Home > Expertise > Practice Areas > Competition / Antitrust
OUR
PRACTICE
AZB & Partners has been closely associated with the development and practice of competition law in India. The Firm has one of the strongest benches in this practice area, with a foothold in three key jurisdictions: Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, ensuring services across regions. Our team comprises specialist lawyers with training in competition law, as well as internationally trained lawyers. Our practice also includes a former CCI official and a former member of the group legal team of one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates.
The Firm’s clients include several MNCs and domestic conglomerates across various industries including information technology, life sciences, media and telecommunications, energy and infrastructure, aviation and retail. By leveraging our expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, complex litigation, intellectual property and regulatory matters, our competition lawyers provide seamless advice to ensure the best possible outcomes.
We have represented clients in some of the most complex and industry–shaping abuse of dominance cases in India and are well–known for handling highly sophisticated, precedent–setting cases in the tech sector. Our lawyers routinely represent clients in competition–related cases before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts under their writ jurisdiction and the appellate court.
GET IN TOUCH
-
Samir R Gandhi
Senior Partner
-
Bharat Budholia
Partner
-
Hemangini Dadwal
Partner
-
Gaurav Bansal
Partner
The antitrust and competition team at AZB & Partners had a strong year in the automotives sector, with multinational manufacturers engaging practice head Samir Gandhi, Hemangini Dadwal and Aditi Gopalakrishnan – with assistance from senior associates Gaurav Bansal and Akshat Kulshrestha – on a raft of proceedings before the CCI. Of particular note, the team secured successful non–infringement orders in cartelisation disputes, and extensive penalty reductions via leniency applications. Bharat Budholia leads on merger control matters, most recently for acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals sector. The team fields extensive experience in the digital and disruptive technologies space, with sports, oil and gas and aerospace clients also cited.
Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021) on our Competition / Antitrust practiceWHAT
WE DO
We offer multi–pronged assistance in handling cartel cases, in ‘dawn raids,’ internal investigations and audits and in submissions and proceedings before the DG, CCI and the appellate court.
We advise businesses on how to set up appropriate supply, purchasing and distribution chains, form strategic alliances and assist them in structuring licensing agreements that comply with competition law.
We regularly assist in securing clearance for some of the largest and most high–profile transactions in the market. Our experience encompasses all forms of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts and divestitures, from negotiated transactions to hostile takeovers.
RECENT WORK HIGHLIGHTS
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
-
On several major consolidations in the Indian telecom sector including (i) Its merger with Telenor (ii) The acquisition of Tata’s consumer mobile wireless business (iii) Its merger with Indus Towers
-
On (i) The Indian aspects of the merger of its oil and gas business with Baker Hughes (ii) The acquisition of Alstom
-
On (i) Its defense of claims of infringement relating to abuse of dominance (ii) Allegations of abuse of dominance in the “AdWords” program
-
On (i) CCI clearances for the sale of its business to Unilever and the purchase of Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business (ii) Successfully overturning a penalty for alleged bid rigging
-
On their USD 1 billion acquisition of Max Group’s healthcare businesses
-
On its majority share purchase of Mindtree for approximately USD 1.5 billion
-
In relation to the Indian aspects of its USD 46 billion merger with Holcim
-
On a constitutional challenge of certain provisions of the Competition Act
-
On (i) The sale of its natural gas pipeline business to Brookfield (ii) Its purchase of Den Networks (iii) CCI clearance for the proposed acquisition of Alok Industries
-
In relation to its challenge against the CCI’s decision to investigate the company
-
On its acquisition of the Essel Mutual Fund involving the first ever “green channel” approval from the CCI
-
On several technology and e–commerce deals, including its investments in Uber, FlipKart and PayTM
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 43 billion takeover by China National Chemical Corporation
-
On (i) Its acquisitions in the Bhushan Steel Group (ii) The purchase of Usha Martin’s steel division
-
In relation to their leniency applications, preparations for dawn raids, etc.
-
On the Indian aspects of its USD 71.3 billion acquisition by Twenty–First Century Fox
