and lows of being an Indian lawyer in London, and the inner workings of an international law firm.”
Coming from a distinguished legal family in Mumbai, Sarosh Zaiwalla arrived in London in the early 1970s to qualify as an English solicitor. Undeterred by the casual racism prevalent at the time, he went on to set up his company, developing a strong international commercial practice with a reputation for taking on and winning contentious ‘unwinnable cases’. At a personal level, he has engaged with world leaders, including Prime Ministers, politicians, the UN Secretary General and the Dalai Lama.
For invitations to the launch event or interest in interviewing Sarosh Zaiwalla, please contact [email protected]
