At Azarmi Law, we specialise in guiding businesses through the complex and sometimes costly landscape of UK immigration law, including when faced with substantial penalties. We work with Immigration and Criminal law counsel on such cases. We recently acted for a...
Latest insighs
Sally Azarmi just keeps on running – now in training for the 2023 London Marathon and aiming to raise money for Age UK
The London Marathon is back in its April slot this year, and Sally has been training (or trying to) since November. This is not the first time that Sally has put herself under such physical pressure. Back in 2016, she ran the London Marathon in memory of her late...
Azarmi Law is a Legal 500 2023 “Firm to Watch” for Immigration
Although we have been around since 2012, this has been the first year we have made submissions to the annual round of legal directories. We appreciate that it can take a while to make it on to the researchers’ radar and so we are delighted that this year’s efforts...
Tamzin Impey graduates with first class honours and now fully on board as a Trainee Solicitor at Azarmi Law
We are delighted that Tamzin Impey has successfully completed her law degree at the University of Westminster, achieving a very impressive First. This top honours included coming second in her year for the Human Rights module cohort. Tamzin joined Azarmi Law as a...
Home Office announces wholesale changes to the Immigration Rules
by Sally Azarmi The Home Office has announced an overhaul of the ‘Pre-Brexit’ immigration system and introduced several new routes into the UK. This shift brings the UK’s system closer to that of Australia – the template the Government indicated it would be using...
Sally Azarmi (and Zeus) go walkies in support of access to justice
Sally Azarmi and her four-legged fundraiser Zeus are taking part in this year’s London Legal Walkies on Saturday 23 April in Greenwich Park. They will be raising money for access to justice for vulnerable people who find themselves in great difficulty, needing a...
Beyond the Money: The Human Side of Business and Family Disputes
Disputes between people – whether in business, partnerships, or family relationships- are as old as humanity itself. From Cain and Abel to today’s boardrooms and family-run companies, conflict is not the exception. It’s part of life.
Since becoming a mediator, I have found myself re-examining what is at the heart of that conflict, the dispute that we are called in to resolve as lawyers. It’s not just about legal rights and wrongs – it’s about people. This seems an obvious realisation but it’s not something we are trained to think about as lawyers. I’ve had to approach conflict from new angles, often setting aside the traditional adversarial mindset to uncover what truly lies beneath the surface, and moving away from the win or lose mentality and daring to think about a win/win approach. That shift in perspective has informed not only my work as a mediator but also how I act as a litigator – because at the heart of every dispute are people with their own histories, emotions, and personal goals for resolution. What varies crucially is how we deal with it.
Not every dispute is about money alone. Sometimes what truly matters is preserving a relationship, maintaining dignity, being heard, or receiving recognition. These needs often sit beneath the surface of commercial and family disputes, especially when emotions and reputations are involved.
Cultural factors add yet another dimension. In many Middle Eastern families and businesses, for example, saving face, honour, and familial expectations or recognition can play a significant role in how disputes unfold—and how they are resolved. As a British Iranian I am well aware of this.
As both a lawyer and a mediator, I’ve seen the difference it makes when these deeper elements are recognised and addressed. The right approach can protect more than just legal interests—it can safeguard what matters most to the people involved and engender a quicker and less costly (both in terms of money and the emotional toll) resolution for all, whilst preserving the relationships of the parties, in as far as it is possible to do so.
Of course, nothing replaces legal excellence, strategic thinking, and the willingness to fight hard, but understanding people and approaching disputes with sensitivity doesn’t weaken your case, it strengthens it. Recognising the human side of conflict isn’t a soft option, it’s sometimes the smartest one.
If you’re facing a complex dispute and need a legal or mediation strategy that reflects both the human and cultural realities at play, we would be pleased to have a confidential conversation.