UK And India To Work Together On Law Firms

Wed, 28 Sep 2011

The UK and India have agreed to allow the regulators for legal profession of both the sides to work out a mutually acceptable system for the entry of each other’s law firms into the two countries.

In a meeting between law minister Salman Khurshid and his UK counterpart, Kenneth Clarke, in Delhi, it was agreed to let the Bar Council of India (BCI) – the country’s legal regulator - and the Law Society of England and Wales work together on finding a solution to the complex issue.

The British government has been pressing for the opening up of India’s legal sector, but the BCI has so far been opposed to allowing the entry of foreign law firms, largely due to pressure from domestic firms.

The Bombay High Court had in December 2009 debarred overseas law firms from opening offices in India. Another case challenging the entry of these firms is pending before the Madras High Court.

In his first public comments on the controversial issue since taking over as the law minister in July, Khurshid said he favoured the entry of UK law firms but put the ball in the court of the BCI.

BCI chairman Ashok Parija, who was present in the meeting, said: "We understand the UK firms want to open offices in India for non-litigation purposes - mainly drafting of business contracts, deeds, agreements and other similar works."

"We will negotiate with our UK counterparts to work out a principle of reciprocity, which will benefit both sides."
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