New Delhi, India New Delhi, India.

The law firm with which U.K. firm Osborne Clarke has a special relationship in India has added a new office in New Delhi – a move taking place at a time when there is a rising concern over protectionism in the Indian legal market.

Mumbai-based Business Transaction Group Legal launched a third office in Delhi with partners Vikram Jeet Singh and Sidhartha Barua.

Singh is a corporate lawyer specialising in cross-border mergers and acquisitions of digital businesses. He relocates to New Delhi from BTG Legal's Mumbai office, where he was based for two years. Previously, Singh practised at local firms Poovayya & Co. and S&R Associates in New Delhi.

Barua focuses on litigation and arbitration, as well as insolvency and engagement with government regulators. Before joining BTG Legal last month to help launch in Delhi, Barua had his own practice for two years. Prior to that, he was a partner at two of India's larger firms: Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and AZB & Partners.

BTG Legal managing partner Prashant Mara said in a statement that opening in New Delhi is an important part of the firm's expansion strategy, explaining that it is the capital city where regulatory bodies and most of the ultimate courts of appeal are based, as well as a dynamic centre for business in northern India.

"We've had a number of clients requesting specialised regulatory, corporate and disputes support in the region, so it's excellent to have Virkam and Sidhartha leading the team as we grow," Mara said.

BTG Legal was launched in Mumbai in 2014 by Mara – a former Osborne Clarke consultant in Cologne, Germany and London, and co-head of the India group – and entered into a 'best friends' relationship with the U.K. firm. In February last year, BTG Legal opened an office in Bangalore, India's technology hub, and recruited former J. Sagar Associates corporate partner Seema Sukumar for the office.

Meanwhile, there has been growing concern in recent years by the international legal community over protectionist measures in India's legal market. Earlier this month, the Bar Council of Delhi notified the Big Four accounting firms that they should not practise law in the country; Deloitte, EY and KPMG have denied allegations that they have been practising there.

Last year, the Supreme Court of India ruled that foreign law firms are still not permitted to establish permanent offices in the country and could only handle non-Indian law matters on a temporary 'fly-in, fly-out' basis.

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