Dentons Link Legal, CMS IndusLaw combinations violating rules: BCI

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has sent a notice flagging unauthorised collaborations or combinations between Indian law firms and foreign law firms, particularly mentioning CMS IndusLaw and Dentons Link Legal.

A press release issued by the BCI states,

"These combinations are often structured through Swiss Vereins, strategic alliances, exclusive referral models, or joint branding initiatives, which are then publicly promoted under combined identities (e.g., Dentons Link Legal and CMS INDUSLAW), thereby portraying to clients and the public at large a de facto integrated legal practice across jurisdictions, including within India.

The Council affirms that such structures, if implemented and operationalised without prior registration under the Bar Council of India Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2023 (as amended in 2025) (hereinafter, the “Rules”), are impermissible."

Reference is made to the recently amended BCI Rules governing the entry and operation of foreign lawyers and law firms in India, which provide that "Indian-Foreign Law Firms" must be registered under the Rules. The BCI press release states,

"Any arrangement that creates a joint platform, uses a unified brand, involves co-branding of legal services, or results in shared client servicing without registration is in contravention of the Rules."

It goes on to cite the Supreme Court's judgment in AK Balaji, which held that foreign law firms cannot do indirectly (through an alliance, combination or arrangement) what they are prohibited from doing directly.

The BCI has also revealed that it will be sending notices to these combinations of firms, with the threat of action in case of non-compliance.

"These notices direct the parties to submit comprehensive written explanations, full documentation of the arrangements, and declarations as to the structure, operations, governance, and regulatory disclosures (or the lack thereof) within a stipulated timeframe. Failure to comply may result in action under the Advocates Act, 1961 and the Rules, including proceedings for professional misconduct, penalties etc."

The release ends with a warning to lawyers and firms to adhere to the newly amended BCI Rules.

"Accordingly, all law firms, lawyers, clients, and stakeholders are hereby advised to strictly adhere to the applicable regulatory framework. Any foreign lawyer, law firm, or Indian law firm found to be in violation shall be dealt with firmly and in accordance with law."

Shortly after the BCI announced its amended Rules in May 2025, International law firm CMS announced that IndusLaw has become one of its member firms.

"This is an exclusive arrangement between CMS and IndusLaw and all CMS work will go to IndusLaw," IndusLaw co-founder Gaurav Dani told Bar & Bench in an interview.

This was the second collaboration between an Indian firm and an international firm, after Dentons Link Legal was announced in May 2023.