The Hindu : National : ``Entry of foreign law firms only after full consultations"

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Friday, Nov 10, 2006
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``Entry of foreign law firms only after full consultations"

Legal Correspondent

Decision was conveyed to a team of the U.S.-India Business Council

New Delhi: The Centre has made it clear that decision on entry of foreign law firms to operate in India will be taken only after a wider consultation with the members of the legal profession and various Bar Councils.

The Centre's decision was conveyed to a delegation of the Legal Services Executive Committee of the United States India Business Council (US-IBC) when it called on the Union Minister of State for Law, K. Venkatapathy on Wednesday evening.

The 15-member delegation led by Shishir Sharma appraised the activities of the Council with special emphasis on exploring opportunities and development of Indo-U.S. ties in the legal profession to promote trade relations and broaden commercial ties between the two countries.

US-IBC is the premier business advocacy organisation promoting U.S. commercial interests in India.

The Council was formed in 1975 at the request of the Indian and the United States' governments. The US-IBC is the voice of the American private sector investing in India.

Reception

The members of the delegation were given a reception on Wednesday on behalf of Titus & Co., a leading commercial law firm.

According to Diljeet Titus, Senior Member, Titus & Co "The U.S.-India Business Council Legal Services Executive mission would help the legal fraternity to understand each other's business demands and environments well."

During their three-day stay here the mission leaders and participants will be directly interacting with some of the key decision makers to advocate changes in the government policies and regulations that will enable foreign legal professionals to conduct business with India.

The delegation impressed on the Minister the need for permitting the entry of foreign law firms.

The Minister accompanied by Law Secretary T.K. Viswanathan told the delegation that the suggestions would be looked into. A wider consultation was required before taking a view on the issue, Mr. Venkatapathy said.

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