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https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/dentons-combine-with-indian-law-firm-link-legal-2022-10-11/
Quote: Is this allowed?
Dentons is the largest multinational law firm.[citation needed] Dentons was ranked as the world's 4th-largest law firm by revenue, with $2.9B gross revenue by Global 200 ranking in the fiscal year 2021.[3] The firm is called Dentons in all languages other than Chinese, in which it is called 倧ζ (Dacheng).
Dentons was founded in March 2013 by the merger of SNR Denton, Fraser Milner Casgrain and Salans. Following its merger with Chinese law firm Dacheng in November 2015, Dentons became the largest law firm in the world by number of lawyers and has the most offices of any law firm in the world, covering every continent.[4]
As of 2020, Dentons operates in 77 countries, has 190 offices. The firm has no headquarters, although the firm's senior leadership are primarily based in Beijing, London and Washington D.C. Dentons is structured as a Swiss Verein called Dentons Group (a Swiss Verein),[5] which does not itself provide legal services. The verein encapsulates multiple co-operating legal entities, namely Dentons Canada LLP, Dentons Europe LLP, Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, Dentons US LLP, amongst others.
BUT STILL SAID YES TO LINK LEGAL, merme jada attitude hai kya?
Good luck to all involved.
Insider this side. I know all you guys are confused so here you go on important factual things which anyone who knows the chai samosa gang and their darbari would guess
Firstly this is being made possible through twisting of the existing law and taking advantage of US office that was formed for various personal and professional reasons by the management. Best example of parallelism is [...] Similarly fashion now they have found a loophole in the law to suit their interests- letβs see how this pans out.
Secondly they are naming this is a combination. Implications of this is Link Legal gets Denton clients in India without changing themselves or doing the hard work other firms have done to get foreign clients. That means Link Legal will be Link Legal for all purposes internally. Go back to LI conversation and posts thread to see what LL is. Hahahhaha
Only difference management and people chosen or related to the management which if you know you know who they are will make more money. Mainly they are the existing 5 equity partners of the firm and the ones who have had and are willing to have chai samosa for years with no questions. Points to understand before anybody gets excited with this except for the aforementioned
Management same
Policies same, including salaries and communal evaluation of associates by all partners because sabka saath sabka vikas π
Just Dentons visiting card milega and you may get a chance to execute a deal if your partner is having chai samosa and can give a good ego massage to the ones who need it the most or to a certain someone who has always needed it
So sab wohi hai but naya visiting card chahiye toh aa jao
Is my understanding correct?
As long as foreign lawyers aren't practicing in India, BCI wouldn't have any issues with it. The press releases and the fanfare is quite surprising.
And what does that mean for people silently considering working there now?
In particular, will the firm carry the Dentons name β the article mentions 'Dentons Link Legal' somewhere, but so far the names have not been changed on LinkedIn/their website etc.
Perhaps more importantly, is this likely to result in changes to their payscale? Compared to T1s and established T2s, Link Legal currently pays peanuts and that's one of the reasons people don't look at it seriously as a workplace. Is that likely to change in the future, wrt this news?
Batao, batao!
Dentonsβ unique βpolycentricβ structure, which is based on a Swiss verein strives to identify the positive attributes of a partnership, allowing Dentons to combine with high quality firms in many jurisdictions respecting the legal and regulatory requirements of each jurisdiction. This has allowed Dentons to grow in what will be 215 offices across 83 countries.
Link Legal is one of the premier Indian firms that is going out into the world, opening an office in New York and examining multiple other locations. As a first-mover, Link Legal represents the many large, fast-growing Indian companies that are globalizing, as India becomes the most populous nation in the world in 2023.
Full text
https://www.dentons.com/en/about-dentons/news-events-and-awards/news/2022/october/dentons-announces-an-historic-combination-with-link-legal-in-india
First, Link Legal's repute and name would unquestionably improve as Dentons is a known name in the global legal market. This would definitely bring in more clients, in the longer run.
Second, in addition to more clients by the improved reputation (in the longer run), on a more immediate level - Link Legal would be expected to handle the India leg of Dentons' international transactions. This would massively increase the amount of international work the firm receives and handles immediately - which again would give international clients confidence in their ability and expertise. This would increase international clientele, in the future. Hence, more revenue.
Third, access to Dentons' legal tech tools and resources. Dentons prides itself to be one of the most innovative firms in the world. The kind of legal tech that Link Legal will have access to, is something no other T1 firm is even close to achieving. This would differentiate them from any other T1 firm currently, and could also change the nature of work lawyers do, especially at a junior level.
Fourth, if the abovementioned things do play out as expected, expect a rise in pay scale in the future. This, however, would not happen immediately.
These things could potentially make Link Legal break into the Tier 1 firms in India in the not-so-faraway future. I wonder if other international firms which have a Swiss Verein structure (there are many), would start looking at India as a potential hub to open offices. Also, for everyone talking about why Link Legal was chosen (or agreed to) by Dentons - no bigger T1 firm would be willing to let go if its individual identity to combine with an international firm. If other international players enter the market, I would expect it to be with other smaller yet reputable firms, and not T1s.
Other lawyers with knowledge of the Indian and global legal industry, what are your thoughts about this?
Needs inquiry.
Dentons is not and will not be practising law in India The fact is as the above comments rightly highlight that it is Link Legal who will do the job Just foreign clients from Dentons
How can they form an association with DENTONS?
If Trilegal/Khaitan is teaming up with DENTONS or Latam Watkins, atleast I can understand.
This move will for sure ruin DENTONS reputation. A large global firm is tying up with a third rates Tier 4 Indian firm which hardly pays Associates 30k.
This times it seems like the combinations was borne out of desperation as the management which stuck in its ways has agreed to change the name.
Arenβt India Law Services senior partner still there? One left after years this year. The senior most person retired.
Some mergers worked, some didnβt. As is the case in most business decisions.