
AZB & Partners
www.azbpartners.comEmail address
[email protected]Contact number
+91 22 4072 9999Share profile
About
Managing Partners: Zia Mody & Ajay Bahl
Number of partners: 144
Number of lawyers: 650+
Languages: Chinese; English; Japanese
Firm Overview:
AZB & Partners, one of India’s premier law firms, was founded in 2004 and has since received wide acclaim within the legal sphere. A pan–India law firm, AZB is spread across 6 offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Pune and Chennai.
Main Areas of Practice:
Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures & General Corporate:
Mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and general corporate transactions are at the core of the firm’s practice. The corporate group is consistently ranked as a league–table leader, in terms of both, deal volume and deal size. The team regularly advises on complex domestic/international arrangements, intricate commercial agreements, hostile corporate situations resulting in settlements/ litigations and restructuring/reorganisations.
Contacts: Zia Mody, Ajay Bahl, Anil Kasturi, Ashwath Rau, Darshika Kothari, Aarthi Sivanandh, Srinath Dasari
Private Equity:
The firm represents the world’s largest private equity firms in establishing their India presence and continues to work on a number of marquee deals, ranging from complex cross–border and highly structured deals in regulated sectors, many of which have been the first of their kind in India. The group’s experience includes advising on efficient investment routing/exit, tax planning, individual investments with portfolio companies, monitoring/maintaining investments, capital requirements of a portfolio company and buyout deals.
Contacts: Zia Mody, Ajay Bahl, Anil Kasturi, Ashwath Rau, Darshika Kothari, Srinath Dasari, Vaidhyanadhan Iyer, Vinati Kastia, Aarthi Sivanandh
Banking & Finance:
The firm advises its clients on a gamut of financial products and services. It caters to domestic/ international lenders and borrowers on a broad spectrum of topics, including, regulatory issues, banking products/services and risk/capital management.
Contacts: Bahram N. Vakil, Anand Shah, Gautam Saha, Nilang Desai, Shameek Chaudhuri
Restructuring & Insolvency:
AZB is considered a market leader in this space, owing to its success with managing complex refinancing, restructuring and insolvency matters. It represents domestic/international banks, funds, distressed companies, acquirers and industry professionals. Its lawyers have been involved in drafting India’s newly introduced Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code.
Contacts: Bahram N. Vakil, Nilang Desai, Suharsh Sinha, Anindita Roy Chowdhury, Avinash Subramanian, Amrita Sinha
Projects, Energy & Infrastructure:
The firm’s strength in litigation/dispute resolution, funds and capital markets has made it the preferred counsel for any stage in the lifecycle of a project. It has vast experience in handling high– profile green and brown field projects for various domestic/international clients, including the Government of India, banks, investment funds, contractors, project developers and sponsors.
Contacts: Bahram N. Vakil, Anuja Tiwari, Aditya Periwal, Qais Jamal
Competition/Antitrust:
Being closely associated with the development and practice of competition/antitrust law in India, the firm is sought out by domestic/multinational companies for its expertise. AZB’s work includes merger control, antitrust litigation, cartels and leniency, anti–competitive vertical agreements and abuse of dominance.
Contacts: Zia Mody, Samir Gandhi, Bharat Budholia, Hemangini Dadwal, Ram Kumar Poornachandran, Gaurav Bansal, Toshit Shandilya
Dispute Resolution:
AZB is the go–to firm for JV litigation, competition disputes and international arbitration. It regularly tackles civil, criminal, commercial and constitution- al matters in the Supreme Court and various Indian High Courts and also conducts multijurisdictional arbitrations, mediations and negotiations.
Contacts: Zia Mody, Aditya Vikram Bhat, Rajendra Barot, Vijayendra Pratap Singh
Real Estate:
The firm provides comprehensive real estate ser- vices, encompassing the full range of issues arising in connection with the acquisition, sale, structuring, leasing, licensing, zoning, use and development of property. Its clients include sovereign funds, pension funds, PE funds and domestic/international investors.
Contacts: Hardeep Sachdeva, Nohid Nooreyezdan
Tax:
AZB’s specialised team of professionals and lawyers, many holding accounting qualifications, provide the full spectrum of services, including corporate tax planning, tax advisory and transactional tax services, spanning multiple industries. It has provided counsel on diverse issues, including international tax, transfer pricing, M&A tax issues, tax structuring, succession planning, custom and excise duties, tax litigation, VAT and GST.
Contacts: Ajay Bahl, Deepak Chopra, Shreya Rao, Suresh Varanasi
Capital Markets:
AZB is known for its experience in debt and equity issuances, IPOs and QIPs, representing issuers and underwriters in cross–border transactions. Its clients include leading domestic and international investment banks and investment houses.
Contacts: Varoon Chandra, Lionel D’Almeida, Srinath Dasari, Agnik Bhattacharyya
White-Collar Crime:
The firm assists directors and officers on matters relating to economic crimes, ranging from investigations, bail or anticipatory bail matters, litigation strategy, defense strategy, compliance and reporting obligations. AZB’s team comprises consultants with extensive experience in forensic investigations.
Contacts: Zia Mody, Ajay Bahl, Aditya Vikram Bhat, Ajay Upadhyay, Anind Thomas, Nohid Nooreyezdan, Rajendra Barot, Soumit Nikhra, Vijayendra Pratap Singh
Ranked Offices
Provided by AZB & Partners
- MumbaiAZB House Peninsula Corporate Park, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg., Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 400013
- Web: www.azbpartners.com
- Tel: +91 22 4072 9999
- Bangalore7th Floor, Embassy Icon, Infantry Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560 001ChennaiVilla B8, Withy Pool Villa Complex, Boat Club Road,R A Puram, , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 600028MumbaiPensinsula Corporate Park, Ganapatrao Kadam Marg., Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 400013MumbaiSakhar Bhavan, 4th Floor, 230 Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 400021New DelhiAZB House, Plot No A-7 and A-8 Sector 4 , New Delhi, Delhi, India, 201301
Contributions
Latest contributions provided by AZB & Partners













All contributions provided by AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners rankings



















Articles, highlights and press releases
14 items provided by AZB & Partners
Key Regulatory Developments: July 2024
RBI’s July 2024 initiatives signal a focused shift toward enhanced digital security, KYC compliance, and fraud risk management. These updates aim to strengthen payment infrastructure, reduce fraud, and drive innovation while safeguarding consumers and financial institutions.
India’s New Draft EV Infrastructure Guidelines: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
India’s Draft Revised EV Charging Guidelines (2024) aim to streamline infrastructure development, ensure operational clarity, and offer key incentives. Effective execution, clarity for residential users, and curbing misuse will be critical to driving EV adoption nationwide.
Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trusts
SEBI’s 2024 Amendment introduces SM REITs to regulate FOPs and democratize real estate investments. With tighter controls and investor safeguards, this move enhances transparency—but careful implementation and investor awareness remain key to long-term success.
Regulatory Developments in the FinTech Space – August 2024
August 2024 saw major strides in India’s FinTech regulation—from enhanced credit reporting timelines to UPI Circle payments, P2P lending rules, and new data privacy standards. These measures reflect RBI’s focus on innovation, transparency, and consumer protection.
Current Trend in Taxation of Stock Options
As ESOPs grow in popularity, complex cross-border tax issues demand clarity. From TDS and GST on reimbursements to the Black Money Act's ambit, recent judicial and regulatory developments call for updated CBDT guidance and employee diligence on disclosures.
From Tables to Apps: How Poker and Rummy Still Navigate as Skill-Based Games and the Road Ahead
The Madras HC rulings reaffirm rummy and poker: online or offline- as skill games, challenging sweeping bans under Tamil Nadu laws. With the matter now before the SC, the final verdict will shape the future of India’s online gaming sector and the legal test of “skill vs chance.”
Bombay High Court Quashes Establishment of Fact-Checking Unit: A Win for Intermediaries?
The Bombay High Court’s 2024 ruling affirms that free speech cannot be curtailed by vague, government-driven definitions of “misleading” content. By striking down the Fact-Checking Unit rule, the Court upholds constitutional protections for intermediaries and online expression.
Powering The Future – Blockchain And Power Purchase Agreements In India
India’s regulatory foray into blockchain-enabled P2P energy trading reflects a broader push for transparency and decentralization in the power sector. While promising, the success of Blockchain PPAs will depend on infrastructure upgrades, reduced intermediary control, and wider prosumer access.
RBI’s Updated Framework For Wilful Defaulters: Key Provisions and Impact
Effective October 2024, the RBI's Master Directions tighten timelines and broaden criteria for classifying wilful defaulters. They introduce new loan covenants, extend penalties to associated entities, and mandate detailed lender policies to ensure stricter enforcement.
Amendment to the IFSCA Framework for Aircraft Lease with regard to transactions with people resident
The IFSCA’s October 2024 circular limits aircraft asset transfers to group lessors in GIFT City if the assets serve only Indian residents. Genuine sale and leaseback deals for newly imported aircraft remain unaffected, preserving GIFT City’s leasing growth potential.
Play Hard But Play Fair: The Supreme Court Conclusively Rejects Unilateral Arbitrator(s) Appointment
The 2024 CORE-II ruling by the Supreme Court reinforces fair and equal treatment in arbitration, striking down clauses allowing unilateral panel curation. While party autonomy remains vital, the Court affirmed that procedural fairness must prevail in all stages of arbitration.
Key FinTech Regulatory Changes – India 2024
This article outlines major 2024 regulatory changes in India’s fintech sector, covering KYC updates, credit reporting norms, risk assessments, accessibility measures, UPI and BBPS reforms, all reflecting the RBI’s push for a more secure, inclusive, and digital ecosystem.
SEBI Proposes Reforms to Accelerate Rights Issue Process.
SEBI in their 207th Board meeting on September 30, 2024, proposed to make the rights issue process faster and provide flexibility to allotment of shares to specified investors.
Key Regulatory Developments: July 2024
RBI’s July 2024 initiatives signal a focused shift toward enhanced digital security, KYC compliance, and fraud risk management. These updates aim to strengthen payment infrastructure, reduce fraud, and drive innovation while safeguarding consumers and financial institutions.
India’s New Draft EV Infrastructure Guidelines: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
India’s Draft Revised EV Charging Guidelines (2024) aim to streamline infrastructure development, ensure operational clarity, and offer key incentives. Effective execution, clarity for residential users, and curbing misuse will be critical to driving EV adoption nationwide.
Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trusts
SEBI’s 2024 Amendment introduces SM REITs to regulate FOPs and democratize real estate investments. With tighter controls and investor safeguards, this move enhances transparency—but careful implementation and investor awareness remain key to long-term success.
Regulatory Developments in the FinTech Space – August 2024
August 2024 saw major strides in India’s FinTech regulation—from enhanced credit reporting timelines to UPI Circle payments, P2P lending rules, and new data privacy standards. These measures reflect RBI’s focus on innovation, transparency, and consumer protection.
Current Trend in Taxation of Stock Options
As ESOPs grow in popularity, complex cross-border tax issues demand clarity. From TDS and GST on reimbursements to the Black Money Act's ambit, recent judicial and regulatory developments call for updated CBDT guidance and employee diligence on disclosures.
From Tables to Apps: How Poker and Rummy Still Navigate as Skill-Based Games and the Road Ahead
The Madras HC rulings reaffirm rummy and poker: online or offline- as skill games, challenging sweeping bans under Tamil Nadu laws. With the matter now before the SC, the final verdict will shape the future of India’s online gaming sector and the legal test of “skill vs chance.”
Bombay High Court Quashes Establishment of Fact-Checking Unit: A Win for Intermediaries?
The Bombay High Court’s 2024 ruling affirms that free speech cannot be curtailed by vague, government-driven definitions of “misleading” content. By striking down the Fact-Checking Unit rule, the Court upholds constitutional protections for intermediaries and online expression.
Powering The Future – Blockchain And Power Purchase Agreements In India
India’s regulatory foray into blockchain-enabled P2P energy trading reflects a broader push for transparency and decentralization in the power sector. While promising, the success of Blockchain PPAs will depend on infrastructure upgrades, reduced intermediary control, and wider prosumer access.
RBI’s Updated Framework For Wilful Defaulters: Key Provisions and Impact
Effective October 2024, the RBI's Master Directions tighten timelines and broaden criteria for classifying wilful defaulters. They introduce new loan covenants, extend penalties to associated entities, and mandate detailed lender policies to ensure stricter enforcement.
Amendment to the IFSCA Framework for Aircraft Lease with regard to transactions with people resident
The IFSCA’s October 2024 circular limits aircraft asset transfers to group lessors in GIFT City if the assets serve only Indian residents. Genuine sale and leaseback deals for newly imported aircraft remain unaffected, preserving GIFT City’s leasing growth potential.
Play Hard But Play Fair: The Supreme Court Conclusively Rejects Unilateral Arbitrator(s) Appointment
The 2024 CORE-II ruling by the Supreme Court reinforces fair and equal treatment in arbitration, striking down clauses allowing unilateral panel curation. While party autonomy remains vital, the Court affirmed that procedural fairness must prevail in all stages of arbitration.
Key FinTech Regulatory Changes – India 2024
This article outlines major 2024 regulatory changes in India’s fintech sector, covering KYC updates, credit reporting norms, risk assessments, accessibility measures, UPI and BBPS reforms, all reflecting the RBI’s push for a more secure, inclusive, and digital ecosystem.
SEBI Proposes Reforms to Accelerate Rights Issue Process.
SEBI in their 207th Board meeting on September 30, 2024, proposed to make the rights issue process faster and provide flexibility to allotment of shares to specified investors.