In-House Counsel

?Indian firms are not allowed to have more the 20 partners, cannot advertise their services via websites, and cannot even give someone a business card unless it has been specifically requested.? This quote comes from a recent article in the Economist. To test its accuracy, I searched for Luthra & Luthra, one of India?s biggest law firms, and sure enough the home screen thrusts at you a ?Disclaimer & Confirmation? that reads:

?As per the rules of the Bar Council of India, we are not permitted to solicit work and advertise. By clicking on the icon below, the user acknowledges the following:? ? basically that nothing on the website is selling the firm?s services. The constraints on the marketing visibility of Indian law firms, not to mention the drastic limitations on their size, must present difficulties for in-house lawyers in the United States who need to retain experienced and sophisticated local counsel.