INDUSLAW joins global CMS network as India prepares to allow foreign law firms under new rules
India’s legal market took another decisive step towards global integration this week, as INDUSLAW, one of the country’s largest law firms—announced a tie-up with international heavyweight CMS. The move comes just weeks before a landmark regulatory shift expected to allow foreign legal firms to practice in India for the first time.
INDUSLAW, India’s seventh-largest legal practice, will now operate as part of the CMS network, though it remains an independent entity under the CMS brand. With more than 60 partners and over 400 lawyers spread across key commercial hubs such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai, INDUSLAW will act as CMS’s arm in India, supporting multinational clients entering the subcontinent.
Meanwhile, CMS’s global network of over 6,800 lawyers in more than 45 countries will assist Indian clients looking to expand abroad. The collaboration is designed to bridge local knowledge with international reach at a time when India’s economic influence continues to grow globally.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuncan Weston, executive partner at CMS, hailed the move as a strategic advance in the firm’s Asia-wide ambitions. “This is a significant step in CMS’s expansion across Asia and globally,” he said. “With India’s economy increasingly integrated into the global system, the need for agile, forward-thinking legal advisers capable of bridging jurisdictions has never been more critical.”
The timing of the announcement coincides with an important regulatory change. Earlier this month, the Bar Council of India confirmed that foreign law firms would soon be allowed to practise in India under defined conditions—ending decades of professional isolation and protectionism. The decision paves the way for international firms to offer legal advice on foreign law and international arbitration in the Indian market.
For INDUSLAW, the partnership represents both a strategic evolution and a show of confidence in its domestic strength. In a joint statement, founding partners Avimukt Dar, Gaurav Dani, Kartik Ganapathy and Suneeth Katarki described the alliance as “another milestone in the history of our firm.”
They added: “While we will continue our journey as a leading full-service Indian law firm delivering exceptional client service and thought leadership, we now also enjoy the support of CMS. This allows us to offer a coordinated global service for our clients. We look forward to driving growth, innovation and collaboration across borders.”
The CMS-INDUSLAW tie-up echoes a similar move in 2022, when Dentons became the first global law firm to partner with an Indian firm—Link Legal—using a Swiss verein model. That arrangement allowed both firms to operate under a shared brand while maintaining financial independence.
Such partnerships have so far allowed international firms to gain a foothold in India’s tightly controlled legal market without breaching the prohibition on foreign practice. But with the regulatory gates now swinging open, full-scale collaboration looks increasingly viable.
Legal analysts expect more international firms to follow CMS’s lead in establishing local alliances ahead of the market’s liberalisation. India’s enormous economy, rising cross-border trade, and expanding pool of corporate clients make it an attractive legal battleground.
The INDUSLAW-CMS alliance sends a clear message: India is no longer a fortress in global legal services. As the country moves toward a new era of openness, top-tier Indian firms are positioning themselves as conduits between the domestic and international markets.
