DB: Where are you?
NS: In Bangalore, India. I’m meeting with clients, a number of which are in the manufacturing, engineering, and technology space (industries). I was also invited to speak before the Supreme Court Bar Association, which centered, in part, on the establishment of business courts to resolve disputes.
DB: Will the courts be modeled after those in Michigan?
NS: That would be the way to go. Rather than having business disputes handled in traditional courts, the business courts provide a means to resolve disputes more quickly and accurately. They’re dedicated courts, which gives Michigan a competitive advantage over those states that lack these business courts.
DB: What else is going on in India?
NS: I met with the attorney general (for Bangalore), and we spoke about the need for stiffer anti-corruption laws. Corruption is still a significant issue in various parts of the world. We both agreed there could be better laws between the two countries, but it’s exciting to see what’s happening in India. The legal system is getting better, reform laws are helping to eliminate corruption, and the red tape is being addressed. There’s a thriving tech community in Bangalore, with a lot of young people, and things are booming.
DB: How long are you in India?
NS: For 18 days, between Nov. 8 and Nov. 25. I was in South Korea and Japan for an equal amount of time in October. I also spoke to a group of law students (in India), and it was refreshing to see how up-to-date they were with current events in the U.S. They threw a lot of difficult questions at me, especially regarding legal education reforms in India. There were also questions about M&A work, global export control compliance, and sales and distribution contracts. It’s a fascinating country.
— R.J. King
