Bar Council of India Rebukes SILF Over Foreign Law Firms Entry

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has robustly countered the Society of Indian Law Firms' (SILF) opposition to the entry of foreign law firms into India, describing SILF as a faction representing less than 2% of the country's 15,000+ law firms. The BCI dismisses SILF's assertions as protectionist for shielding narrow interests.

According to BCI, the Advocates Act, 1961 empowers it as the sole regulatory body for legal practice and education in India. It asserts that the 2025 Amended Rules align with Supreme Court directives and international norms, permitting foreign firms to provide advisory services without practicing Indian law. The BCI criticizes SILF's monopolistic claims, noting how a few large firms dominate corporate and arbitration work.

Disparaging SILF's public remarks as potential professional misconduct, BCI said disciplinary measures could follow. BCI remains committed to reforms, seeking to unify law firms under a democratic platform. It extends consultation deadlines and plans a stakeholder meeting in Mumbai to discuss reforms. Challenges to BCI's model by SILF are deemed unfounded, with BCI supervising the integration of foreign advisory services into India's legal framework.