India’s ban on foreign lawyers practicing, let alone, opening an office, in that country has been a frequent item in the news lately. In a December ruling, the ban was upheld by a Bombay High Court, prohibiting such firms as Chadbourne Park and White and Case from obtaining the licenses necessary for opening up shop. The ban, however, is not a deterrent to global powerhouse Clifford Chance.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the firm expects with some confidence to have an office in Bombay by as soon as late 2012. By then, Clifford, as well as number of other firms, hope that the ban will have been lifted. For now, another suit is scheduled to be heard next week that will address whether foreign lawyers are even allowed to give clients advice in India at all. The case is expected to end up before the country’s Supreme Court as India’s government continues feel pressure from such fronts as the British banking lobby.
Clifford Chance is one of the world’s leading law firms with 29 offices in 20 countries and 3,600 legal advisors globally. The firm is structured around six global practice areas: Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, and Tax, Pensions and Employment.
