Foreign Law Firms in India: A New Era for Legal Practice
In a landmark move, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has amended its rules to permit foreign law firms and lawyers to practice non-litigious matters in India. This decision, announced in 2025, marks a significant shift in the country’s legal landscape, opening doors to global legal expertise while sparking debates about competition, regulation, and the future of Indian law firms. This blog explores the implications of this change, its scope, and what it means for the legal industry in India. Background: A Long-Standing Debate For decades, the entry of foreign law firms into India has been a contentious issue. The BCI, tasked with regulating legal practice, historically restricted foreign lawyers and firms from practicing in India, citing concerns over reciprocity, local expertise, and the protection of Indian lawyers’ livelihoods. Landmark cases like Lawyers Collective v. Bar Council of India (2009) upheld these restrictions, limiting foreign lawyers to “fly-in, fly-out” advisory r...