AZB & Partners, Competition/Antitrust | Chambers Asia-Pacific Profile

About

Provided by AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners has been closely associated with the development and practice of competition law in India. The Firm has one of the strongest benches in this practice area, with a foothold in three key jurisdictions: Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, ensuring services across regions. Our team comprises specialist lawyers with training in competition law, as well as internationally trained lawyers. Our practice also includes a former Competition Commision of India official and a former member of the group legal team of one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates.

The Firm’s clients include several MNCs and domestic conglomerates across various industries including information technology, life sciences, media and telecommunications, energy and infrastructure, aviation and retail. By leveraging our expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, complex litigation, intellectual property and regulatory matters, our competition lawyers provide seamless advice to ensure the best possible outcomes.

We have represented clients in some of the most complex and industry–shaping abuse of dominance cases in India and are well–known for handling highly sophisticated, precedent–setting cases in the tech sector. Our lawyers routinely represent clients in competition–related cases before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts and the appellate court.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/Antitrust - India

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

AZB & Partners houses a respected and holistic competition offering across India, handling both merger control and contentious mandates, as well as compliance services. Its areas of expertise include cartel, price-fixing and abuse of dominance investigations and litigation. The competition team is known for its representation of leading domestic and global corporates in the technology space, as well as aviation and energy. The team is adept at assisting clients with leniency applications to the Competition Commission of India. AZB's antitrust law expertise is located across India, with particularly strong expertise in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

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Work Highlights

AZB & Partners represented Mars in obtaining unconditional CCI clearance for its USD36 billion acquisition of Kellanova.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The department demonstrates excellent capabilities in managing complex and sophisticated matters, combining deep legal expertise with strategic thinking to deliver effective solutions.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

AZB stands out for its deep expertise, hands-on approach, pragmatic advice, and round-the-clock support, ensuring effective and strategic solutions.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

The department demonstrates excellent capabilities in managing complex and sophisticated matters, combining deep legal expertise with strategic thinking to deliver effective solutions.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

AZB stands out for its deep expertise, hands-on approach, pragmatic advice, and round-the-clock support, ensuring effective and strategic solutions.

Competition/Antitrust respondent
Asia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Ram Kumar Poornachandran

Band 2

Ram Kumar Poornachandran in Delhi is recognised in the market for advising on merger control mandates and also has a strong contentious antitrust practice.

Ram is very pragmatic and solution-oriented. He provides very impactful, thoughtful and measured advice.

We really like Ram. He is very responsive and commercially-oriented.

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Bharat Budholia

Band 3

Bharat Budholia in Mumbai is widely respected by clients and often advises in the High Court on abuse of dominance cases, as well as Indian merger control proceedings.

Bharat's professional competence, client-centred and strategic approach, commitment, dedication and trustworthiness are all skills which have helped our organisation.

His agility, understanding of our business needs and prior knowledge of the legal issues in our industry were apparent in the services he delivered.

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Hemangini Dadwal

Band 3

Hemangini Dadwal is based in AZB's Delhi office and is well regarded for her skills advising on cartel investigations and abuse of dominance cases in the High Court.

Her advice was so nuanced and practical. She was very bright and able to relate the market dynamics to the expectations of the law.

Hemangini is excellent. She is very detail-oriented and gives really good advice.

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Kirthi Srinivas

Band 4

Kirthi Srinivas is based in Mumbai and is a partner who earns recognition for his growing antitrust legal practice in India. He is especially well placed to advise on cartel investigations, as well as merger control.

Kirthi has always been very responsive and helpful. He is acutely aware of our concerns and works to try and address and resolve them until we reach a satisfactory outcome.

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Toshit Shandilya

Band 4

Toshit Shandilya has been recognised for his competition and antitrust law work. He provides advice and assistance on abuse of dominant position claims and merger control matters. He is based in Delhi.

His understanding of competition law and his knowledge of how our industry works helps him deliver very clear and practical advice. He is very approachable for consultation and agile in his responses.

Toshit has a calm and confident approach, backed by strong legal knowledge.

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Dinoo Muthappa

Up and Coming

Dinoo Muthappa counsels clients on a broad range of competition law issues, including advising on strategic issues, merger control notification and bid rigging investigations.

Dinoo is client-centric and willing to go the extra mile.

We really appreciate the advice we get from her.

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