The United Kingdom says it welcomes more Indian law firms to its legal industry.
As part of broader lobbying efforts towards the liberalisation of the Indian legal market, the British Minister of Justice, Lord Bach, met with Veerappa Moily, the Indian Minister for Law and Justice, in August. As part of the visit, Bach also met with local lawyers in a forum to explain that Indian law firms are allowed to work in Britain. FoxMandal Little and ALMT Legal are among the select few Indian law firms who have now set up there.
Local lawyers, who are largely opposed to liberalisation, have previously raised the lack of reciprocity to allow them to practice in the UK as a major impediment towards the liberalisation process.
“We welcome Indian lawyers,” said Bach, in his speech to the UK trade and investment workshop, held in Chennai. “We allow virtually unrestricted access for foreign firms. It doesn’t mean that the UK lawyers have to compete with them for work. On the contrary, the foreign firms present extra work opportunities for English lawyers.”
In an earlier meeting with the Indian Minister, Bach argued that foreign lawyers should be allowed to advise local clients, but not to stand in court. However, the Minister said any decision on liberalisation would depend on the opinions of local lawyers, which further delays any decisive steps towards this happening soon.