Sana Sheikh

Sana Sheikh

Areas: Litigation & Dispute Resolution,
International & Offshore,
Private Client & Trusts

Sana’s focus on contentious work frequently involves multiple jurisdictions. In significant part, that’s a result of working with many high-net-worth clients whose assets span borders. Recent cases have included:

• A family trust dispute between settlor and beneficiaries, which involved the laws of Jersey, British Virgin Islands, Uganda and the Seychelles
• An international arbitration seated in London concerning the export of goods to a country in East Africa; and
• A recovery of substantial losses suffered by a claimant under principles of Georgian law against a financial institution based in Georgia.

For Sana, mixing the contentious and the international is an appealing combination. “Contentious work requires a deep attention to detail, but also a strategic mind. Success is about anticipating your opponent’s next move and I enjoy applying this mindset to the cases I advise on.”

“Working internationally adds to the appeal. I’ve always enjoyed meeting people with different backgrounds, cultures and ways of doing business. That started at university and I always wanted it to translate into my work. International law means you work with legal systems and lawyers from around the world which makes every case unique.”

Representing the next generation

Within GSC, Sana has a cross-firm role in looking after next generation clients. “There is a tradition of the next generation choosing new advisers over the people who have represented the previous generation,” she explains. “We want to show the benefits of continuity of support, whilst acknowledging and adapting to the fact that the next generation often wants to work in a different way with us.”

The daughter of GSC founder and senior partner Saleem Sheikh, Sana shares the perspective of many of GSC’s next-gen clients. “I understand how they feel. Many of their issues resonate with me which, I think, helps create an immediate connection. It’s my role to ensure that, whatever the client’s case, we look after them.”

Qualifications & Experience

Sana holds an MA in Law from St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge. She completed the Accelerated Legal Practice Course at BPP in London with Distinction and trained at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in London, spending six months in Dubai, U.A.E on secondment. Sana qualified as a solicitor in 2015 and joined GSC in 2016 to specialise in commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

Sana was also qualified as a Higher Courts Advocate in 2021, which gives her the same rights to appear and conduct proceedings in court as a barrister. That  knowledge deepens understanding of day-to-day litigation work such as case analysis methodologies, rules of evidence and how to deliver compelling submissions to advance your case. Higher Rights of Audience allows Sana to represent clients as a solicitor-advocate in the Senior civil courts in England and Wales, thereby enhancing the service that we can offer to our clients.

Sana has authored a number of articles on trademark law, which have been published in journals such as the World Trademark Review and World Intellectual Property Report.