Commenting on the new UK-India free trade deal, Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:
“While the UK trade agreement with India is overall positive news for the country, we are really disappointed that it does not extend to legal services.
“Our aim is not - and has never been - to compete with Indian law firms but rather to complement and work alongside them to enhance the international arbitration landscape.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recognise the importance of legal services to the UK economy and realise the mutual benefits of enhancing the quality and efficiency of legal services in both the UK and India.
“We’ll continue to work with the UK government to consider next steps and through our memorandum of understanding with the Bar Council of India to continue to explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation and legal exchange.”