A middle aged practicing company secretary (PCS) is considering to start a mega professional firm. Name the professional bodies with which the PCS can have partnership as per the Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982.

Mega Firm can be described as a Partnership firm with more than twenty-five partners. A firm which provides core professional service of a particular profession along with the allied and ancillary services with equal competence under one roof is a multidisciplinary firm. For example, company and corporate law is core for company secretaries, however, they can acquire expertise in any other area like direct-indirect taxation, labour laws, economic laws, finance, accounting, insurance, international business and IPRs and they may be in position to provide single window business solutions. Regulation 168B of Company Secretaries Regulations, 1982, which has introduced the concept of multi-disciplinary firms or mega firms, determines the membership of professional body for partnership. Accordingly for the purposes of entering into partnership under clauses (4) and (5) of Part I of the First Schedule of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, a person shall be a member of any of the following professional bodies, namely:- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (No. 38 of 1949); The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India established under the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 (No.23 of 1959); Bar Council of India established under the Advocates Act, 1961 (No. 25 of 1961); The Institute of Engineers or Engineering from a University established by law or an institution recognized by law; The Indian Institute of Architects established under the Architects Act, 1972 (No. 20 of 1972); The Institute of Actuaries of India established, under the Actuaries Act, 2006 (No. 35 of 2006); Professional bodies or institutions outside India whose qualifications relating to Company Secretary recognized by the Council under Sub-section (2) of Section 38 of the Act. Therefore, the middle aged Practicing Company Secretary, who is considering to start a mega professional firm can enter into partnership with the member(s) of any of the above professional bodies which will help him to cater to the bigger assignments and meet the needs of clients and assure timely and quality services to them.