Indian lawyers prepare for phasing in entry of foreign law firms

After 20 years of opposing the opening up of India to foreign practitioners, the Society of Indian Law Firms is saying - through its president - that their permission should be given 'in a phased, sequential manner, starting 2015'.

24 February 2015

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Lalit Bhasin, president of the Society of Inidan Law Firms (SILT) said that India had needed the last 20 years to prepare itself for the competition of foreign players. Now it is time, he said, to 'see the reality'. He said: 'If the Indian legal profession has to remain relevant - not only in India but also globally - we have to face with these issues.'

Three steps

The phases he foresees start with the liberalisation of Indian legal services (for instance, being allowed to market through websites and brochures) and go to the necessary changes to the Advocate's Act 1961 (which currently blocks foreign law firms) and then to allowing foreign law firms to practise in their own law in India. Source: Bar and Bench