What are the conditions for Indian lawyers to practice in UK? BCI, Bar Council, Law Society of England and Wales MoU clarifies

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Bar Council of India (BCI) and its counterparts in England and Wales has confirmed that the English and Welsh legal services market is open to Indian lawyers and law firms, subject to certain restrictions..The MoU signed between the BCI and the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Law Society of England and Wales on June 5 comes in the wake of the BCI's decision to allow the entry of foreign lawyers and law firms into India on a reciprocity basis.The agreement clarified the conditions under which Indian lawyers will be allowed to practice in the United Kingdom..The Law Society and the Bar Council of England and Wales have agreed to support the implementation of the BCI's regulations to permit the practice of English law by English and Welsh lawyers and law firms in India in international commercial arbitration and non-litigious matters only, on the basis of reciprocity..Schedule A of the MoU contains the conditions and restrictions on practice of foreign lawyers in the UK. Foreign lawyers in England and Wales are free to practice any kind of law, including English and Welsh law, and without any requalification requirement, except for the following activities:The exercise of a right to audience in the courts and certain tribunals The conduct of litigation Reserved instrument activities Probate activities Notarial activities Administration of oaths..Foreign lawyers can practice in England and Wales as:a) sole practitioners, b) in a partnership of foreign lawyers, c) as an assistant or consultant with a firm of foreign lawyers, d) in partnership with solicitors, e) as an employee of a solicitor and f) as in-house lawyers..Similarly, the bodies agreed that the BCI would have the power to regulate the practice of law in India by foreign lawyers and firms. The 2022 BCI Rules will have an overriding effect on the MoU in this regard.Significantly, the BCI has said that in a press release that its recently introduced Rules allowing the entry of foreign law firms on a reciprocal basis "needed certain crucial changes".It added that it will consider representations from Indian law firms and a section of the Indian Bar, as well as the opinions of foreign bodies before making such changes..BCI signs MoU with Bar Council and Law Society of England & Wales to allow exchange programme for lawyers.[Read MoU]