Highest Paid Lawyer in India [2024 Updated]

Hiring a top lawyer can be done for a variety of reasons. Maybe they just want the assurance that their case is in capable hands, or maybe they have a complicated legal matter that calls for the knowledge of an experienced expert. But, hiring a competent lawyer would come at a high cost. There are certain well-known lawyers among the top 10 highest paid in lawyer India in 2024 who bill thousands of rupees for a single court appearance.

In India, there is no shortage of lawyers, and their rates vary greatly. A renowned lawyer like Harish Salve just needed to pay Rs. 1 to represent India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the ICJ. Additionally, some lawyers charge lakh of rupees from their business clients for their appearance in court.  However, check out the list of India's top 10 highest-paid lawyers in 2024.

S. No.	Name of the Lawyer	Appearance Fee
1.	Fali Sam Nariman	Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh
2.	Harish Salve	Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 14 lakh
3.	Gopal Subramanium	Rs. 5.5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh
4.	K. Parasaran	Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh
5.	Abhishek Manu Singhvi	Rs. 6 lakh to Rs 11 lakh
6.	K. K. Venugopal	Rs. 7 lakh to 10 lakh
7.	Palaniappan Chidambaram	Rs. 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh
8.	Mukul Rohatgi	Rs. 6 lakh to 9 lakh
9.	C. Aryama Sundaram	Rs. 4.5 Lakh to Rs. 16.5 lakh
10.	Salman Khurshid	Rs. 5 lakh

1. Fali Sam Nariman

One of the most prominent and well-known lawyers in India is Fali Sam Nariman. He has defended several prominent individuals and businesses, such as Union Carbide in the well-known Bhopal Gas Disaster Case. He was crucial in facilitating an out-of-court agreement between the firm and the victims. Additionally, he has made appearances in other noteworthy cases, including those involving the TMA Pai Foundation and Golak Nath.

Image Courtesy: Daily Mail

Along with being an outspoken supporter of human rights, Nariman has defended a number of the country’s most well-known campaigners and victims of human rights abuses. Then-President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam awarded him the Padma Vibhushan in 2007 in recognition of his contributions. He reportedly charges between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 15 lakh for each performance.

2. Harish Salve

Lawyer and human rights advocate Harish Salve was India's Solicitor General from November 1, 1999, until November 3, 2002. Additionally, he has acted as an advocate for major corporations such as ITC Limited, Tata Group, and Reliance Industries Limited.

Image Courtesy: The Statesman

Salve is most recognized for his contributions to the legal field, especially those on behalf of the impoverished and underprivileged. In addition, he has contributed to other social issues, such as the promotion of human rights and the battle against poverty. He represented Kulbhushan Jadhav in the notorious case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). To have him defend you in court, you will need to spend between Rs. 12 and Rs. 14 lakh for every appearance, according to online reports.

3. Gopal Subramanium

Gopal Subramaniam is among the richest attorneys in India. He is among the Indian lawyers who have established themselves in the industry. As per my research, Gopal Subramanium has served as Solicitor General of India 2009–2011 and he was also the Chairman of the Bar Council of India during his tenure.

Image Courtesy: 3VB

Even though he is 62 years old, his continues support to nation’s legal community is commendable. He has received the National Law Day Award for Outstanding Jurist in 2009 from Indian President. This demonstrates how reputable of a lawyer Gopal Subramaniam is. His appearance cost is between Rs. 5.5 to Rs. 15 lakh. Unexpectedly, Gopal Subramaniam went to Delhi University. He is, without a doubt, one of the wealthiest attorneys in India right now.

He is currently 62 years old, yet he still supports the legal community in the country. The Indian President himself bestowed the 2009 National Law Day Award for Outstanding Jurist to Gopal Subramaniam. This proves what a trustworthy lawyer Gopal Subramaniam is. The fee for his presence is Rs. 5.5 to Rs. 15 lakh.

4. K. Parasaran

K Parasaran is among the most renowned and successful lawyers in India. He has effectively defended several well-known clients in court, such as the Hindu parties in the property dispute case in Ayodhya and the Nair Service Society in the Sabarimala case.

Image Courtesy: Open Magazine

K Parasaran is graduated from the Law College of Madras. He has received several honours over his illustrious career which has lasted more than six decades, including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. We may estimate that his fee is between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 12 lakh as per the claims on the internet.

5. Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Image Courtesy: zeenews.india.com

Abhishek Manu Singhvi is a famed and distinguished lawyer who has been in practice for over 40 years. He has represented well-known clients including Rajiv Gandhi, the late Indian prime minister. He is a prolific writer as well, having written many volumes on political and criminal topics. He has made appearances on several TV channels as a legal analyst. Online reports say that he charges between Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 11 lakh for each hearing in the court.

6. K. K. Venugopal

Image Courtesy: India TV News

When we talk about the highest-paid lawyers in India in 2024 then we cannot ignore K.K. Venugopal as he is an excellent legal professional. Having practised in law for more than 30 years, he has established stable popularity as one of the accomplished legal minds. He has won a solid reputation in the legal world, and he has successfully represented different clients in court. Do you need legal aid from KK Venugopal? You may be required to pay a considerable sum of Rs. 7 to 10 lakh.

7. Palaniappan Chidambaram

Palaniappan Chidambaram is a well-known lawyer and politician in India. Previously, he has served as the Union Minister of Finance, a lawyer, a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, etc. Palaniappan Chidambaram, also known as P. Chidambaram, is unquestionably one of the wealthiest and most prominent lawyers in India. His study locations were the University of Madras and Harvard University.

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia

P. Chidambaram has significantly contributed to the development and progress of India. In my opinion, "A View from the Outside" is one of his greatest books. If we talk about his fee per hearing/appearance in the court is between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh for legal services.

8. Mukul Rohatgi

Image Courtesy: English Jagran

One of the most outstanding Indian lawyers Mukul Rohatgi is a well-known personality for his contributions to human rights and constitutional law. In addition, he has been associated with other famous cases - The Best Bakery case, the Sohrabuddin Sheikh False Encounter case, and the Zahira Sheikh case. Rohatgi is a member of the Indian Bar Council as well. He additionally held the position of Additional Solicitor General of India while PM Vajpayee was leading the NDA. It is assumed that he costs between Rs. 6 to Rs. 9 lakh.

9. C. Aryama Sundaram

Image Courtesy: The Week

In addition to his exceptional legal profession, C. Aryama Sundaram's influence extends beyond the court, shaping a legacy of excellence in his legal career. With multifaceted information overlaying several legal domains, he has effectively navigated complicated court cases that involve Anil Ambani and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His prowess in defending clients, especially in disputes over financial settlements, underscores his commitment to those he represents. Reports say that his appearance charges begin at Rs. 4.5 lakh.

10. Salman Khurshid

Image Courtesy: ABP News

Salman Khurshid is known as an accomplished Indian lawyer and graduated from St. Stephen's College and Oxford's St Edmund Hall. Despite coming into politics in 1991, he maintained commitment and dedication to law, handling Supreme Court cases. His multifaceted profession, reflecting understanding and dedication, met financial goals. Currently, contributing notably to the legal career, Khurshid embodies fulfilment through a combination of legal practice, lecturers, and public service. The predicted funding for his legal proceeding is Rs. 5 lakh.

Conclusion

In the end, the legal landscape in India is marked through the presence of highly respected and well-accomplished lawyers, who've contributions and expertise in law. The list of the top 10 highest-paid lawyers in India in 2024 exhibits the excellent diversity of legal professionals. From stalwarts like Fali Sam Nariman, who now not only defended high-profile cases but also held understanding and championed human rights, to the versatile legal profession of Salman Khurshid. All these famous personalities charge a substantial amount for each hearing in the court. As clients look to choose the best lawyer, the amount charged by these pinnacle lawyers serves as a testament to their expertise. With such a lot of legal professionals, the above-listed lawyers have left a superb mark on India’s legal industry.

References

• https://lawsstudy.com/best-lawyers-in-india-indias-highest-paid-lawyers/
• https://leverageedu.com/blog/highest-paid-lawyers-in-india/
• https://lawpreptutorial.com/highest-paid-lawyers-in-india/
• https://blog.finology.in/Legal-news/highest-paid-lawyers-in-india