Gigi (Geeta) Tewari is a Director at Cleveland & Co, advising on corporate and commercial matters with a particular focus on contract drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement. With over 15 years of legal experience across government, academia, private practice, and nonprofit settings, Gigi brings a rare blend of strategic precision, empathetic problem-solving, and cross-sector insight to every client engagement.
Qualified in New York, Gigi has supported a wide range of clients, including public entities, global businesses, and mission-driven organisations, on matters spanning employment law, environmental and zoning regulation, commercial agreements, and policy advocacy. She began her legal career at the New York City Law Department and the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, where she advised on high-stakes real estate and environmental transactions. She later transitioned into leadership roles in academia and legal reform, including serving as Director of the Urban Law Center at Fordham University School of Law, and is currently a Professor of Law at Widener University Delaware Law School, where she teaches contract law and business law and develops curriculum on corporate social responsibility and ethical practice.
At Cleveland & Co, Gigi applies her deep legal reasoning and collaborative style to support clients navigating commercial risk, cross-border negotiations, and operational contracts. Her dual fluency in law and narrative, amplified by her MFA in Writing from Columbia University, enables her to deliver clear, well-structured solutions that consider both legal outcomes and human dynamics.
Gigi’s work reflects Cleveland & Co’s values of integrity, clarity, and compassion. Known for her thoughtful communication, creative thinking, and commitment to inclusive practice, she is a trusted partner for clients seeking long-term, values-driven legal support.
Her areas of expertise include contract drafting and negotiation, corporate and commercial law, corporate social responsibility, DEI frameworks, and employment law. She is also a frequent speaker and moderator at national conferences on ethics, equity, and sustainable business law, and actively contributes to scholarship through her writing and research.
In 2025, Gigi was voted by the faculty of Delaware Law School to receive tenure as Professor of Law. She also published A Regulatory Framework for Digital Assets and Stablecoins (SSRN, 2025), which examines the regulatory treatment of digital assets and proposes a structured framework for future supervision.
Outside of work, Gigi enjoys swimming, tennis, baking with her daughters, and playing music; interests that reflect her joyful, reflective, and community-minded approach to life and law.
- Contract Drafting and Negotiation
- Corporate and Commercial
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Employment
Contract Law Expertise
Over 15 years advising on complex contract drafting and negotiation, balancing legal precision with commercial pragmatism for corporate, commercial, employment, and real estate matters.
Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership
Designed and delivered an intensive Corporate Social Responsibility course at Widener University Delaware Law School, integrating sustainability, ethics, and business law to prepare future leaders.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advocacy
Frequent speaker and panelist on ethics, gender equity, and diversity in law and business; led initiatives in partnership with the U.N. Habitat and other international organisations.
Academic & Thought Leadership
Assistant Professor of Law and published author, contributing scholarly works on corporate governance, pay equity, and empathetic lawyering, with articles in prominent law journals and books on urban law.
Cross-Disciplinary Legal Insight
Brings a unique perspective from her combined background in law and literature, offering innovative, human-centred solutions for clients and empowering collaborative problem-solving across jurisdictions.
- New York Bar
- Admitted to the Bar, New York, United States
- B.A., Cornell University
- J.D., Fordham University School of Law
- M.F.A.; Columbia University School of the Arts
- Professor of Law, Delaware Law School
- Can I Speak Now?!: The Need for Marginalized Voices to Shape ESG Advising for Corporations in Global Supply Chains (forthcoming book chapter, American Bar Association)
- The Ethics of Gender Narratives for U.S. Corporate Boards, 16 N.Y.U. Journal of Law and Business (2019)
- Law and the New Urban Agenda, co-editor, with Nestor M. Davidson (Routledge 2020)
- English
- Conversational Hindi
Leela Fair has grown with Cleveland & Co and quickly proven her capabilities becoming the Acting Managing Director of our UK office in early 2021. She oversees business development, client relationships, and all staff needs as well as supports the CEO on the day to day working of the business.
Leela has risen to senior management very quickly through her drive and invaluable experience in financial service. Leela’s experience covers private equity, traditional fund, and hedge fund sectors and includes advising and assisting a range of services providers within the asset management industry including investment managers, investment advisors, administrators, brokers, custodians, introducers, regulatory platforms, pension funds and placement agents.
Leela is a determined and ambitious professional who is adept at working in varied and fast paced environments. Leela’s motivation, versatility and unflappable attitude, make her a highly valued member of the Cleveland & Co team. When she’s not inspiring us running the day to day at Cleveland & Co, you can find Leela reading through a cookbook and planning the weekend menu!
- Leela has developed a variety of skills namely in relation to:
- ACD Arrangements
- Administration
- AIFs
- Appointed Representative Arrangements
- Authorised funds (ACS, AUT, ICVC, UCITS and NURS)
- Broker Agreements
- CISs
- Commercial Contracts
- Custody
- Distribution
- EIS/SEIS
- Hedge Funds
- HR & Employment
- Institutional
- Intra-group Agreements
- Introducer Arrangements
- Listed Investment Companies
- Pooled Pension Funds
- Private Equity
- Real Estate
- Regulation, including: Capital Adequacy, Competition Law, FCA Rules & Guidance, GDPR, MiFID II, Prudential Requirements, SM&CR.
- Research Payments
- Service Agreements
- Sponsorship Arrangements
Qualified in England & Wales
- Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Limited: reviewing all documentation related to prospective investments (private equity, infrastructure, private debt, alternatives), managing side letter and MFN processes.
- Capital Group: carrying out an impact assessment, advising and updating legal documentation for MiFID II.
- Commodities World Capital: preparation of marketing documents, negotiation of all legal documents entered into between service providers and the AIFM, and liaising with Cayman and US counsel in relation to the launch of their Cayman fund.
- Fullerton –creating a global travelling portfolio policy and an assessment report advising on the impact of Capital Adequacy Requirements.
- Hambro Perks: reviewing investment documents for EIS/SEIS investments.
- Investment Association – reviewing member guidance, advising on regulatory issues such as MiFID II, Benchmark Regulations and the Market Abuse Regulations, and assisting with the launch of the IA’s Velocity FinTech Accelerator.
- J Stern: carrying out an impact assessment on research arrangements, advising and updating legal documentation for MiFID II and GDPR.
- Kin Capital: assisting with reviewing and updating appointed representative agreements, custodian terms of business and subscription and shareholder’s agreements.
- Mainspring: managing all custody agreement negotiations with their EIS/SEIS and private equity clients.
- Association of Women Solicitors
- Mentor, Amos Bursary Programme
- The Professional Skills Courses (Kaplan Altior, London)
- Litigation Programme (Kaplan Altior, London)
- Legal Practice Course (BPP Law School, London)
- Bachelor’s degree in Law (King’s College University, London)
- English
- French
- Conversational Italian
