A legacy that transcends borders
Shabbir S. Wakhariya, founding member of Wakhariya & Wakhariya, has been practicing law for more than 30 years. The son of a celebrated solicitor, Shabbir has always been passionate about the practice of law. Each day inspires him to do more and give more to those who may seek him out – always with one motto, Excellence and Integrity in Service.
Wakhariya & Wakhariya completed 20 years in 2018. However, its legacy can be traced to Shabbir’s father, Saifuddin N. Wakhariya. Towards the end of his almost-50-year illustrious legal career, this formidable lawyer lent his name to the firm that his son founded.
The senior Mr. Wakhariya’s passion for the practice of law was well-known in the legal community. As a first-generation lawyer and solicitor, his hard work, integrity and perseverance was reflected in the way he lived. He passed away in 2002 but left behind, for his son, a rich professional legacy of excellence in law, high ethics, and zealous representation of his clients’ interests.
In 1991, Shabbir earned an LLM from Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. He is an alumnus of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, from where he obtained his BA in Economics and Political Science in 1987, followed by an LLB from Government Law College in 1990.
A man with his feet firmly in the present, Shabbir credits Duke and St Xavier’s for giving him the most enriching periods of his life. After his LLM, Shabbir began what would account for the next 20 years of his legal career in New York city. His role at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP comprised a diverse practice that shaped and bettered his skills. He also learned how to manage a law firm while receiving mentorship from some of the finest lawyers in the profession.
In 2012, Shabbir took a leap of faith when he moved his practice back to his hometown, Mumbai. Since then, he has established himself as a go-to common law practitioner and preferred outside general counsel to his many international clients. Shabbir works across borders to offer timely and practical guidance with a human touch.
