Dentons has combined with leading Indian law firm Link Legal to become the first global law firm to combine with a law firm in India, giving the combined firm first-mover advantage and a competitive edge in international panel competitions.
Dentons’ unique “polycentric” 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.
The combination with Link Legal would offer an established, physical presence in five of the six largest cities in India: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Dentons Link Legal Indian lawyers would represent clients inside India, while Dentons lawyers would represent Link Legal’s clients outside of India, becoming one firm consistent with the rules and regulations of India.
“In the current geopolitical and economic landscape, India enjoys an important and enviable position. We approached Dentons because we recognized that a combination between our firms would help us meet and exceed the needs of our clients who are increasingly becoming global,” said Atul Sharma, Managing Partner of Link Legal. “Importantly, the combination allows us to be both global and local, helping us to connect our clients to leading legal talent around the world while continuing to be wholly owned, controlled and managed by Indian lawyers at Link Legal in India.”
“This is history in the making in India, because this is not a joint venture, not a “best friends” relationship, not a “referral agreement,” but a combination as Dentons has done around the world,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. “The combination in India again makes Dentons not only a first-mover but a first-mover in a market that matters to our clients.”