The Times quotes Rupa Lakha on the Indian legal services market opening up to foreign lawyers
In a historic move, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has announced the opening of the Indian legal services market to foreign lawyers.
India is one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world, but its legal services market has been almost entirely closed to foreign lawyers and law firms. The new rules recognise that ‘the world is becoming a global village’ and as international trade and commerce advance at great pace, it is time to open the market.
Rupa Lakha, Partner in Construction, Engineering & Projects and head of the India desk, provides comment on this issue for The Times:
"The rules represent a 'significant change' and demonstrate a more international outlook from India."
"However, the restrictions on the work permitted will mean that foreign law firms will not rush to open offices... liberalisation of India’s legal market will take many years rather than months”.
Read the full guidance here.
Read the full article in The Times here.