Drawing Inspiration from Biographies of Famous Legal Personalities for CLAT 2026

The Indian legal environment has been marked by a group of exceptionally competent, influential lawyers whose interest cuts across constitutional law, criminal law, corporate law and the public interest law. Not only have they impacted some of the most remarkable decisions of the bench, but also of the legislature and policy. They have become household names through their innovative advocacy and service to the nation. This article highlights the top 10 Indian lawyers, their background, their achievements, and their applicability to CLAT 2026 .

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Harish Salve

Harish Salve is a renowned persuasive lawyer who is among the most paid lawyers in India, with charges reaching INR 10-25 lakh per appearance. The case with Salve is characterised by the appearance in the scandal of the Vodafone tax and the Kulbhushan Jadhav case before the International Court of Justice, and the significant Supreme Court litigation cases on constitutional and corporate law. His strong arguments and skills at an international level qualify him as a counsel of choice for large companies and big cases. Check the top cases of  Harish Salve below:

• Kulbhushan Jadhav Case (International Court of Justice): Salve appeared in the ICJ on behalf of India in the case over Kulbhushan Jadhav to be released. His legal arguments were so accurate that the ICJ decided to issue a provisional stay of the execution of Jadhav, and he himself insisted on taking just 1 rupee as a legal fee over such a significant international case.

• Krishna Godavari Basin Gas Dispute: Salve was a well-publicised controversy between Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries and Anil Ambani of Reliance Natural Resources relating to the supply and pricing of natural gas, with implications on corporate law more or less throughout India.

• Tata Sons vs Cyrus Mistry: He became particularly instrumental in the court battle on Tata Sons versus Cyrus Mistry over control of the company and governance, where he was the key player in defending Tata.

Fali S. Nariman

Having worked on some of the most significant cases in India since the Bhopal Gas Tragedy up to significant free-speech issues, Fali S. Nariman is a living legend in constitutional law. Nariman, having been educated at Government Law College, Mumbai, is considered to give advice regularly sought after on constitutional interpretation and public policy. His appearance fee varies between INR 8-15 lakh, but his true value lies in his intellectual legacy and advocacy for human rights. Check the top cases of Fali S. Nariman below:

• Kesavananda Bharati Case: Helped in this historic case that gave rise to the so-called basic structure doctrine that bars Parliament from changing the basic framework of the Constitution, on which Indian constitutional law relies.

• Bhopal Gas Disaster Settlement: On behalf of Union Carbide during the negotiation of reparations following the industrial catastrophe. Controversial as it was, the settlement led to 470 million dollar in awarded damages to victims.

• Cauvery Water Dispute: As a longtime advocate defending Karnataka in a difficult and divisive river water sharing conflict with Tamil Nadu, he supported the concept of equal treatment and adherence to constitutional standards.

Gopal Subramanium

Gopal Subramanium, the former Solicitor General of India, is renowned as a person possessing a perfect command of arbitration, criminal, and constitutional cases. He was fighting on behalf of the government in landmark cases such as the Parliament attack and is known to be quick and sharp in and out of court. His legal appearance fees usually range between INR 5.5-15 lakh.

• Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Right to Privacy): Counsel to petitioners in the landmark Supreme Court case, which established the recognition of the basic right to privacy, redressing the Indian constitutional jurisprudence.

• Mumbai Blast and Terror Cases: Served as Special Public Prosecutor in the 1993 trial of the Mumbai bomb blasts, and represented on appeal through 2012; and also represented the conviction of Ajmal Kasab in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

• Indian Parliament Attack Case (2001): Special Prosecutor in the case of the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament, which is an issue of national security.

Aryama Sundaram

Aryama Sundaram was a consummate expert in corporate litigation as well as financial dispute resolution, and his client list includes the names of Anil Ambani, BCCI, and others who were under his representation in complicated cases with the regulatory authorities. His work in the legal fraternity is characterised by clear counsel, careful strategy and charges of INR 5.5 lakh per appearance. Check the top 3 cases of Aryama Sundaram below:

• S. Rangarajan vs P. Jagjivan Ram (1989): One of the landmark cases under freedom of speech and expression in which Sundaram had a central role in determining the judicial stance towards censorship of the media and fundamental rights.

• Khushwant Singh Book Case: Effectively negotiated the publication of the book by Khushwant Singh, which was initially prohibited on the grounds of his alleged invasion of privacy, freedom of expression.

• Haldia Petrochemicals and Cyrus Mistry Dispute: Litigant roles in high profile corporate litigation relating to allegations of oppression and mismanagement.

K. Parasaran

An eloquent advocate of the Supreme Court, K. Parasaran, created history through the Ayodhya and Sabarimala cases. Since Padma Vibhushan, he is still an authority on constitutional law and tradition, and charges an INR 10-12 lakh. His service and dedication towards justice that has spanned decades have solidified his legacy in India. Check the top 3 cases of  K. Parasaran below:

• Ayodhya Land Dispute Case: Parasaran represented the Hindu parties, and this represented the religious meaning and constitutional interest of the Ram Janmabhoomi site. He argued in court barefoot and passionately for over 40 days, which won him the title of the Pitamah of the Indian Bar.

• Sabarimala Temple Case: He was the representative of the Nair Service Society that opposed the ancient prohibition of menstruating women entering the temple. His arguments referred to the Hindu texts and demanded constitutional security of the religious practices.

• Golak Nath vs State of Punjab (1967): Contested the fitness of the power of the Parliament to revise the Constitution touching the basic rights.

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Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Abhishek Manu Singhvi is also eminent in the world of law and politics. He has been featured in some high-profile litigations such as the Sahara-SEBI and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple cases. Singhvi attended Cambridge and Harvard, which he applied to the professional world of advocacy, and incurred expenses of 6 to 11 lakh to appear. Check the top 3 cases of Abhishek Manu Singhvi below:

• National Herald Case: Defended Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald property dispute and money laundering allegations, challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s legal grounds.

• Jayalalithaa Disproportionate Assets Case: Participated in the legal battle concerning former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s disproportionate assets case

• Constitutional and Public Interest Litigation: Singhvi’s expertise spans constitutional law, arbitration, taxation, and PIL matters, making him a versatile legal representation for prominent political and corporate clients

K.K. Venugopal

Having lately worked as the Attorney General of India, K.K. Venugopal has gained a notorious fame due to his advice on such delicate constitutional cases as the right to privacy and land cases. However, he has a long track record of experience in the legal profession; as a result, he is one of the most reliable legal minds in India.

• Babri Masjid Demolition Case: Venugopal represented senior BJP leader L.K. Advani in this politically sensitive and high-profile matter involving the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

• Right to Privacy Case (K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India) : He argued extensively on the non-absolute nature of privacy rights, contributing to the Supreme Court’s detailed examination of privacy as a fundamental right.

• Mandal Commission Case: Venugopal played a key role in urging the Supreme Court to stay the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s reservation recommendations to prevent student violence, balancing social justice and public order.

Kapil Sibal

Kapil Sibal is an expert in constitutional, commercial and civil law and has been very deeply involved in governance. As an advocate senior and a former Union Minister, he is a hard-hitting, tactical legal man with a fee of between INR 7-15 lakh per appearance. The list of Sibal clients contains some of the leading politicians, corporations, and interest groups. Check the top 3 cases of Kapil Sibal below:

• Triple Talaq Case (Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017): Kapil Sibal was among the key lawyers who argued against the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat). The Supreme Court declared the practice unconstitutional, marking a major victory for gender equality in India.

• Vodafone Tax Case: Sibal represented Vodafone in the landmark dispute against retrospective taxation by the Indian government on its acquisition of Hutchison Essar shares. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Vodafone, setting a precedent for foreign investments and tax policy.

• National Herald Case: Kapil Sibal defended Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi against allegations of financial misappropriation in the National Herald property dispute. He challenged the Enforcement Directorate’s jurisdiction and defended the legality of the transactions.

Salman Khurshid

Salman Khurshid is a multifaceted professional known to have advocated the law, served the people and also lectured. His Supreme Court cases are delicate and committed, as he has made a significant contribution to legal literature and parliamentary procedures. The importance he has in his look of INR 5-10 lakh shows his dedication both to the law and society.

• Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) Defence: Salman Khurshid appeared for SIMI, a banned organisation in India, defending it against charges of terrorism-related activities and appealing the ban in the Supreme Court, emphasising the constitutional duty of lawyers to represent clients irrespective of public opinion.

• Waqf Board Litigation: Khurshid has been involved in significant litigation related to the Waqf Board, including cases challenging amendments to the Waqf Act, advocating for minority rights and the protection of religious properties.

• Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust Misappropriation Case: Though not a case he argued in court, this controversy involved allegations of financial misappropriation of government grants by a trust chaired by Salman Khurshid and his wife, which drew significant public and legal scrutiny

K.T.S. Tulsi

K.T.S. Tulsi is among the most renowned criminal lawyers of India, with dubious Supreme Court cases to his name and in the representation of high-profile clients. Having a fee per appearance that begins at INR 5 lakh, Tulsi is honoured by his advocacy both in crime defence as well as in the legislative sphere. Check the top three cases of K.T.S Tulsi below:

• Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi Case: Tulsi represented the government and prosecution in the terrorist attack case involving Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, one of India’s most significant criminal trials, showcasing his expertise in national security and terrorism-related litigation.

• Uphaar Cinema Fire Case: Tulsi represented the victims of the tragic fire at Uphaar Cinema in Delhi. He worked pro bono for over 19 years and secured the highest compensation awarded for victims in Indian judicial history, a landmark in public interest litigation and victim justice.

• Vadra-DLF Land Deal Case: He represented Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, in the high-profile land acquisition case involving allegations of corruption and misuse of influence, defending his client in complex property and political law matters

The prominent lawyers in India are not merely a representation of an outstanding lawyer but also a representation of a person who is committed to the cause of serving justice and the constitution. These professionals continue to be the cornerstones of the Indian judiciary and its transformation as the legal difficulties become more complicated.

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