Govt pursuing issue of foreign law firms to practice in India

The government is "actively pursuing" with the Bar Council of India the issue of framing rules so that foreign law firms can practice in India on a reciprocal basis, Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda informed Rajya Sabha today.
"The government is actively pursuing with the Bar Council of India (BCI) for framing rules on the issue of entry of foreign lawyers/law firms to practice the profession of law in India on reciprocal basis," the minister said in a written reply.
Responding to a related question on whether litigation sector will remain the exclusive domain of Indian lawyers, he said the issue can be "determined" only after the rules are framed by BCI.

The UK and the US have been requesting successive governments in the country to open up the legal sector to foreign firms.
Representatives of BCI have held informal talks with Gowda in this regard.
The government is of the view that the legal sector would be opened up to foreign law firms in a phased manner which would also help the Indian legal fraternity.

The view within the government is that once the foreign forms open offices in India, they would be hiring local legal brains to appear before courts.
The Commerce Ministry is also keen on this step as it would help in the government's policy of 'ease of doing business' in India.

The government also feels that offices of foreign legal firms in India will help government departments in hiring services of international legal experts in arbitration cases.
The Advocates Act, which is administered by BCI, provides for foreign lawyers or law firms to visit India on reciprocal basis for temporary periods to advise their clients on foreign law and diverse international legal issues.