DSK Legal partner Balbir Singh, who was appointed as one of six law firm lawyers to the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) external panel in September 2012, has resigned from the panel.
Delhi partner Singh said that the panel appointment was ordinarily for three years but that he had decided to step down because of conflict issues in acting for existing clients against the CCI.
He said that while DSK had been appearing for private clients “where the CCI is supporting the private party, but where it is opposing the private party, there was a conflict for us”.
He added that he had appeared for the CCI in around eight to 10 matters over the last one-and-a-half years against a number of law firms, of which several had been reported by Legally India, such as NSE case before the Compat, the DLF penalty, the Jet Etihad deal, and the cement makers investigation.
While the CCI could still call on him to represent it, he was now free to appear anywhere, said Balbir. Other firms that were appointed to the panel in 2012 included Advaya Legal in Mumbai, Canpisce & Co and Verus Advocates in Delhi, and Fox Mandal & Co in Kolkata.
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Having said that Balbir Singh is a good lawyer.
But on the other hand, it's also a worthwhile gig for picking up publicity and experience that you can later showcase to other clients when you quit.
What do you think? Risky or worthwhile gambit?
Actually, it is time for a debate on the manner in which Govt. and its authorities, agencies etc engage/retain lawyers. Generally, they fail to retain good legal talent for which public interest which they are obliged to protect suffers. Govt. work is nobody's work unless there is some personal/political angle to it. Most unfortunately, there are very few people in the Govt. (including bodies, undertakings, authorities) who have the ability to appreciate good legal work.
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