Partnership Prospects for Indian & British Legal Firms
Britain’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Minister Catherine Ashton, who is on a visit to India has suggested the investment in partnership between Indian and British lawyers to garner international contracts.
The agenda of Baroness Ashton’s visit is the globalization of legal services, and the possible partnership of Indian and British legal firms in tapping a whole new business opportunity.
Her 10-day visit will include meetings with lawyers in Chandigarh,
Bangalore and Chennai.
The Minister is optimistic that partnerships between legal firms
would enable joint bids for global contracts, and shift commercial
work from London to India.
The commonalities between the two
countries would cement a compatible partnership, the minister
believes.
Baronness Ashton has engaged in discussions with Indian Law Minister
H L Bhardwaj, Attorney General Milon Banerjee and representatives
of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and Supreme Court Bar Association
to discuss the possibilities of alliances between Indian and
British legal firms in this profitable sector.
The response from the Indian government and relevant organizations
has been welcomed. Meanwhile, she sought to dispel the fears
of Indian lawyers who were wary of British lawyers practicing
in India under such an agreement.
The Minister made it clear that lawyers from Britain were interested
in taking up opportunities in the global arena along with Indian
lawyers, and not in practicing in India.
She urged India to open
up to legal firms from the UK, and allow them to operate on the
same lines as Indian firms do in Britain. The legal services
industry contributes to 1.4% of Britain’s GDP, approximately GBP14.9 billion per annum.
Baronness Ashton assured Indian lawyers that simpler visa rules were underway to facilitate their entry into the UK legal market to set up operations.
