Encouraging Indo-US commerce is on top of the agenda for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). Come March 25, the International Section of the NYSBA will be kicking off the second edition of its conference in Mumbai.

The conference is organized by NYSBA, with speakers addressing a variety of business and legal issues, including strategies for business investment in India and ways to promote corporate social responsibility. “The India Chapter’s upcoming meeting in Mumbai represents another excellent opportunity to learn about the current state of Indian and International law as well as exciting business opportunities from authoritative legal and corporate leaders,” said Kaviraj Singh, the chairperson of the International Section’s India Chapter and Partner of Trustman & Co., a Delhi-based firm.

The International Section, founded in 1987 currently enjoys the membership of about 2,200 lawyers across over 50 countries, a majority of whom are admitted to the Bar of the State of New York. However, NYSBA is the only Bar Association that is displaying such overt interest in the commerce of another country, and taking proactive steps to encourage communication between the two countries.

Stephen P. Younger, the president-elect for the NYSBA spoke to Bar & Bench about the India Chapter. “India is one of the major world economies and has a major section of lawyers. Also a large number of commercial transactions are in English and are under New York law. And considering that there is a lot of investment flowing into the US, we feel that it is important to have good working relationships between Indian and New York lawyers,” he said.

Speaking on their relations with the Bar Council of India and other state bodies, Younger, also a Partner at the New York-based Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, said, “We are interested in forming relationships. The last time we were here, we met several representatives of the Government on how we can best cooperate between our nations.” The origins of the international section are, however, unique. The NYSBA, having recognized that several of their lawyers have gone back to practice in their home countries, decided to open chapters in countries where their members were, to enable them to be in touch with a global community of lawyers as well as New York commercial law.

“My role is to encourage more interaction between Indian and US lawyers and make them aware about the immense opportunity of working together in view of the growing trade between the two countries. The India Chapter wishes to play a positive role in India by promoting commerce with New York,” said Singh. “India is poised to be the third largest economy, and US is the largest economy. It is mutually beneficial to cooperate”, he added.

A fairly large number is expected to turn out at the conference this year. Atleast 200 Indian lawyers are expected to turn up for this conference. After all, lawyers are the biggest beneficiaries of improved business opportunities, domestically or internationally.

To register for the Conference, please click here.