One of Birmingham’s leading barristers’ chambers has stepped up its pursuit of direct links with India in preparation for the deregulation of India’s legal market.
No5 Chambers is working with some of India’s leading legal advisers, Singhania and Co, to stage the ‘India – Gateway to the Future’ conference in New Delhi in April 2009. The event will provide opportunities for UK and Indian lawyers in the UK and India to network and build strategic alliances.
Foreign lawyers are currently prohibited from practising in India, however, the Indian Government is pushing to free-up the market.
Ekwall Tiwana, a barrister at No5 Chambers, believes deregulation will happen and those looking to India as a growth market need to be making alliances now.
“India is one of the world’s leading emerging economies and there is much to be learned by both UK and European law firms, as well as Indian law firms, about how we can utilise relationships.
“Back in July, the High Court in India postponed making a decision on whether overseas law firms can practise in India, but I believe that there will be major developments in this area in the next two years. It is essential that relationships are formed now so we are ready to meet demand when the change comes,” he said.
Over the past two decades Indian law firms have been setting up offices in London and across Europe.
Sharon Bamford, chief executive of the UK Business India Council, and Alison Hook, head of the international department at the Law Society of England and Wales are two of the leading British speakers at the conference.
Dr HR Bhardwaj, the Law Minister of India and Dr Vinod Agrawal, the former law secretary to the Indian government will speak about the opportunities India will present once the legal sector has been deregulated.
Vijay Goel, senior partner at Singhania’s London office, said: “The free flow of trade between India and the rest of the world is essential to the worldwide economy. It is only a matter of time before India’s government will deregulate the legal sector and it will then all be about which companies can make the successful transition.
“Navigating business opportunities in India demands a real understanding of the underlying economic and cultural trends. The conference will give access to key decision makers and help build alliances for the future.”
The event will take place between from April 23-26, 2009 and be hosted at the renowned Imperial Hotel in New Delhi.
