The Centre has initiated talks with countries, including the UK, on modalities for allowing their law firms limited entry into India.

While commerce ministry officials did not specify a timeframe, they said the Bar Council of India (BCI) had, for the first time, agreed to be part of the negotiations.

The chairman and vice-chairman of BCI, the apex regulatory body for lawyers in India, have now been nominated members of a working group scheduled to meet their British counterparts later this month.

Sources in the BCI, however, said, the regulator continued to have reservations about liberalising the legal sector.

The late January meeting, commerce ministry officials said, would decide on a mechanism for allowing non-practice legal advisory services aimed at enhancing trade and investment in the sector. New Brief

• No time-frame is specified to allow foreign cos limited entry into the sector
• Govt says Bar Council has, for the first time, agreed to be part of negotiations 

When contacted, BCI chairman Jagannath Patnaik said, “Being away from the discussions will not serve any purpose. The government asked our consent to be members of the Indian group and we have given it. But, so far, they have not told us anything about the parameters of the meeting.”