Breakthrough Announcement: India Opens Legal Services Market to Foreign Lawyers and Firms

After decades of deadlock, India’s legal services market may finally be opening up to foreign lawyers and firms. The Bar Council of India has announced new rules allowing foreign lawyers to practice foreign law in the country on a reciprocity basis, marking a significant breakthrough in a long-standing issue.

The Law Society of England and Wales, which has been campaigning for this change for years, welcomed the decision as a historic one. Society president Lubna Shuja expressed optimism about the opportunities this move will create for solicitors and Indian advocates in both countries, as well as its potential to boost India’s economic ambitions.

India has been known for restricting legal practice to its own citizens, making it one of the last major global economies to do so. However, recent developments such as the Indian Supreme Court ruling in favor of foreign firms offering ‘fly in’ services and global firm Dentons announcing the first combination between a foreign and Indian firm have hinted at a shift in this longstanding policy.

The Bar Council of India’s new Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India reflect a change in perspective, with the council stating that opening up law practice to foreign lawyers in the field of foreign law and international arbitration can benefit the legal profession in India as well.

Rupa Lakha, a partner at City firm Charles Russell Speechlys, described the announcement as a “hugely exciting development” that paves the way for collaboration between UK and Indian lawyers. The Law Society also expressed gratitude to the Bar Council of India and the Indian Ministry of Law and Justice for their constructive discussions on the issue and looks forward to further engagement on the implementation of the regulations.

Overall, the decision to open up India’s legal services sector to foreign law firms is seen as a positive step towards fostering collaboration, cooperation, and joint practice between Indian advocates and solicitors, while also strengthening the trade partnership between the UK and India.