Entry Of Foreign Lawyers: Before Notifying Rules, SILF Requests BCI To Discuss Amended Rules

Entry Of Foreign Lawyers: Before Notifying Rules, SILF Requests BCI To Discuss Amended Rules

The BCI recently announced its intention to likely finalize and enforce revised regulations governing the entry of foreign lawyers and law firms by the end of July.

Dr. Lalit Bhasin, President of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), wrote to BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, requesting a discussion on the amended rules prior to their official notification. SILF's letter addresses the BCI's recent announcement regarding these regulations, made during a meeting at the Law Society's Hall in London with representatives from the Law Society and the Bar Council of England and Wales.

Initially, the Indian legal market will only open to lawyers and law firms from the United Kingdom (UK).

The movement towards liberalizing the Indian legal market gained momentum in March 2023, with the BCI's notification of the Bar Council of India Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022.

Subsequently, on March 19, 2023, the BCI issued a press release indicating that foreign law firms would be permitted to establish offices in India solely for advising their foreign clients on foreign laws. Following this, SILF submitted a representation to the BCI expressing concerns about the implications of opening up the Indian legal market.

While SILF acknowledged its support for allowing foreign lawyers and firms to practice in India, it raised questions about the timing and implementation of this initiative.

In its July 1 letter to BCI, SILF said that these concerns were not discussed, and that the rules were being made without consultation with SILF.