Foreign Lawyers & Law Firms In India: The Road Ahead: An Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 30
- 1 min read
Neeve Anand, B.BA. LL.B. (Hons). Gujarat, National Law University, Gandhinagar
ABSTRACT
Recently, the Bar Council of India (BCI) enforced the amended Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers & Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022. Under these rules, foreign legal entities may now provide advice on international legal issues and participate in non-litigious matters within the strict boundaries set by the BCI. However, they are prohibited from practicing Indian law or appearing before any Indian courts or tribunals. The full impact of these regulatory changes remains uncertain. In this light, I aim to analyse both the opportunities and challenges posed by this legal liberalization.
By comparing India’s approach with that of another South-Asian jurisdiction, namely Hong Kong, this paper offers a fresh perspective on how India may balance openness to international firms while ensuring certain checks and safeguards are in place to protect the growth and prosperity of its domestic legal market and lawyers. This article argues that while India’s opening of its legal market shares similarities with Hong Kong’s experience, regulatory foresight and political stability should be given utmost importance to ensure sustainable growth.
