Meet Our Team
Zaki Anarwala, Partner/CEO
Zaki is the Founding Partner and CEO of ZMA Legal, where he combines legal insight with an entrepreneurial mindset to guide clients through complex business and real estate matters.
Representative Transactions and Engagements
- Sale of IT services company to a strategic acquirer, including negotiation of transition services and management retention arrangements.
- Sale of a manufacturing company to a private equity buyer, including rollover equity and employment agreements.
- Acquisition of an HVAC company, representing buyer through due diligence, purchase agreement negotiation, and post-closing transition services.
- Acquisition of a regional cleaning services company, including structuring, asset transfer, and employee retention issues.
- Acquisition of a multi-location retail business, acting as lead counsel in purchase agreement and financing negotiations.
- Acquisition of a service-based company with operations across multiple states, handling due diligence and closing.
- Acquisition of hotel portfolio valued at nearly $100 million across five states, including financing, title, and cross-jurisdictional closing coordination.
- Acquisition of New York City real estate for a nonprofit organization, including financing negotiations and regulatory compliance with a $17M deal value.
Admissions and Certifications
Illinois
Education
Northwestern University, B.S.
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D.
Contact Information
Zaki Anarwala, Esq.
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
+1-312-929-8334
Direct: 847-999-6406
zaki.anarwala@zmalegal.com
LinkedIn | Twitter
Sarah Iftekhar, Partner/COO
Sarah is a Partner at ZMA Legal. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and federal securities law matters. She also regularly advises non-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Before joining ZMA Legal, Sarah was an associate in Sidley Austin LLP’s corporate group and in Cooley LLP’s public companies group, where she counseled public and private companies and their boards of directors on a wide range of corporate and transactional matters. Prior to law school, Sarah co-founded a digital marketing company and spent six years working in digital and database marketing.
Representative Transactions and Engagements*
- Cabela’s Incorporated in its $5 billion sale to Bass Pro Group and the related $2 billion sale of its credit card portfolio
- Multi-Color Corporation in its $2 billion sale to an affiliate of Platinum Equity LLC
- Duke Energy in its acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas, valued at more than $1 billion
- Elaine Wynn in her proxy contest against Wynn Resorts Limited
- United Airlines in various corporate governance and securities matters
- Aon Corporation in connection with various acquisitions
- The Nordstrom family in the proposed take-private of Nordstrom
Admissions and Certifications
Illinois
Education
The University of Chicago, J.D.
Northwestern University, B.A.
Contact Information
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
+1-312-929-8334
Direct: 847-999-6405
sarah.iftekhar@zmalegal.com
LinkedIn
*Prior to joining ZMA Legal
Zainab Anwar, Legal Consultant
Zainab is a Legal Consultant at ZMA Legal, where she advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. Her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and general corporate advisory work. She also brings experience in cross-border transactions, supporting clients on multi-jurisdictional matters.
In addition, Zainab has worked on regulatory reform and policy initiatives, advising developing countries on enhancing their business and investment environments.
Admissions and Certifications
New York
Sindh Bar Council
Education
Georgetown University, LL.M.
Lahore University of Management Sciences, B.A. LL.B.
Contact Information
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
847-241-3394
zainab.anwar@zmalegal.com
LinkedIn
Marina Khan, Law Clerk
Marina Khan is a Law Clerk at ZMA Legal, where she supports the firm’s estate planning practice and assists clients with thoughtful, personalized planning strategies designed to protect their families and preserve their assets. Her work includes assisting with the preparation of living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and related estate planning documents. Marina is committed to making the estate planning process clear, efficient, and approachable for clients, helping them navigate important decisions with confidence and peace of mind. She is detail-oriented, compassionate, and focused on delivering a high level of client service throughout every stage of representation.
Admissions and Certifications
New York (Pending)
Sindh Bar Council
Education
University of Sussex LL.M.
University of Sussex B.A., LL.B.
Contact Information
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
847-999-6420
marina.khan@zmalegal.com
Wasif Rana
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
847-999-6428
wasif.rana@zmalegal.com
Tiffany Ruiz-Mendoza
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
tiffany.ruiz@zmalegal.com
847-999-6422