Chennai: Bar Council of India (BCI) has flagged off some foreign law firms that are working in India as they are joint institutions jointly with Indian law firms and they have warned lawyers and firms that whatever is stopped directly by Indian law should not be strived in any indirect manner.In a press statement on Tuesday, the BCI said: “Indian-foreign law firms” defined under Rule 2 (VI) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) and VII) need to be registered before any activity is registered before the commencement of any activity. Rules.,The statement was released as two institutions – Denton Link Legal and CMS Indsalow – In violation of the applicable Indian legal and regulatory structure, “The council has issued separate demonstration notices to the concerned institutions and persons involved in the above arrangements.”The statement further states: “Pending assistant, the council moves forward that” Denton Link “,” CMS Indslav “, or any continuity of public or professional activity under names such as any similar branding or structure, can be treated as a pricing factor with such models, without any continuity of public or professional activity, pre -registration and approval from BCI.,“BCI mentions with serious concern that some foreign law firms are holding themselves as integrated or integrated global legal service platforms, together with firms, Indian law. Denton linked Legal and CMS Indslav), which has a really integrated legal practice to the clients and the public on a large scale, including within India.,“The council confirms that such structures are implemented without prior registration under the Bar Council of India Rules for registration and regulation of foreign lawyers and foreign law firms in India, 2023 (as modified in 2025) (after,” rules “), are incomplete. The rules, clearly pre-expectations, procedural formalities and any Indian-foreign law firm prescribe sufficient requirements for cooperation, including registration, disclosure, governance and moral compliance, ”said this.“The council confirmed the legal status established by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the bar 2018 in the bar 2018. To keep it clearly, if an individual foreign lawyer is prevented from practice in law in India, a group of lawyers or firms (by any name) are equally prevented from doing so as a collective, ”it is said. The statement stated that the expression “practice of law” is not limited to court room advocacy, but this includes providing legal advice, preparing legal documents, contract formatting, interactions and all other related services. The Supreme Court further clarified that foreign firms or lawyers should not present such services unless they present themselves in Indian regulatory architecture under the Advocates Act and BCI rules, the couple.In this regard, the council clarified that foreign lawyers and law firms can practice in a regulated manner in India, only in relation to foreign law and international law, not in Indian law nor in litigation. “The council is committed to protecting the sovereignty of India’s legal system to promote moral and valid boundary cross -border legislation,” said this.
