The Rise of Digital Infrastructure in India: Data Centres, Fibre Networks, Telecommunications Towers and AI Infrastructure
India is strengthening its position as a global digital infrastructure hub through supportive tax policies, foreign investment provisions and state-level incentives. Growing demand for AI, cloud services and connectivity is creating opportunities across data centres, fibre networks and telecommunications infrastructure. Clear ownership structures, regulatory compliance, reliable power and connectivity will be critical to attracting investment ...
Hardeep Sachdeva is a Senior Partner at AZB & Partners with over 30 years of experience advising Indian and multinational clients. Recognized as one of India’s foremost corporate and M&A lawyers, Hardeep has led several landmark M&A and private equity transactions, pioneering transformative deals in the sector.
He is widely regarded as India’s most distinguished real estate lawyer, possessing a unique blend of expertise in corporate M&A and in-depth knowledge of real estate domain. His market leadership spans all aspects of real estate matters and transactions, including equity investments by private equity funds, financial institutions & other domestic investors, structured financing, interim finance, loans by banks, foreign portfolio investors, AIFs, and other institutions. He has also played a pivotal role in real estate monetization under government concessions for airports, railways, and metro projects.
Hardeep’s extensive experience covers real estate development arrangements between developers and landowners, tax structuring for real estate investments and joint ventures, and resolving disputes, enforcements, and recoveries in the real estate sector. He is also a leading advisor on REITs in India. In the realm of insolvency and restructuring, Hardeep is a leading lawyer for real estate insolvencies, advising resolution applicants on acquiring real estate companies and projects under the CIRP framework of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). He also advises banks and financial institutions on the foreclosure of mortgaged properties and real estate projects.
Hardeep frequently advises Central and State governments on the drafting of laws and regulations related to real estate development and other critical policy matters. He is the go-to advisor for large International Property Consultants (IPCs) operating in India, providing lead counsel or second opinions on complex real estate transactions. A thought leader in the legal community, Hardeep has authored numerous publications and has been lead counsel in landmark judgments shaping jurisprudence in real estate and IBC matters in India. Hardeep has also contributed to governmental and industry committees. He is a member of the Bar Council of Delhi and the Delhi High Court Bar Association.
An economics graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and a law graduate from the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, Delhi University, he was admitted to the Bar in 1995. He began his career at Ajay Bahl & Co., a predecessor of AZB & Partners, and has been a key member of AZB & Partners since its formation in 2004.
Priyamvada Shenoy is a Senior Partner at AZB & Partners, with over 17 years of experience, her practice primarily focuses on private equity and M&A transactions across sectors such as real estate, manufacturing, financial services, climate, education, healthcare and others. Her practice area also includes impact sector investments where she advises several US and European Foundations for their investments, grants, debt and other programs in India; and for their regulatory registration and compliances. She also focuses on corporate & regulatory advisory, foreign portfolio investments, private credit, IBC restructuring and acquisitions. She advises clients (including private equity funds and strategic investors) on various transactions involving listed & unlisted equity and debt investments and joint ventures. Her experience includes advising on structuring of transactions, entry and exit routes & strategies and also outbound investment regulations amongst others.
Priyamvada has vast experience in advising on commercial documentation involved in M&A transactions including term sheets, investment agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements, securities subscription agreements, share purchase agreements, business transfer agreements, resolution plans, etc. She has also advised on strategies for clients in commercial disputes, CIRP and liquidation matters. Priyamvada has authored several publications.
Sahil Tandon is a partner at AZB & Partners. With more than 9 years of experience, his practice primarily focuses on private equity, M&A, real estate investment, foreign investment and debt funding.
Sahil specializes in advising clients on a range of legal issues including in relation to financing and refinancing transactions, issuance of non-convertible securities and enforcement of security interests from both borrower and lender perspectives. Sahil has also advised on various acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments by foreign investors in companies in India and investments overseas, across various sectors especially real estate, manufacturing, renewable energy projects, non–banking financial companies, etc. and advised on structuring of these investments.
He also advises private equity firms and multinational clients on their formation, acquisition and investment activities including legal due diligence and advising on issues arising out of legal non-compliances related to corporate, licensing, real estate, employment and foreign investment matters.
Apart from advisory and handling complex transactions, Sahil is adept at negotiating and drafting transaction documentation, including term sheets, joint development/ collaboration agreements, project management agreements, development management agreement, construction agreements, sale deeds, debenture trust deed, investment agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements, securities subscription agreements, share purchase agreements, business transfer agreements, etc
