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Publication: Economic Times Mumbai
Date:Sep 12, 2005
Section:GIT
Page Number:16
EASTWARD HO!
- With India fast emerging as the world’s biggest skills pool,
immigration law firms are looking for a foothold, finds
Ishani Duttagupta
EVEN as MNCs start hiring around the world, corporate
immigration services, specially for law firms, are gaining
ground. Leading US firms like Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy
and LLP, for instance, have over 130 attorneys and 500
professional immigration specialists and staff located in 25
offices in the US, Asia Pacific, and Europe working in
partnership with clients to facilitate the hiring and transfer
of employees worldwide.
And given the fact that India provides a huge pool of skilled
immigrants, various global law firms are looking to set up shop
here as well. 'The problem so far is that foreign law firms are
not allowed to practice in India yet and cannot set up
full-fledged law offices catering to immigration requirements of
companies and individuals. However, various legal entities are
eyeing the Indian market with some tying up with immigration
consultants who service Indian immigrants wishing to move to
geographies like Canada and Australia,' says Poorvi Chothani of
LawQuest, who is also correspondent attorney for Cyrus D. Mehta
& Associates, PLLC, a Wall Street, Manhattan-based law firm
practicing in the area of US immigration and nationality law.
She also has similar tie-ups with associate law firms in the UK,
Germany and Canada.
US law firm Littler Mendelson, PC, which strategically follows
its growing client base by opening offices in major metropolitan
locations around the US, as part of the 'following the clients'
policy created an outbound and cross-border corporate migration
practice, Littler Global in 2004.
'In the late 1990s, the technology boom created an immediate
need for engineers to support growing companies in the high
technology geographies in the US. In the post-9/11 global
economy, US firms are looking for support in moving employees
from the US to India, China, and other countries, and they are
looking for a single provider to cover both inbound and outbound
migration and employment law needs,' says Wendy Tice-Wallner,
California-based chairman & MD, global strategies, Littler
Mendelson.
The firm is also looking at the possibility of an overseas foray
with India on the top of the list. 'Indian companies are growing
globally and following their clients so as to service business
needs around the globe. Companies like Motorola have outgrown
their office space in Bangalore two years ahead of schedule.
India and China are looking at increasing joint opportunities to
use their resources to compete on a global basis. The time is
ripe for India to take a key role in providing engineers to
companies around the world. Little Global, with the support of
IT services provider, INSZoom, is poised to assist these highly
trained individuals travel the world on behalf of their
companies,' adds Tice-Wallner.
Another US-based law firm, The Law Office of Sheela
Murthy, which has represented clients around the world in all
aspects of US immigration, has recently set up shop in Chennai
with Murthy Immigration Services Pvt Ltd.
'Immigration is a key factor in any international business and
MNCs often have offices/branches in several countries. Unless
their immigration procedures are in place, they will not be able
to keep their deadlines on projects. India is undoubtedly a
force to reckon with. As you are aware, we can see several
manufacturing and service giants establishing a base in India,'
says Senthil Kumar, supervising attorney, Murthy Immigration
Services, Chennai.
'Murthy Immigration Services was set up primarily to help the
large client base of existing and potential clients of The Law
Office of Sheela Murthy. The reason we have a presence in India
is also because the US Consulate in Chennai is the highest H1B
visa issuing post in the world. We want to help H1B and other
employment or business based visa applicants, which includes
individuals and employees of large corporations with their
immigration processes. There are a lot of restrictions on
immigration law as far as who can advise a client. Some
countries like the US even require a difficult examination to be
cleared and a person to be legally licensed to practice law
before one could advise on complex or even simple immigration
law issues. Immigration service providers need to be law firms
ably supported by technology. Immigration services will be
centers of specialised knowledge with personnel able to guide
clients in the procedures necessary to apply and obtain the
visas necessary to travel to the US. Laws have become complex
and the approvals are difficult in a complex and ever changing
field of law that requires the latest up to date knowledge of
the changing laws. Technology will be used mainly to accomplish
the tasks at hand,' he adds.
The complex and ever-changing legal
requirements of global migration makes it essential for
companies to keep up-to-date. Hence, the need for sophisticated
legal assistance as well as critical technology to track and
update specialised processes. And that's where India is a
logical hub, especially for US companies.
Says Tice-Wallner: 'A combination of sophisticated global
migration services and robust flexible technology is the ideal
combination. Indian companies are also looking for quality and
time sensitive services as they move around the world to support
their client base.'
Agrees Kumar: 'Large technology companies are recruiting lawyers
to assist their HR personnel handle their visa applications.
When there is a complex situation, they turn to those with
experience and knowledge in the field. MNCs have no choice but
to tackle the visa needs of their employees, either by trying to
figure it out on their own or hiring the best outside experts.
Though certain processes appear to be simple, or one appears to
be the same as another, there are critical and subtle
differences that require knowledge and experience to discern.
Strategic planning of a company's immigration needs make them
competitive in the global market. MNCs will have to deal with US
immigration more than they ever did as the business between the
US and India increases. As the economy becomes global - there
will be an increasing need for personnel to meet, consult, and
train or be trained.'
©
MurthyIndiaDotCom
& Murthy Immigration Services
Pvt. Ltd.
2005
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