Zaiwalla & Co. LLP, the specialist sanctions, litigation and arbitration law firm in the City of London announced the promotion of Kartik Mittal to Partner. Kartik who has become the youngest Partner at the firm, was previously the Senior Solicitor, having begun his career at Zaiwalla & Co LLP in February 2009.
Kartik is a dual-qualified lawyer (in England & Wales and India) with substantial experience in handling diverse litigation and arbitration caseload. He also has considerable expertise in commercial and sanctions litigation in English Courts, and sanctions litigation in the European Court of Justice (relating to sanctions imposed on Iran, Russia and Republic of Congo).
An alumnus of the Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, Kartik is the firm’s most experienced associate in sanctions law. He has acted on most of the team’s litigious sanctions, dealing with US Government bodies (Office of Foreign Assets Control), Her Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Ombudsperson, the European Courts and even the South Korean High Court.
Kartik is also the lead associate, acting for the largest Iranian private bank, Bank Mellat, from 2011 to date. The Bank Mellat claims relate to the losses caused to their international banking business as a result of wrongful sanctions imposed by the UK Government. He is responsible for the day to day running of the largest ever damages claim of its kind brought by Bank Mellat against the UK Government, after it was found to be unlawfully sanctioned. The case will begin trail in the summer of 2019.
Speaking about the promotion of Kartik Mittal, Sarosh Zaiwalla, the Founder and Senior Partner of Zaiwalla & Co LLP said: “Kartik has been an integral part of the firm, and his elevation to a Partner is in recognition of his tremendous work and leadership over the years. He is our expert in international sanctions law and has been at the forefront of the battle against the UK Government for wrongful imposition of sanctions on Iranian entities. His experience and his tenacity are very much valued by the firm and is an inspiration to the next generation. I wish him the very best for his new role.”
Speaking about his appointment Kartik Mittal said: “I am extremely delighted with my appointment as a Partner at the firm and look forward to facing the opportunities that come with the role. Working on the Bank Mellat case under the valuable guidance of Mr. Sarosh Zaiwalla and Ms. Pavani Reddy has been one of the high points in my career and I aspire to continue my significant contribution towards the growth of the firm.”
Kartik Mittal holds a master’s degree in Law from Warwick University and a Diploma in Indian Corporate law. With arbitration as one of his key areas of his expertise, he is also a member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) and the Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG). Other Notable cases led by Kartik include Jivraj v Hashwani at the UK Supreme Court, Jayesh Shah & Anr. v HSBC Private Bank (UK) limited which opened the possibility for bank employees to be summoned and cross-examined before a court to prove ‘genuine and honest suspicion’. Kartik also handled GAFTA Arbitrations and International Commercial Arbitrations, both ad-hoc and institutional under ICC, LCIA and DIAC.
