Bahram N. Vakil is renowned for his restructuring and bankruptcy experience and has served on various high–level government committees on financial reform, foreign direct investment and securities market reform. Amongst these, Bahram was appointed as a key member of the 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 (“IBC”). Bahram is also a member of the Insolvency Law Amendment Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to recommend amendments to the IBC. He is also the first Indian lawyer to be invited to serve as a member of the International Insolvency Institute (III), a non–profit, limited membership organisation, set up to promote international cooperation and coordination in the insolvency field.
Bahram has been recognised for his expertise by an array of international publications. The 2017 RSG India Report recommended Bahram for Infrastructure, Banking, Finance and Project Finance. He was named an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Banking & Finance by Chambers Global (2018–2020); and an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Banking & Finance (2018–2020) and Restructuring/Insolvency (2020) by Chambers Asia–Pacific.
Bahram was also recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Banking & Finance and Projects & Energy (2012–2020) and ‘Recommended’ for Restructuring and Insolvency (2020) by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. IFLR1000 recognises Bahram as ‘Highly Regarded’ for Banking, Project Finance and Energy & Infrastructure (2018 & 2020) and Asialaw Profiles names him an ‘Elite Practitioner’ for Banking & Finance and Infrastructure (2020).
Additionally, Bahram has consistently featured in the ‘Top 100 Indian Lawyers’ list published by India Business Law Journal (2016–2019) and was recognised as ‘Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year – India’ at the Corporate Livewire Global Awards (2019). Bahram is also recommended as a ‘Leading Practitioner” for Banking, Corporate, Government Contracts and Governance (2019) and was awarded ‘Top Legal Practitioner in India for Project Finance’ (2018) by the Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Expert Guide.
He has an LL.M. from Columbia University and is dually qualified to practice law in India and New York, being a member of the New York State Bar.
"To combine passion with compassion in all we do, both in our personal and professional lives."
“Bahram is the most respected professional amongst regulators and clients alike. A rare quality in relationships where one is able to balance legal and commercial issues well. Have always learnt something new after every interaction with him.”
Abizer Diwanji
EY India Financial Services Head, EY
Bahram N. Vakil, Co–Founder and Senior Partner of AZB & Partners is amongst India’s foremost restructuring, infrastructure and project finance attorneys and has been acknowledged as a leading project finance lawyer by most international publications for over a decade. The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business mentions that Bahram is a gregarious and hard-headed lawyer, whose clients value his “smart, reliable and practical advice.” His finesse in negotiations is especially singled out. “He adds value in negotiations” states Chambers Global, “ensuring both parties see the other’s point of view.” Bahram’s key practice areas include infrastructure & project finance, banking & finance, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, general corporate and private equity.
