India needs legal system, structure to support arbitration: John Quinn

Chairman of one world's largest law firms for business arbitration says 'enormous demand' for setting commercial disputes outside courts

John B Quinn, the founder and chairman of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, one of the largest law firms in the world for business litigation and arbitration, is visiting India amid rising adoption of arbitration by Indian companies to resolve commercial disputes.

Quinn is visiting at a time when India is contemplating allowing foreign lawyers to practice arbitration here. Quinn told Asit Ranjan Mishra and Bhavini Mishra in an interview he is not immediately contemplating opening an office in India.

Here are edited excerpts from the interview.

What brings you to India?

It’s amazing what’s happening in this country.