Holding 'half the sky' at the Bar

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: ZIA MODY

- E KUMAR SHARMA

ZIA J MODY, co-founder and managing partner of AZB & Partners, has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Express Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, an initiative of FE in partnership with FICCI FLO.

Few names in India's corporate legal landscape command the respect that Mody does today. Harvard-educated and dually licensed to practise law in India and the US, she has built a reputation for excellence across mergers and acquisitions, private equity, white-collar crime and dispute resolution. Over the decades, she has become synonymous with the highest standards of legal practice and professional integrity.

Even as she stands at the pinnacle of the profession, Mody remains deeply committed to expanding opportunities for women in law and business. She often reminds audiences that while women may "hold half the sky", they must also "stay the course" and not step back when challenges arise. At AZB & Partners, that commitment is reflected in the firm's inclusive culture, with a significant proportion of women among its partners.

The award will be presented in Mumbai on Saturday by members of a distinguished jury comprising Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC Asset Management Company and former chairman of HDFC; Mallika Srinivasan, chairman and managing director of TAFE; Preetha Reddy, executive vice-chairperson of Apollo Hospitals; and Anjali Bansal, founding partner of Avaana Capital. The jury members were unanimous in their choice.