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At India’s law schools legal aid and pro bono culture is flourishing but somewhere along the line lawyers seem to lose the opportunity to do good.

Satyam settled a New York class action law suit against its shareholders for $125m. But was it good news for India?

Those who were predicting that the AZB-Clifford Chance break-up would be the beginning of the end for best friends everywhere had reason to think again this week.

Having survived recent media speculation that he was on his way out, law minister Veerappa Moily showed off that he is very much aware of the issues around him, as revealed in a candid interview with business daily Mint this week. He also remains ever the seasoned politician.

The Chennai writ petition against 31 foreign firms is certainly not achieving very much in pure legal terms after it was adjourned again this week of Indian independence celebrations. Manu Singhvi argued the case was politically premature, the petitioners held their positions and the BCI called for more time to get another meeting in, which is set to be held tomorrow. But the real effect is outside the court room.

From today Indian law firms will have to get used to AZB being officially single again, Legally India can reveal.

Clifford Chance and AZB broke off their best friendship late last night, which means that global CC rivals will again be more comfortable approaching AZB with referrals.

“I don’t think there is any single international firm out there which has the ability to sustain any firm like ours [in terms of referrals],” one AZB lawyer summed up eloquently last week.

Most lawyers were hoping for things to slow down by year-end but for many it’s been more a case of pre-year closings and petitions.

The Competition Commission (CCI) is tip-toeing ahead rather carefully and prudently it appears. Rather than swinging its cartel-sundering axe too readily, the CCI’s first ever decision this week went in favour of the alleged cartel, clearing 16 banks from having fixed home loan-related penalty rates.

This week the Delhi bar council settled what sounded like quite a violent fist and pistol fight between two elected members, allegedly.

After a long slumber, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fired its first warning shot across the bow of corporate India this week, allegedly slapping Kingfisher Airlines with a maximum fine of Rs 1 crore for not having played along with investigations.

At least two bombshells dropped both sides of this week.

Diwali is usually a quieter time in India, as lawyers spend time at home with their families basking in the warm glow of candles and rainbow fairy lights.

Not so for the Veerappa Moily, apparently, whose ministry unveiled an ambitious proposal that could signal the end of an era of Bar Council of India (BCI) dominance (or irrelevance as some might say).

Hastened by the impending Diwali court holidays and the 31 October deadline to apply for the bar exam, the petitions against the exam in the Supreme Court momentarily picked up speed this week.

Khaitan & Co celebrated a major win this week in its campaign of growth when AZB & Partners rising star Vaishali Sharma decided to join the firm. For AZB, however, it marked the culmination of several months of somewhat troubling associate attrition.

No one enjoys waiting in immigration these days, least of all when trying to get into the US of A.

The sole proprietorship law firm model has certain advantages. Depending on the proprietor such firms may have stronger strategic direction and decisions can be made quickly, for example.