Bedell Cristin has become the third offshore player to enter the Mauritian legal services market, after opening an office in the Island’s capital Port Louis. The firm’s office will be headed by partner Yuvraj Juwaheer and will specialise in advising corporate, funds, banking and structured finance and trusts with a particular focus on India, Africa and the Far East.

Juwaheer, who has over 15 years’ experience, was a member of the Mauritian government steering committee set up in 2004 to consider opening the island to international law firms, and was an independent director on the board of a number of Indian funds.

Richard Gerwat, Bedell Group’s managing partner, said the decision to open on the island was influenced by the growth of the firm’s practice in Asia and came after a number of requests from clients, including numerous UK City firms. “We have had an expanding business in the East for some years and City law firms and key intermediaries have shown a keen interest in the services we will be able to offer from Mauritius,” he said. “The island benefits from many double tax treaties and is a politically stable base through which investments into India, China and South Africa can be made". 

Over the past ten years, Mauritius has established itself as the domicile of choice for funds and companies keen to tap into the India market. In the period April 2000 thru November 2009, almost half of all FDI inflows into India passed through Mauritius (see table below).

Bedell joins Appleby and Conyers Dill & Pearman as the only offshore firms to have an office on the island.