Delhi HC stops Bar Council of India from acting against Dentons Link Legal for foreign tie-up

The Delhi High Court has restrained the Bar Council of India (BCI) from taking any final action against Dentons Link Legal, amid an ongoing probe into the Indian law firm’s international alliance with global giant Dentons. The interim relief came while the court heard a petition filed by Dentons Link Legal's Executive Chairman, Atul Sharma, challenging the BCI’s show cause notice.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notice to the BCI and criticized it for releasing a public statement naming the firm before concluding the show cause proceedings. The court directed the BCI to revisit its press release dated August 5 and allowed the inquiry to continue, while halting any conclusive action for now.

The BCI had objected to recent collaborations between Indian law firms and foreign counterparts, including alliances like Dentons Link Legal and CMS IndusLaw, alleging that such tie-ups violate regulations restricting the practice of foreign law firms in India.


“These combinations...create the impression of an integrated legal practice in India,” the BCI had said in a press statement, referring to joint branding and structural arrangements.

Appearing for Sharma, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that Dentons Link Legal remains fully compliant with Indian laws. He emphasized that the firm is run by Indian advocates, and the alliance involves only tech sharing, co-branding, and employment support—none of which, he said, breach BCI rules.