Zia J. Mody is widely acknowledged for her expertise, ranking No. 1 in Fortune India’s ‘India’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business’ list in 2018 & 2019 on which she has consistently ranked in the top 10 since 2011. According to the RSG India Report, clients praise Zia as a “problem solver,” who is “meticulous,” “thorough” and “accessible” and comes highly recommended for “any complex legal matter.”
It has been said that few of Ms Zia’s peers can match her skills or take her on when it comes to acquisitions, joint ventures, company restructuring, foreign inward investment related practice and corporate law. Ms Zia has been recognised as a ‘Star Individual’ for Corporate / M&A by Chambers Global (2012 – 2021); and Chambers Asia–Pacific (2015 – 2021). Additionally, she has been recognised as an Eminent Practitioner (2018 – 2021) for Private Equity by Chambers Asia–Pacific.
Ms Zia’s abilities are recognised globally, as is reflected in her appointment as an Independent Director of Ascendas Property Fund Trustee Pte. Ltd., Singapore and Independent Director of China Light and Power, Hong Kong.
Previously, Ms Zia has, amongst others, served as (i) Deputy Chairman (2013-2021) and Independent Non–Executive Director (2006-2021) of the HSBC Asia Pacific Board; (ii) a special invitee of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to the Competition Law Review Committee, constituted to review the need for amendments to the Competition Act (2018); (ii) a member of the Committee on Corporate Governance, formed by SEBI under the chairmanship of Uday Kotak (2017); (iii) a panelist on the expert committee set up by the Law Commission of India on ‘Amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996,’ to review the provisions of the Act in view of the several inadequacies observed in its functioning (2014); (iv) a member on the Reserve Bank of India Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low–Income Households, chaired by Dr. Nachiket Mor (2013); (v) Vice President and Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (2010 – 2013); (vi) a member of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal, Washington D.C. (2008 – 2013); (vii) a member of the Godrej Committee on Corporate Governance, set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (2012) and (Viii) member of the Raghuram Rajan Committee on Financial Sector Reforms constituted by the Government of India (2007).
“Always be passionate about what you do. Every assignment should be a challenge and your objective should be to perform it to perfection.”
“Zia is India’s most trusted advisor for corporate legal matters, with a strong commercial insight and intuition, client dedication and a constructive approach to deal-making.”
Gaurav Trehan
India Country Head, KKR
Zia J. Mody, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AZB & Partners, is one of India’s foremost corporate attorneys. She began her career as a corporate associate in the New York office of Baker & McKenzie, where she worked for 5 years before moving to India to establish the Chambers of Zia Mody, which became AZB & Partners in 2004. The Firm has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Pune with an integrated team of approximately 500 legal professionals.
