Debate continues about whether foreign lawyers may fly in to advise clients in India

The debate continues about whether it is permissible under Indian regulations for foreign lawyers to fly in to the country to advise clients on international and foreign law. A panel-discussion at the first American Bar Association (ABA) conference in India held last week at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai could not find agreement on the issue of “fly-in-fly-out” (FIFO) lawyering in India. The panel was chaired by Hans Michael Giesen, Berlin-based partner of German law firm Görg, who asked fellow panelist and founding partner of PSA Legal Counsellors Priti Suri whether she would hypothetically invite fellow panellist and Shearman & Sterling of counsel, Rob Mundheim, to India to assist with work for a client they were jointly advising. “That’s dangerous territory,” mused Suri, explaining that she believed it would be permissable for her to “invite him because a one-off meeting between an Indian and a foreign lawyer explaining the client’s memo is not engaging in the practice of law by the foreign lawyer.” She added that there is much debate and uncertainty about the issue in India, and that there should be codification of the law on this subject.

Debate continues about whether foreign lawyers may fly in to advise clients in India legallyindia.com Mon, Jan 30, 2012