Law firm expansion into India

[juliagrosicka]

Hi,

I am just researching where a law firm can open their next office. By way of background the law firm strengths are in energy (whole spectrum), financial services, life sciences, tech, has a strong US presence, few offices in Europe, Singapore and 3 in Middle East. I have been thinking about India as a location for a law firm to open the office- however the more I read the strict rules the more I question whether it is practically viable? Is anyone able to assist?

Thanks in advance

 

[optimistic_undergrad]

Hi,

I am just researching where a law firm can open their next office. By way of background the law firm strengths are in energy (whole spectrum), financial services, life sciences, tech, has a strong US presence, few offices in Europe, Singapore and 3 in Middle East. I have been thinking about India as a location for a law firm to open the office- however the more I read the strict rules the more I question whether it is practically viable? Is anyone able to assist?

Thanks in advance

Being a law student in India, I am a bit aware of this situation. The Bar Council of India is trying to find ways to open up the door for foreign law firms to operate in India, however, many elite lawyers and law firms oppose this idea. There is currently a huge barrier to entering the Indian legal industry. I hope it might change in the near future, but changes are something that takes a while to happen in India. The only international law firm that I know operates in India is Dentons. However, Dentons does not have an independent practice in the country; rather, it has a tie-up with a local law firm and therefore, Dentons operate under the name of Denton Link Legal in India.

Don't get me wrong. There is a huge market in India. A market that is highly profitable for law firms and is driven by a huge domestic demand. It is the conservative elements of the Indian legal industry who are not willing to share a piece of their pie. To further strengthen the will of the elite Indian lawyers and law firms, there is the bureaucratic problem that is quite integral to the administrative structure of India. Bottom line is that India is a potential market, and IF it opens its door, you will see a full-on competitive race between the biggest law firms in the world for capturing the market.