BCI Clarification: Foreign Lawyers and Law Firms entry won't affect Indian Lawyers, Read here

BCI has clarified confusions over entry of law firms and foreign lawyers in India as they will be restricted to practise only for foreign clients in India. Read here to know more. 

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a press notification stating the reasonable restrictions on recently allowed entry of Foreign Lawyers and Law Firms in India. After the BCI's approval for foreign legal practitioners was issued, several confusions arose as the decision was mis-interpreted. Therefore, the bar council has clarified that the Foreign Lawyers and Legal Firms will be operate in restricted sphere in India, and this move will not affect the Indian Lawyers. 

The Foreign Lawyers and Legal Firms's practice in India will be limited to providing consultations to their clients regarding Foreign Laws and International Laws, they will not be able to litigate at courts or judicial forums, therefore, safeguarding the career opportunities of Indian Advocates. Moreover, only those foreign lawyers and law firms will be allowed to practise in India, whose country permits Indian Lawyers to practise in their land. Therefore, it is a reciprocal opportunity intended to further extend opportunities for Indian Advocates outside India. 

The official notification stated, "Experience and facts show that MNCs and foreign commercial A entities, in case of International Commercial Arbitration, don't prefer India as a venue of Arbitration Proceedings, because they are not allowed to bring lawyers and law firms from their own countries to advise them in International Commercial Arbitration Proceedings, thus, making them to prefer London, Singapore, Paris etc. as the venue for Arbitration Proceedings. BCI's rules will, now, encourage India being preferred as a venue for such International Arbitration Proceedings, thus, helping India become a hub of International Commercial Arbitration,"

Indian legal domain is already competitive, and if entry of Foreign Lawyers and Law Firms without restrictions is allowed, then it will be another challenge for Indian Advocates. 

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