Top 5 lawyers in India who charge a bomb for their expertise

Source:- indiatoday.intoday.in

Ram Jethmalani, considered India’s best criminal lawyer, recently made headlines for charging a whopping Rs 3.8 crore for fighting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s case. Here are five others who demand an exorbitant fee for their expertise.

When Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal landed in a soup, he got India’s best criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani to fight his case. The 93-year-old former Union Law Minister brings in his expertise with a fancy six-figure fee and now that he has demanded his due of a whopping Rs 3.8 crore, Kejriwal is in a fix.

Responding to the allegations that he wanted Delhi’s tax payers to pay Jethmalani’s fee, Arvind Kejriwal said people must decide . “It was a case of corruption…should I pay (Ram) Jethmalami from my pocket?”, he said addressing a rally.

In 2015, Arun Jaitley had filed both civil and criminal defamation cases against Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for accusing him of financial bungling in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Arun Jaitley was the president of DDCA for 13 years. He has also sought Rs 10 crore as damages.

Ram Jethmalani has reportedly charged Rs 1 crore in retainership and Rs 22 lakh for each appearance in the court. If the case goes on, which it will, Kejriwal might end up paying his lawyer more than what damages Jaitley has sought.

Jethmalani, reportedly, takes Rs 25 lakh per appearance but that also depends on the client’s pocket. He apparently offers his services free of cost to his “poor clients” as well.

Lawyers charge according to their experience and success ratio. And given that their client list includes the Ambanis and the Tatas, overnight stays at Mumbai’s five-star suites, business class travel, and on occasion, use of the private jets are a given.

There is a reason a lawyer is known to carry his stuff while travelling for work because he can be called to a different city any minute. That’s what happened whenMukesh Ambani’s suddenly called Harish Salve who had gone to Orissa for a day’s hearing. Ambani wanted Salve to reach Mumbai immediately and when Salve told him that he hadn’t packed anything, Mukesh Ambani insisted on buying him the essentials. A client does things to keep his lawyer in good humour.

As far as Arvind Kejriwal’s legal case is concerned, he is in a safe position as Jethmalani clarified that “money or no money” he will fight the case. But what remains the highlight here is his exorbitant fee. Of course, he currently tops the chart of India’s biggest names in law but he is not the only who charges a bomb.

Here are 5 top successful lawyers who are known to charge a bomb:

1. Soli J Sorabjee

A Padma Vibhushan awardee, Soli Sorabjee has also held the position of Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India from 1977 to 1980. With many other feathers in his cap, Sorabjee assures himself a place among India’s best lawyers. He reportedly takes Rs 10-15 lakh per appearance.

2. Fali Sam Nariman

The 88-year-old senior advocate has been the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhusan and the Gruber Prize for Justice. His legal fee ranges from Rs 8 to 15 lakh per appearance.

3. Harish Salve

He was Ratan Tata’s first call after he moved the Supreme Court claiming his right to privacy had been violated.

Not only that, he scripted Mukesh Ambani’s win against his brother despite Ram Jethmalani and Mukul Rohatgi leading Anil Ambani’s case.

He also served as the Solicitor General of India for nine years and has been mentored by Soli Sorabjee. He is known to charge Rs 15 lakh per appearance.

4. Abhishekh Singhvi

The 58-year-old lawyer currently is a Congress MP from Rajasthan and was India’s youngest Attorney General of India at the age of 37. When the Ambani brothers took their dispute to the court, Singhvi was Mukhesh’s one of the chosen lawyers. His legal fee is 6 lakhs per appearance.

5. KK Venugopal

The 86-year-old senior advocate in the Supreme Court had been hired by Bhutan’s royalty for consultation while drafting the Constitution of Bhutan.

Kottayan Katankot Venugopal is a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhusan awards. He charges Rs 5 to 7.5 lakh per appearance in the Supreme Court