In Brief
The Supreme Court held that the expression "practice of law" in the Advocates Act, 1961 covers both litigation and non-litigation work, including giving legal opinions and drafting documents. Foreign law firms and lawyers cannot practice law in India—whether litigious or non-litigious—without complying with the Advocates Act's enrollment requirements. However, casual 'fly in and fly out' visits for advising on foreign law may not constitute prohibited practice if not habitual. Foreign lawyers may conduct international commercial arbitration proceedings if governed by institutional rules or the Arbitration Act, but must follow Indian legal ethics codes. BPO companies' services fall under the Act only if they substantively amount to law practice, not merely by their label. The Court modified portions of the Madras High Court judgment while upholding its core principle that foreign lawyers cannot practice in India.
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