Throughout next week we will cast an eye back on one year of Indian legal market news.
For now, read Part 1 of the round-up, which looks at 12 months of foreign firms, best friendships and newcomers.
Talking of foreigners, this week there was a media report that 100 per cent foreign investment in retail could become a possibility. Likely?
And talking of newcomers, this week also saw two new Mumbai firms with interesting pedigree.
Former SEBI executive director Sandeep Parekh started financial law boutique FinSec Law Advisors, mapping out a one-year plan from financial regulatory "lawyers' lawyer" to litigation to transactional work.
Ramesh Vaidyanathan, the architect of Kochhar & Co's Mumbai office and Mumbai International Airport's in-house legal function meanwhile, has gone private practice and entrepreneurial and set up corporate and projects shop Advaya Legal in Bandra.
In Delhi lawyers went to court and litigated against the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, claiming that the companies registrar preferred accountants and discriminated against lawyers by not allowing them to make electronic company filings.
At the same time the older firms were fighting for campus turf. Both Amarchand and Trilegal pulled strings to get to NLSIU Bangalore campus earlier than ever before (before the 5th year batch had even left, in fact, and before foreign firms had come). Both had a flash day of interviews with 35 students and both made offers, some of which would self-destruct within 48 hours. Talk about pressure.
NLU Jodhpur saw much interest from law firms too, with half of its final year students joining law firms and LPOs picking up a tenth.
Students coming all the way from Indiana USA will be going on internships to India under a new programme to firms such as Amarchand, Bhasin & Co and JSA, as well as to the additional solicitor general and NGOs.
And proving how far personal relationships go in India were recent Ashurst laterals at Stephenson Harwood, who bagged a seat on Abbott's $3.7bn buy of Mumbai pharma concern Piramal alongside Crawford Bayley, Luthra and Baker & McKenzie. A bright green car was all over the papers this week too, as Khaitan & Co and Trilegal sold an electric car maker to the Mahindras.
In the Mooting Premier League sponsored by Clifford Chance, NUJS won the NLS International Arbitration Moot for the third time in a row. Only a few more days to go this season.
In the literary stakes but similarly competitive, we also looked at Legally India's most popular bloggers and what makes them such a hit with readers.
And so we would particularly like to thank all bloggers, readers, participants, contributors, critics, sources and everyone who has been part of the Legally India experience and made it possible in so many ways.
Blogs
Judging the blogging competition will be a nightmare with more quality entries than you can shake a keyboard at.One of the strong favourites this week would have to be the first newsletter issue of Barelylegalindia.com, which nandii reywal found in his inbox (don't worry, it is mostly safe for work).
CLAT results will get announced tomorrow and with impeccable timing, as ever, LegalPoet has interviewed a student at a non-national law school who says - shock horror - that he has a viable and exciting career ahead of him. Compulsory reading for everyone, particularly for those who fall just short on their CLAT scores and will not go to their dream law school. 379 people 'liked' the post on Facebook, see what the fuss is about.
Back this week also is sss, who has found that law is a loving mistress. From the heart and compulsory reading for anyone trying to learn about or reignite the joys of the legal profession. The post even made Legally India staffers nostalgic.
Bihari Babuu has come up with some very funny advice on how NOT to conduct the bar exam. However, stranger things have happened than some of his suggestions turning into reality.
Allym has written a very insightful true story about a lawyer's brother who was killed in a fake 'encounter' by Indian police. Where do you draw the line between client and blood?
Also, Vikarmaditya argues against the death penalty igniting debate on Facebook. And a new blogger has written a poem, daydreaming about the day he will be partner, Aston Martin, pretty interns and ego to boot. Tis good stuff.
Discussion of the week
On Legally India's Linked-in group: Has trial by media gone too far?To get future newsletters straight to your inbox every Friday for free, please enter your name and email below.