FoxMandal Little (FML), India's oldest and largest law firm made legal history when it formally opened a permanent office in London with a gala launch party on February 19, 2008 at Kings Street, London. The guest list included lawyers from the topmost law firms in London such as Clifford Chance and Freshfields FML has opened its first overseas office to practice Indian law. Mr. Som Mandal, the Managing Partner, will head the practice at London. The office will comprise of two partners, one consultant and three associates for a start. Its timing is explained by the rapid globalisation of the Indian economy and the need to provide expert legal advice both to NRIs and British and European Union companies wanting to do business with India.
Primarily, the law firm will be assisting UK, US and other multinationals in the European Union regarding their investments into India and provide real time advice relating to their Indian law requirements. It would also be assisting Indian companies to set up in UK, US and other EU countries and work jointly with a local law firm for the concerned matters. Further, one of the partners, Ajit Mishra, is a UK qualified lawyer but would be practicing only Indian law. The rest of the team at London consists of Vineet Aneja, Partner, Anurag Sharma, Senior Associate and Prem Sharma, Senior Associate, as part of the firm's corporate practice.
In 2006, Fox Mandal, the firm set up in 1896, merged with what is believed to be the oldest legal practice in India established in 1856 - Little & Co - which had been adviser to the East India Company and successive governments of the Presidency of Bombay. The establishment is opportune from an Indian viewpoint as the company's Managing Partner, Mr. Som Mandal, says, "We feel there's a huge market for international and UK-based companies in need of advice in India. Clients will feel comfortable walking across and getting advice in real time, not waiting for a call back the next day due to time zone issues. For US clients too London is a better time zone to discuss over phone or even coming over". FoxMandal Little in London is purely an Indian Law firm practicing only Indian Law. Having a base in London will allow us, ""To keep cost down, without losing quality" rightly says Mandal. Som, 46, is the fourth generation in his family to work for the firm. The founder was a "leading and distinguished solicitor of his times".
The Law Society of England hosted a "welcome to London" reception for FoxMandal Little. The special guest for the evening was Bridget Prentice, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice. The London office is certainly a step to gear up the firm for entry of foreign Law firms in India and also to create an International Indian Law firm, when Indian companies are all going International why can't an Indian Law firm go International. FoxMandal Little is already geared up to compete with Foreign Law firms and is one of the very few firms in India which supports the entry of Foreign Law firm. The firm has offices in India, UK and Bangladesh including Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, New Delhi, London and Pune with associate offices at Cochin, Trivandrum and other important cities in India. FML is a well-reputed full service law firm presenting an appropriate mix of the necessary legal expertise, industry specialization and commercial acumen. This firm of advocates, solicitors and notaries, comprises of 365 lawyers with close to 50 partners and over 175 para-legal staff. With offices situated in all the important regions in India FML ensures that its clients receive cost-effective, value added and fully integrated services.