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.

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