BCI’s Shock Notice Sparks War of Words with CMS IndusLaw & Dentons Link Legal
Top law firms CMS IndusLaw and Dentons Link Legal have firmly rejected the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) claims of violating rules through their international tie-ups. Both firms maintain that they operate as fully compliant Indian law firms and expressed surprise at the regulator’s stand.
CMS IndusLaw said it was “dismayed and surprised” by the BCI’s notice, which was issued almost simultaneously with a public press release on 5 August. The firm clarified that it is an independent Indian law firm practising only Indian law.
“We strongly deny any suggestion that we have broken the rules. We do not allow any foreign lawyer to practise Indian or foreign law in India, and no Indian lawyer in our firm practises foreign law within the country,” the firm stated.
The firm further added that the BCI’s action was based on “misconceptions and assumptions” which would be addressed in its formal reply.
Dentons Link Legal — which entered into a combination with global firm Dentons in May 2023, marketed as India’s first global law firm combination — also defended its position. It stated that it is entirely owned, controlled, and managed by Indian advocates and clearly falls under the BCI’s definition of an “Indian Law Firm.”
“Our combination with Dentons has always complied with all applicable laws, including the Advocates Act,” the firm said, adding that it will submit a formal response reaffirming its compliance.
The controversy comes amid regulatory uncertainty over co-branding arrangements and international structures like Swiss vereins, which are often used by global law firms to operate under a unified brand while maintaining separate entities.
