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Dentons’ combination with Link Legal in India commences
The combination between global law firm Dentons and India-based firm Link Legal, entered into in October of last year, is now underway.
Jerome Doraisamy
In October 2022, Lawyers Weekly reported that the world’s biggest law firm, Dentons, was entering into a “historic combination” with Link Legal in India, offering an established, physical presence for Dentons in the world’s most populous nation.
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Dentons Link Legal will be a leading full-service law firm, with more than 19 practice areas and 150 lawyers and professionals, including over 40 partners, and offices in five of India’s six biggest cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Dentons Link Legal’s Indian lawyers will represent clients inside India, the firm explained, and Dentons lawyers will represent Link Legal’s clients outside of India.
The commencement of the combination follows the announcement, in March, that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided to allow foreign law firms and lawyers to practise in the country — a move that is considered “hugely exciting” for global firms that operate in Australia, with some now considering their options.
As reported last week by Lawyers Weekly, the opening up of India will also impact in-house lawyers in Australia.
Speaking about the newly commenced combination, Dentons Link Legal executive chairman Atul Sharma said that the practice is “committed to meeting and exceeding the needs of our clients who are increasingly becoming global”.
“With the launch of Dentons Link Legal, we are now both local and global, allowing us to connect our clients to leading legal talent around the world while continuing to be wholly owned, controlled and managed by Indian lawyers in India,” he said.
Dentons global chief executive Elliott Portnoy added: “Given India’s prominent position on the world stage, this is an important moment for our firm and for our clients.
“We have always viewed India as a vibrant and strategically important market, and as the first global law firm in India, through our combination with Link Legal, we are now able to connect our clients to leading talent in the world’s most populous country which boasts a thriving economy and immeasurable opportunities for client collaboration.”
And Dentons’ Africa regional chief executive Noor Kapdi noted: “Our longstanding and trusted relationship with the leadership at Dentons Link Legal made them an obvious combination partner for Dentons in this most important market.
“This will truly be a combination that accelerates Dentons’ journey from largest to leading.”
Also in March, Dentons revealed its intention to combine with Philippine law firm PJS Law as the firm looks to shore up its position in south-east Asia.
