Essaji Vahanvati

Mr. Essaji Vahanvati graduated with a B.A. LLB. (Hons.) degree from the Government Law College, Mumbai. He started his career in AZB & Partners (erstwhile CZB & Partners) directly after graduation, in 2003. He was elevated to partner in 2009 and continued with AZB until 2015.

At AZB, his focus was private equity and mergers and acquisition (with a special focus on public market transactions, takeover offers and delisting). He has worked for marquee private equity firms including Blackstone, Warburg Pincus, Temasek, KKR, CVCI and Apax. During his time with AZB, he has also led commercial litigation and arbitrations, as well as strategic and regulatory advise for various banks including, notably, HSBC and HDFC Bank. He also handled complex mergers and demergers.

After AZB, he has focused primarily on distressed debt, restructurings and litigation. He has worked extensively for the GTL group and recently assisted with the debt restructuring exercise undertaken by the Suzlon Group. He has also advised family offices including the Patni Family group and the Gupta Family group. As part of his independent practise, He has handled and spearheaded several commercial and regulatory litigations before the Delhi High Court, Mumbai High Court, Chennai High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

He has been recognized as a leading individual by Chambers & Partners and the RSG Law Firm Report for India. He is the Founding Partner of Ramanathan and Vahanvati, boutique legal consulting firm.