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Home > People

Bahram N. Vakil

Co–Founder

Practice Area

Banking & Finance Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions Restructuring & Insolvency

Sectors

Energy Infrastructure Microfinance

We’ve been right at the forefront of restructuring the bankruptcy codes and the policy and legislative changes in the laws. The Government and institutions like the RBI and SEBI turn to us often because of our reputation and the integrity of our lawyers, knowing that we will have an India focus, with no agenda for a particular client or industry.

Bahram builds great and lasting relationships. In addition to his superb professional skills, he always has incisive and well–informed views of the world.

Ajay on Bahram

One of the founding partners of AZB & Partners, Bahram N. Vakil is amongst India’s foremost restructuring, infrastructure and project finance attorneys and has been acknowledged as a leading restructuring and project finance lawyer by most international publications. The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business calls Vakil a gregarious and hard–headed lawyer who is valued by clients for his “smart, reliable and practical advice.” Chambers & Partners Global singles out his finesse at negotiations, stating that “He adds value in negotiations, ensuring both parties see the other’s point of view.” He has an LL.M. from Columbia University, and is a member of the New York State Bar.

DIRECTORSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Member of the Insolvency Law Academy’s Thought Committee on Bank Insolvency (2023)
  • Member of expert committee to recommend reforms in the Arbitration Law
  • Chairperson of the ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) National Council on Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code and Valuation (2023)
  • Independent Expert for the review function “Compliance” under Performance Review Committee of IFSCA
  • Member of the Expert Committee for the proposed International Arbitration Centre (IAC) at GIFT IFSC
  • Member of the expert committee to propose creditor-led resolution approach under the Code, constituted by Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (2023)
  • Steering Committee Member, ASSOCHAM 5th National Summit Asset Reconstruction Companies (2023)
  • Co–Chair, International Development & Practice Committee, International Insolvency Institute (2022)
  • FICCI National Executive Committee (2022)
  • FICCI Capital Markets Committee : Sub Group on Ease of Doing Business
  • Committee of Experts constituted by the International Finance Services Centre Authority (IFSC) to recommend measures / create a framework, for transfer of stressed loans from domestic lenders to permitted financial institutions in IFSC (January – February 2022)
  • Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, a private sector initiative working to scale an effective and efficient voluntary carbon credit market to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement (2021)
  • Insolvency Law Amendment Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to recommend amendments to the IBC (2019 – Present)
  • Task Force on the Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans, set up by the Reserve Bank of India (2019 – Present)
  • International Insolvency Institute, a non–profit, limited membership organisation, set up to promote international cooperation and coordination in the insolvency field (2019 – Present) 
  • Technical Co–Chair, Main Organising Committee of INSOL International (2019)
  • Dr. T. K. Viswanathan Committee on Bankruptcy Law Reforms, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, to draft the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (2015)
  • Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Committee, SEBI Advisory Group (2011)
  • U.K. Sinha Committee – Working Group on Foreign Investment in India (2010)
  • New York State Bar Association (1985)

Professional Qualifications

  • Solicitor, India (1986)
  • LL.M., Columbia University, New York, USA (1983)
  • Bachelor of Law, Bombay University (1982)

Bahram is very macro in his approach, which is of huge value to clients when they want to see the big picture. His understanding of global economies is insightful, and has always helped the Firm navigate crises.

Zia on Bahram