UK Secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reforms Lord Peter Mandelson made a pitch for Indian lawyers to set up offices and explore opportunities in the UK.

Launching a resource book here, Mandelson said, it will “demonstrate how easy it is for Indian law firms to work in UK”. As more and more Indian companies were making acquisitions in the UK, there was more scope for Indian law firms there, he said, adding “there are a host of untapped opportunities for Indian firms to succeed there”.

Mandelson was speaking at a seminar on opportunities for Indians lawyers in legal sector in the UK. Mandelson, along with Union law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj, launched Setting Up In UK: A Resource Guide For Indian Law Firms, a guide book on opportunities for Indian lawyers in that country.

Acknowledging that a free trade agreement (FTA) would provide much-needed stimulus to both India and the European Union, Mandelson said the FTA may not be signed before the next general elections in India. “I believe the FTA is very important. It would be a stimulus to our economies,” Mandelson said.