IP Lawyers Mull Offshore Outsourcing of Legal Work

Reed Smith partner Ajay Raju beleives that India's enormous, educated work force, particularly in the math and science fields, makes outsourcing legal work in the IP practice an extremely attractive option. According to Jeff Blumenthal at The Legal Intelligencer on May 18, 2005:

Raju said cooperation between Indian and American business interests should only increase as the Indian government decreases economic protectionism. The
Indian Advocates Act of 1961 prohibits foreign lawyers from practicing law in
India. But the Indian government has recently proposed a controversial measure
to allow foreign lawyers and law firms to enter India at the very least in
alliances with Indian firms. Another proposal calls for foreign firms to be
allowed to open law offices but not argue cases in Indian courtrooms. Raju said
because India is a signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services, it
will have to enter into negotiations regarding opening up of service sectors to
foreign service suppliers such as law firms. He said the potential opening of
American law offices in India would only enhance outsourcing capabilities. "This
is not a fad or a trend," Raju said. "It's the reality of the global economy.
And the future is bright for India."

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