Following the individual complaints by SILF, the Bar Council of Delhi has issued notice to all four firms seeking replies on or before 7th August" />
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New target acquired? SILF, bar council serve notice on Big 4 consulting firms for illegal practice of law

Economic Times and ET Now reported that the Delhi bar council, after a written complaint by the Society of Indian Law Firms (Silf), has served written notice on the Big Four accountancy firms, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY, for allegedly “engaging in the unauthorised practice” of law:

Following the individual complaints by SILF, the Bar Council of Delhi has issued notice to all four firms seeking replies on or before 7th August. The council has also directed firm representatives to be present in person on 7th August, 2015 failing which ex-parte orders will be passed.

The four chartered accountancy (CA) and consultancy firms all confirmed receipt of the notice to the ET and said they would respond in due course, while PwC said that it did not have a law practice in India.

The report did not specify whether the notice was a notice threatening legal proceedings or a simple warning under internal bar council rules.

The Madras high court ruled in 2012 that:

Oversight of the Bar Council on non-litigation activities of such law firms was virtually nil till now, and exploiting this loop hole, many accountancy and management firms are employing law graduates, who are rendering legal services, which is contrary to the Advocates Act.

No action against the CA firms has been taken to date. The government meanwhile has been making noises about allowing the entry of foreign law firms to India soon, to the chagrin of SILF

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