The Bar Council of India (BCI) has withdrawn the 5 August press release naming Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw, and accusing them of flouting regulations involving alliances with foreign law firms following a Delhi High Court order.
In the in the case of Atul Sharma & Anr v BCI & Anr, the court required the BCI to revisit the decision to issue the press release, naming Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw.
The matter emerged when the BCI sent a show-cause notice to Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw stating that their collaborations with foreign law firms violated BCI rules and guidelines. After issuing this notice, the BCI had also issued a press release flagging such unauthorised combinations and collaborations between foreign and Indian law firms, naming Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw.
In a 28 August 2025 hearing, the court gave directions to the parties for their respective filings in the proceedings and extended the stay on the BCI’s final decision in the show-cause notice until the next hearing date, which has yet to be published in the official court records online.
The Atul Sharma & Anr v BCI & Anr case is a civil writ petition in which the court has said that the BCI cannot take a final decision on its show-cause notice.
The matter is pending before Delhi High Court.
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BCI takes aim at CMS IndusLaw, Dentons Link Legal for tie-ups
BCI targets Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw for allegedly flouting regulations relating to alliances with foreign firms
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