Local Indian law firm Trilegal has succeeded in sealing a formal referral deal with Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy, which will see it handle the bulk of A&O's cross-border client work in India and benefit from training, consulting and joint marketing.

Trilegal's deal positions the firm as A&O's local arm in India, although no actual profit-sharing is involved. The firm will benefit from A&O's training programs, systems, processes and branding exercises. However, as the deal is being touted as "non-exclusive", it does not restrict Trilegal from undertaking work for A&O's competitors.

"Trilegal has a solid reputation in the market, having advised Vodafone on its US$11.1bn acquisition of a 67% stake held by Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. in Hutchison Essar, India's fourth-largest mobile phone operator."

The arrangement follows a similar "non-exclusive" alliance struck by Linklaters in 2006 with Mumbai-based firm Talwar Thakore & Associates. Other firms, such as White & Case, have preferred to develop relationships with a variety of firms.