At a smaller meeting called by the commerce ministry on 1 September with legal industry stakeholders, including Society of Indian Law Firms (Silf), the Indian National Bar Association (INBA) and Bar Association of India (BAOI), the three Silf members present reiterated their position that foreign law firms, if they were to enter India, shouldn’t be allowed to hire Indian lawyers.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has invited the Society of Indian Law Firms (Silf) to help it fine-tune its proposal to the Law Commission, which was called upon by the Supreme Court to take a comprehensive look at the role of the bar councils’ “failure” and “inaction” in regulating the legal profession.

As managing partner Berjis Desai’s exit nears and after the departure of senior Mumbai rainmaker Akshay Chudasama, concerns mount over the firm holding on to its democratic structure and how it can remain competitive for the next 25 years.

And if you’ve read the article in Mint already, click through for additional interesting transcripts from the interview.

J Sagar Associates’ (JSA) intellectual-property-sister firm K&S Partners has promoted four to equity partner level.

K&S Partners – the intellectual property outfit of J Sagar Associates (JSA) – promoted three senior associates in its Gurgaon office to partnership effective 1 April 2013.

“I’m not nervous about it,” claims Jyoti Sagar about surrendering the last 7-odd per cent of equity he holds in the firm he started more than 20 years ago. “It is something I have known for 10 years, not something sudden.”

“Our model is well–known but people have carried the impression that it’s just a model but not for real. But people are trying to figure out what’s going on [now that I’m actually retiring].”

Jyoti Sagar Associates (JSA) partner Nishit Dhruva and two of his team have left after 18 months with the firm, restarting his former litigation and conveyancing practice with plans to turn full-service.

The Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) is hoping to widen its appeal outside of its traditional centre Delhi by strengthening local metro chapters and inducting new committee members.

SILF’s Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other regional chapters will be headed by prominent local lawyers.

Our fourth newsletter has details on JSA’s South India strategy as well as stories on lots of other legal entrepreneurs. Enter your email name and email address below to receive the next issue straight to your inbox:

Much of India is suffering under the delayed monsoon so badly that many economists are talking of revising growth forecasts downwards…