Founded in 2004,
AZB & Partners is a household name in the Indian legal market and has solidified its reputation as a top-notch corporate law firm. The firm has offices in Mumbai, New Delhi,
Bangalore,
Pune and Chennai.
The firm performs consistently well in banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and M&A, private equity, and restructuring and insolvency.
It takes on clients from a diverse range of sectors, including banking and financial services, energy, transport,
oil and gas, automotive, technology and telecommunications, insurance, and food and beverage.
In banking, the firm
advised
Air India
on 6 transactions for the acquisition of A350–900
aircraft. This was the first Airbus 350–900 leased / acquired by an Indian airline and the first
aircraft acquisition by a commercial airline through GIFT City. The transactions involved multi–jurisdictional complexities that required first–time navigation and innovative structuring to ensure lender comfort to provide finance leasing, under the
European Central Bank (ECB) route through GIFT City into India.
In
debt markets, the firm advised and represented
Bahadur Chand in relation to its issuance of listed Negotiable Certificate of Deposit (NCD), to Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and mutual funds. The deal required a careful analysis of the extant regulatory framework applicable and navigating through various FPI and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulatory challenges in the context of the structure of this deal.
In equity markets,
AZB & Partners acted as legal counsel to
Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) and JM Financial Limited on the buyback of equity shares by TCS on a proportionate basis, by way of the tender offer route, through the stock exchange mechanism. This was the largest buyback undertaken since the amendment in the Indian legislation in relation to buybacks.
In M&A, the firm advised
Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) in its merger involving the amalgamation of HDFC Investments and HDFC Holdings, with and into HDFC and HDFC with and into HDFC Bank (Proposed Transaction). It is the largest and most complex M&A transaction India has ever seen and is the largest banking M&A transaction.
KKR, Air India, HSBC, HDFC, AU Small Finance Bank, Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company, MRF, Bharti Hexacom, IIFL Securities, Housing Development Financial Corporation, Tiger Global
“High level of client service and excellent technical
expertise. Ability to find commercial and pragmatic solutions to complex legal issues.”
“Quality of work, turnaround time, depth of knowledge.”
Financial services regulatory
“Most of the advice sought is for matters that are untested (industry first) - In that context, AZB's advice is succinct, clear, in keeping with new regulations and makes legal and commercial sense.”
“Quick response and solutions.”
“The AZB Partner is prompt, communicative and responsive to emails. The Team meets tight timelines and open to communication.”
“Their
availability, pragmatism and the fact that they are business oriented.”
“Quality and delivery of job in time.”
“Professional approach and solution oriented.”
“Practical and clear legal advice that makes commercial sense too.”
“Meets deadlines and listens to client job requirement and goal and outlines the
ibjective to be achieved from meeting.”
“Very responsiveness, hands-on, dedicated, very good knowledge of M&A.”
“Excellent communication and client management, good understanding of our business needs, subject matter expertise and ability to deliver firm to clients.”
“Ishan has excellent client service and responsiveness and is always able to apply a detailed technical knowledge of the law to find pragmatic and commercial solutions.”
“He is very responsive to emails and queries. Very much reachable and approachable. He is communicative and open to chatting about concerns.”
“Do well in client relationship, practical.”
“Responsive and knowledgeable. Available for
discussions generally.”
“Very business minded, find creative solutions.”
“Do well in client Relationship Management and solution oriented.”
