Ajay Bahl
Co–Founder & Managing Partner
DelhiPractice Area
Sectors
Our most challenging matters are advisory ones, and we need to orient and mentor our lawyers to shift focus. Advice on taxation is as significant as a multi–million dollar transaction, because you’re laying down legal principles and precedents.
Ajay burns the candle at both ends. He runs half–marathons, loves jazz and is very, very passionate about taxation law. This attitude to work and play trickles down from the top.
Bahram on AjayAjay Bahl is widely recognised as one of India’s foremost corporate attorneys. He is also a qualified chartered accountant, which is advantageous in complex, high–profile, legal and tax transactions. Ajay regularly advises clients on investigations into allegations of fraud and misstatements in financial statements and on tax and regulatory filings. He is known for his expertise in structuring, restructuring and transfer pricing–related issues and has been praised by Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific for his, “sharp commercial mind and ability to lead from the front.”
DIRECTORSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Chairman, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Task Force on Judicial Reforms (2021 – 2022, 2020 – 2021 and 2018 – 2019)
- Member, The Study Group constituted for the research project on ‘Classification of Errors: An analytical study based on the decisions taken in disciplinary cases’ under the aegis of the Research Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) (2020)
- Member, Committee constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, to examine the comments received on “Consultation Paper to examine the existing provisions of law and make suitable amendments therein to enhance audit independence and accountability” (2020)
- Member, High Level Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to prepare the investigation manual for the serious fraud investigation office (2020)
- Member, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Economic Growth and Investments Council (2012 – Present)
- Member, Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), nominated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (2017 – Present)
- Member, Appellate Panel, formed by the Institute of Insolvency Professionals of ICAI (IIIPI), set up to address disciplinary issues pertaining to insolvency professionals (2017 – Present)
- Member, Company Law Committee (CLC) constituted by the Government of India, to examine and make recommendations to the Government on various provisions and issues pertaining to implementation of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (2019)
- Member, 2nd Company Law Committee (CLC), set up by the MCA to suggest amendments to the Companies Act, 2013, to facilitate ease of doing business in India (2019)
- Member, Committee to review the offences under the Companies Act, 2013, constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India (2018)
- Member, Committee to simplify the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India (2015)
Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor of Law, University of Delhi (1985)
- Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (1978)
Of all of us, Ajay is the most balanced. He has a life and is very client–engaged. He runs a great firm out of Delhi and our views are aligned.
Zia on AjayWORK HIGHLIGHTS
The sheer diversity and depth of Ajay’s experience, which his clients depend on, applies across practice areas and sectors. They include advisory, tax and tax litigation, dispute resolution, regulatory and policy review, transaction structuring and restructuring, succession planning, change of residential status and overseas relocation planning and implications under different laws including in the country of relocation.
RECENT RECOGNITION
2024
2023
2022
2021
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Client
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
ITR World Tax
‘EG Tax Leading Advisor’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Legal Era
- Named a Leading Lawyer Legend for Corporate/ M&A and Tax
- Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Private Equity
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Private Equity and Tax
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A for Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Who’s Who Legal
- ‘Thought Leader Global Elite’ for M&A
- Thought Leaders – Firm Management
- Recommended for Corporate Governance and M&A
RECENT RECOGNITION
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Client
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
ITR World Tax
‘EG Tax Leading Advisor’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Legal Era
- Named a Leading Lawyer Legend for Corporate/ M&A and Tax
- Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Private Equity
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia–Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate/M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Legal Era
Named a Leading Lawyer Champion for Private Equity and Tax
AsiaLaw Profiles
‘Elite Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A, Private Equity and Tax
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A for Private Equity
Chambers & Partners Global
‘Eminent Practitioner’ for Corporate / M&A
IFLR1000
‘Highly Regarded’ for M&A and Private Equity
India Business Law Journal
Featured in ‘A–List of India’s Top 100 Lawyers’
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ for Corporate / M&A and Tax
- Recommended for Private Equity & Investment Funds and Private Client Practice
Who’s Who Legal
- ‘Thought Leader Global Elite’ for M&A
- Thought Leaders – Firm Management
- Recommended for Corporate Governance and M&A