Are you an ambitious young law student who wants to be a famous celebrity lawyer one day – fighting for justice and still earning big bucks? Well, let’s see and learn from the lives of some of the highest-earning famous Indian lawyers:

Fali S. Nariman

According to the publicly available data, Mr. Nariman used to charge between ₹10 to ₹15 lakhs per appearance. He passed away on February 21, 2024, in New Delhi, India, at the age of 95. One of the most famous lawyers in India, Nariman earned immense respect in the legal community for his intellect, eloquence, and ethical integrity.

He was known for his expertise in:

• constitutional law, 
• arbitration, and 
• human rights.

As a celebrity lawyer, he represented Union Carbide in the settlement negotiations following the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. He also represented the Sahara in the Sahara India Pariwar Investor Fraud Case (2010) where he argued that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) overstepped by barring the group as there were no complaints from any investor.

Based on his various lectures, here are some of the tips he offered to aspiring young lawyers in India:

1. Commit to Lifelong Learning: Nariman highly advocated that a lawyer should always stay updated with the latest legal developments, judgments, and statutes as well as read extensively.
2. Master the English Language: He said that since English is a key medium for law in India; mastering the language enhances one’s advocacy skills – and the best way to do it is to read famous literary works.
3. Uphold Honesty and Responsibility: Mr. Fali always said that as a lawyer you should provide honest legal opinions to clients – and avoid being driven by monetary benefits. Your integrity and ethical practice are the only ways to become one of the most famous Indian lawyers.
4. Thorough Preparation: Study every detail of case facts and laws, even tangential ones, to argue effectively. You must engage in critical analysis to anticipate counterarguments and court inquiries while preparing for your case.
5. Maintain Clarity and Spontaneity in Arguments: The trick to winning a court case is to present arguments clearly and adapt to real-time discussions in court. One must avoid overcomplicating points and hone their persuasive communication skills.

Harish Salve

Mr. Salve charges between ₹12 to ₹14 lakhs per appearance. Born on June 22, 1955, he is 69 years old right now. This celebrity lawyer is known for expertise in:

• constitutional law,
• commercial law, and
• taxation law.

He became one of the most famous lawyers in India by representing some of the most high-profile clients in landmark cases in India, such as the Vodafone Tax Dispute (2012) where the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Vodafone accepting that the company’s acquisition of Hutchison Essar was not taxable in India. He also represented India at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav Case (2017) and secured an ICJ order for Pakistan to review Jadhav’s conviction.

Mr Harish represented Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited in a dispute with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Natural Resources Limited over gas supply and pricing in 2010. Mukesh Ambani won the case. He also defended Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the Arushi Talwar Murder Case (2013) and won their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court in 2017.

Some of the tips this celebrity lawyer has offered to aspiring lawyers in India across various interviews and lectures are:

1. Think from First Principles: Salve advises that if you want to be one of the famous lawyers in India, you should build your arguments based on foundational principles rather than solely relying on precedents.
2. Master the Details: He recommends that you must deeply understand the facts of your case before applying legal principles or precedents. Attention to detail is crucial for effective advocacy.
3. The Art of Advocacy: Harish Salves that advocacy is ‘knowing what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and what not to say’. He advises law students to think of themselves as salespersons of ideas – presenting arguments persuasively while being respectful to the judges (or clients).
4. Respect in Advocacy: Salve emphasizes that lawyers must always maintain decorum and avoid offensive language, especially in sensitive cases such as international disputes or arbitrations involving sovereign governments.
5. Learn from mentors: Mr Salve has mentioned how he has actively learned from his mentors. For example, Soli Sorabjee advised him about approaching problems with humility, reading legal texts carefully to uncover nuances, and making sure that every word you use in your writing or for advocacy is impactful and has a purpose.

Karuna Nundy

Born on April 28, 1976, Ms Karuna Nundy is one of India’s leading women lawyers. She is known for her work in:

• constitutional law,
• women’s rights, and
• media law.

A celebrity lawyer and a woman, she appeared as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2022.

She has been involved in several landmark cases,  such as Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), in which Karuna Nundy pointed out that Section 66A of the IT Act was unconstitutionally vague and overly broad – leading to arbitrary arrests and suppressing free speech online. This led to the Supreme Court striking down the law. In Jeeja Ghosh v. SpiceJet, Nundy represented disability rights activist Jeeja Ghosh and helped her win damages from the airline in 2016 for wrongfully deboarding her from a flight.

One of the most famous lawyers in India advocating women’s rights, Ms Karuna is a leading advocate in the ongoing legal battle of RIT Foundation v. Union of India and is seeking to criminalise marital rape in India by challenging the exception in Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code.

Here’s her advice to young lawyers:

1. Deconstructing Patriarchy in Law: Nundy has been advocating against many laws, especially those rooted in colonialism and perpetuating patriarchal values (e.g., marital rape exceptions, and sedition laws). She is quite vocal about legal reforms trying to dismantle these Victorian-era legacies and encourage progressive interpretations.
2. Judicial Activism vs. Legislative Action: While Karuna acknowledges the criticism of judicial overreach, she believes that the courses need to play a role when legislative bodies fail. She reminds us that despite all systemic resistance, legal victories not only provide remedies but also shift societal norms and open up dialogue on issues like stalking, acid attacks, and LGBTQ+ rights.
3. Importance of Global Perspectives: Nundy highly recommends learning from global successes in human rights and applying them contextually in India, such as adopting equality policies to build inclusive workplaces, and enacting anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBTQ+ individuals in workplaces.
4. Constitution as a Living Document: As a celebrity lawyer, Nundy is doing her bit to advocate that the Constitution should be treated as a dynamic tool for transformation and that it should be interpreted in ways that can empower marginalised communities (including women and LGBTQ+ individuals).
5. Hope and Joy in Advocacy: Like a wind of new change, Nundy encourages young lawyers to find joy in their work as an act of resistance. She stresses the importance of resilience, community, and pursuing justice with optimism despite setbacks.

In conclusion, becoming a celebrity lawyer like the famous Indian lawyers featured here requires a combination of deep legal knowledge, unshakable ethics, and relentless perseverance. By learning from their lives and careers, you can pave your own path to success and join the ranks of the most famous lawyers in India.

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