"Outsourcing only works well with fairly routine tasks that can be performed by more or less fungible personnel assets."
True, but those fungible personnel assets keep becoming more and more capable, dammit all. I happen to know of at least 5 biotech companies that have outsourced all their R&D to Bangalore. Why wouldn't you be able to outsource most aspects of legal analysis? The only reason I can see is that official action requires bar membership.
"Clients don't want to call up Indian legal support to ask about the tax implications of their upcoming merger."
Even if the best legal support were just inside the mouth of an active volcano, clients would want still want to go there.
"For litigation, you are going to need plenty of people to be physically present for court appearances/depos."
True, you'll need someone who looks good and speaks well. Everything else can be done behind the scenes and across the pond.
