Our practice complies with the Rules made under the Advocates Act, 1961.

The Statutory Framework

The practice of law in India is governed primarily by the Advocates Act, 1961. Under Section 49(1)(c) of that Act, the Bar Council of India is empowered to make rules prescribing the standards of professional conduct and etiquette to be observed by advocates. Those rules are the Bar Council of India Rules ("BCI Rules").

Part VI, Chapter II of the BCI Rules — titled "Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette" — binds every advocate enrolled with a State Bar Council, including every member of GV Law Chamber LLP. The Chamber accepts and applies the BCI Rules as a minimum floor of conduct.

Rule 36 — Restrictions on Advertising

Rule 36, Section IV of Chapter II, Part VI of the BCI Rules provides:

"An advocate shall not solicit work or advertise, either directly or indirectly, whether by circulars, advertisements, touts, personal communications, interviews not warranted by personal relations, furnishing or inspiring newspaper comments or producing his photographs to be published in connection with cases in which he has been engaged or concerned. His sign-board or name-plate should be of a reasonable size. The sign-board or name-plate or stationery should not indicate that he is or has been President or Member of a Bar Council or of any Association or that he has been associated with any person or organisation or with any particular cause or matter or that he specialises in any particular type of work or that he has been a Judge or an Advocate General."

The Bar Council of India, by Resolution No. 50/2008, amended Rule 36 to permit an advocate to furnish information on his or her website in a prescribed form, subject to the rider that such information must be accurate and not contain any statement claiming superiority over other advocates.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in V.B. Joshi v. Union of India (W.P. (C) No. 532 of 2000), recorded the amendment and clarified the permissible scope of advocate websites.

Professional Conduct and Etiquette

The Chamber undertakes to its clients and to the public that every member will:

• Conduct himself or herself with dignity and self-respect, both in court and outside (Rule 1, Section I);
• Be respectful and courteous to the court (Rule 2);
• Not appear in any matter in which there is a conflict of interest (Rule 33);
• Not act for both sides in a matter (Rule 33);
• Not communicate with the opposite party in a matter where that party is represented by another advocate, except through that advocate (Rule 35);
• Maintain accurate accounts of fees received from clients and provide statements of account on demand (Rules 25 to 32).

Fees and Engagement Letters

The Chamber issues a written engagement letter or fee proposal before commencing professional work, in keeping with Rules 11 and 12 of Section II, Chapter II, Part VI of the BCI Rules. The engagement letter specifies:

• The scope of the work to be undertaken;
• The fee structure (retainer, hourly, fixed, or contingent on the nature of work, subject to the prohibition on contingency fees under Rule 20);
• Out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements;
• Applicable taxes, including Goods and Services Tax;
• The conditions under which the engagement may be terminated.

Conflict of Interest

Before accepting any engagement, the Chamber conducts a conflict-of-interest check across its open matters and its archives. The Chamber declines or withdraws from any engagement that would place it in a position of conflict, in keeping with Rule 33 of Section IV of the BCI Rules.

Clients are required to disclose, to the best of their knowledge, the identities of opposing parties and other materially interested persons at the time of the engagement.

Privilege and Confidentiality

Communications between an advocate of the Chamber and a client made in the course of, or in contemplation of, professional employment are privileged under Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 132 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023). The Chamber will not disclose such communications without the client's express authorisation, except where disclosure is compelled by law.

The duty of confidentiality survives the termination of the engagement and continues for the lifetime of the advocate.

How This Website Complies

This website is published in conformity with Rule 36 of the BCI Rules as amended by Resolution No. 50/2008. Specifically:

• The content is restricted to factual information about the Chamber, its members, and its areas of practice;
• The website does not contain testimonials, comparisons with other advocates, or claims of superiority;
• The website does not solicit work or invite engagement;
• Each page that could be misread as solicitation carries a disclaimer to the contrary;
• The website's enquiry form is provided as a convenience and does not by itself establish a lawyer-client relationship.

User Acknowledgement

By continuing to use this website, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood the position taken in this page and in our Disclaimer;
• You access this website at your own volition and not by reason of any advertisement, solicitation, or inducement by the Chamber;
• Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice; specific advice on any matter requires a formal engagement.

If you do not accept this position, please discontinue use of this website.