Bio

Ekta Bahl is a Partner with Samvad Partners and is the Partner-in-Charge of the Hyderabad office of the Firm. She is a corporate commercial lawyer who has significant experience in corporate restructuring, insolvency, private equity and M&A. She has substantial industry-specific experience in the areas of healthcare and life sciences, information technology, and infrastructure (with special emphasis on road and power sectors). She has also provided legal assistance to various social sector enterprises and start-ups. Ekta completed her law from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in the year 1997. Ekta is also passionate about mediation and is also a qualified mediator - having completed the 40 hours mediation and negotiation training from both the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA); and the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR). She has also completed the Specialist Mediator Workshop conducted by the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and is a member of the Specialist Mediator Panel (India) of the SIMC. Ekta is also empaneled as a mediator with the Regional Director (South Region), the Regional Director (South East Region) and the Regional Director (North Region) for mediation of disputes before the National Company Law Tribunal. Ekta is also empaneled as a mediator with the Centre for Mediation and Conciliation, which is an initiative of Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition to the above, Ekta acts as an expert external advisor and committee member in relation to anti-harassment issues at the workplace under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. She also regularly undertakes training programmes and workshops not just in the context of Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013 but also on conflict management and the role of Human Resources in conflict management in the workplace, for both members of the Internal Complaints Committee, the Senior Management, the Human Resource teams as well as for employees. Ekta has passed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT), which enables lawyers to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. Ekta is an active charter member with TiE, Hyderabad and has served two terms on the Board of TiE, Hyderabad. She was also awarded the ‘Most Engaging Mentor’ at the TiE Awards held in December 2015. Ekta is also an active member of CII-IWN and the Federation of the Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry and has served as part of committees for both these organisations. Chambers Asia-Pacific has featured Ekta as a recognised practitioner in India for Life Sciences in the years 2018 and 2019 and she was featured as a recommended practitioner for Projects and Energy in India by Legal500 in the year 2018. Ekta has also been featured in Anthology: A Compendium of India’s Leading Lawyers, published by the Indian Corporate Counsel Association in the year 2019.