UK minister seeks foreign law firms' entry into India

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Kolkata, May 7 : While the Centre is yet to decide on allowing foreign law firms to function in the country, Bridget Prentice, the justice minister of the UK, is in India to persuade the government in this regard.

She said the Union law minister, HR Bhardwaj, was open to the idea of opening the doors for foreign law firms, and the UK was looking forward to a government decision shortly.

Prentice, who was in the city on Wednedsay, said British legal firms, having competence in international law, could help Indian companies develop their business internationally.

UK law firms are also eager to tie up with their Indian counterparts, which can actually work for Indian companies looking for foreign acquisitions.

Prentice said the UK law firms had been engaged in legal battles during Tata's Corus acquisition. Indian law firms could attain the same expertise after developing competence in the international legal system.

The UK's legal sector could help the Indian legal sector in this respect, she said.

However, the Indian government, according to law ministry officials, is in talks with the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), the apex body of law firms in the country, for safeguarding Indian law firms' interests to ensure that they don't fall by the wayside following the possible entry of major US and UK firms.