On August 29, 2024, Federation Of Indian Corporate Lawyers (FICL) hosted a Welcome Luncheon to honour Nick Emmerson, President of The Law Society of England and Wales, and Preeti Sawhney, International Policy Adviser (South Asia and ASEAN) of The Law Society of England & Wales, during their visit to India.
The event was graced by FICL's Patron, Shri PK Malhotra; Dr. Ashok Sharma, CEO of FICL; and Dr SB Mitra, Honorary President of FICL, along with other distinguished General Counsel (GCs). They warmly welcomed Nick Emmerson and Preeti Sawhney to the luncheon.
Among the eminent personalities present were PK Malhotra, Former Law Secretary and Patron-FICL; MM Sharma of STC; Deepak Dhawan from Indian Oil; Ajit Kumar Mishra of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited; Amit Jindal from Directorate General of Hydrocarbons; Prof. (Dr.) James J. Nedumpara, Professor & Executive Director at the Centre for International Trade and Economics Laws; Mahesh Sreenivasan from RITES; Pallavi Saluja from Bar & Bench; and Rohan Sharma, FCIArb, representing FICL.
Dr. Ashok Sharma in his Welcome Address, highlighted the longstanding relationship between FICL and The Law Society and provided an overview of FICL's current activities.
The Law Society has been a keen supporter of FICL events namely 1st FICL Corporate Lawyers Summit 2022 and FICL DELHI DISCOURSE 2023 "Navigating India's Legal Terrain In The Era Of Amrit Kaal"
Nick Emmerson then took the floor to address the gathering. He emphasized the pivotal role of The Law Society and detailed the current pathways to qualifying as a solicitor, including the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). He also outlined various initiatives undertaken by The Law Society.
Nick Emmerson shared insights on the UK law firms' perspective regarding the opening of the legal services market in India. He discussed the practical implications and opportunities this development presents for legal professionals on both sides.
Nick Emmerson, who became the 179th President of The Law Society of England and Wales in October 2023, is a partner at Lewis Mathys Emmerson LLP. He specializes in international capital markets transactions and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. In addition to his qualifications in England and Wales, Nick is also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and the Republic of Ireland, and as an attorney at law in the State of California.
Preeti Sawhney, the International Policy Adviser for South Asia and ASEAN, brought her expertise to the discussion. An authority on market opportunities, international trade policy, and market access. Her role involved overseeing international business development and addressing trade policy, market access, and bilateral government agreements.
The event concluded with vibrant discussions on a wide range of topics between the visiting delegation and the GCs present, fostering an engaging and productive interaction.
