Mediator Zaiwalla keen to marry mindsetsInterview: Senior partner talks about his mediation role in the Hong Kong hand-over

Sarosh Zaiwalla, senior partner of City firm Zaiwalla & Co, claimed this week to the Gazette that his name was originally put forward for an honour by Lord McKay, then Lord Chancellor, at the istance of Lord Feldman in 1996 in recognition of work done to smooth the transition between Britain and Hong Kong.Mr Zaiwalla's firm Zaiwalla & Co firm was connected to the parliamentary commissioner's report into former minister Keith Vaz, who found the firm had taken out two advertisements in a charity calendar organised by Mr Vaz.

The subsequent Hammond enquiry found that while Mr Zaiwalla's firm had bought the two advertisements, there was no link between this and Mr Vaz's recommendation that Mr Zaiwalla should receive an honour.Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Zaiwalla has now explained the origins of his endorsement for an honour, explaining that he was recommended by Lord Feldman in 1996 - then chairman of the Conservatives - in recognition of work done to develop Britain's relationship with China relating to the hand-over with Hong Kong.Mr Zaiwalla says he became involved as a result of his good relationship with the Chinese ambassador to the UK.

This meant that in 1994, when relations between Britain and China took a turn for the worse -- following Chinese objections to Chris Patten, then the British governor of Hong Kong - Mr Zaiwalla became a mediator.He facilitated two high-level confidential meetings between Downing Street and China, attended by himself, Lord Haskett and Lord Feldman, which took place in Zaiwalla & Co's Chancery Lane offices.Mr Zaiwalla said meetings helped relations between the British and Chinese, paving the way for a smooth hand-over of Hong Kong.One of Mr Zaiwalla's aims is to seek middle ways between eastern and western business principles.He explains that he enjoys trying to marry the mindsets.

Recently for example, he has worked in the Comoros islands - for whom he has acted in a dispute with Dubai over the latter's refusal to permit the former's ships to pass through its port.Mr Zaiwalla explains that he went to Dubai and arranged to meet the under-secretary of state of the United Arab Emirates.

'Eventually I met him at 11pm, but it wasn't until 12 that I raised the issue with him.

At 1.15am I was still there - an English lawyer would never be able to do that.' Jeremy Fleming