The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Sunday assured Indian lawyers that foreign mediators and law firms will not be allowed to appear in any court or judicial forum. BCI says they can advise their clients on foreign and international law.
The BCI’s assurance comes after its recent decision to allow foreign lawyers and law firms to work in some jurisdictions. judgment has shown mixed reactions and “some misunderstanding”. Recently the apex bar body made an important decision to allow foreign lawyers and law firms to work in areas such as foreign law, international legal issues and judicial issues.
The BCI’s decision to notify the Bar Council of India Rules, 2022 for the registration and regulation of foreign lawyers and foreign law firms in India provoked mixed reactions from bar leaders.
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Some misconceptions are being expressed about the recent notification issued by the BCI regarding the entry of foreign lawyers and law firms into India, it said in a statement. Therefore, in order to clarify the issue, the BCI considers it appropriate to present these facts for the information of all advocates, the public, so that there is no room for any misunderstanding or misinformation.
Foreign lawyers and law firms will be allowed to advise their clients on foreign and international law, a statement issued by the secretary of the BCI Srimanto Sen. It is said that foreign lawyers and law firms should do advisory work on these laws only for their foreign clients and should be allowed to work only in non-judicial areas.
It was added that foreign lawyers and law firms should not be allowed to appear in any court, tribunal, board of directors before any legal authority or an order or any meeting. It states that the entry of foreign lawyers will only be in cooperation, they will be allowed to appear for their clients in four international business negotiations.
