This week’s edition of India Today gives a list of Senior Counsels and famous litigating lawyers and their average fee per appearance and per day. The list includes 8 prominent Senior Counsels along with the Attorney General and Solicitor General.

Harish Salve – 54 years

Landmark case: Won the gas dispute for Mukesh Ambani, Amicus Curiae in the Forest case of T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India  

Legal Style: Is a master strategist. Gives a balanced argument rather than an aggressive, one sided view.

Fee Per Appearance – Rs. 2.5 Lakh  ($5,500) to Rs. 3 Lakh ($6,600). For a full day, its Rs. 25 lakh ($55,000).

Indulgence – Drives a Bentley

Observation from the article: Rain Karanjawala quotes “Harish is the closest example in today’s bar to Fali Nariman”

Mukul Rohtagi – 55 years

Landmark case: Represented Anil Ambani in the gas dispute.  

Legal Style: Is a slogger. Argues aggressively and goes straight to the point.

Fee Per Appearance – Rs. 2.5 Lakh  ($5,500) to Rs. 3 Lakh ($6,600). For a full day, its Rs. 25 lakh ($55,000).

Indulgence – Drives a black Bentley, has Souza on his walls, a holiday home in Goa.

Observation from the article: Rohtagi can run up billings of Rs. 40 crore ($8.8 million). The same as a mid sized corporate law firm like Titus & Co that employs 28 juniors.

Aryama Sundaram – 53 years

Landmark case: Represented the West Bengal Government against Haldia Petrochemicals and UBS Securities against SEBI. 

Legal Style: Persuasive speaker, argues his case in a measured tone

Fee Per Appearance – Rs. 3.5 Lakh ($7,700)

Indulgence – Picking up art pieces from senakas, Dhurandhares, Souzas and Jalthares, at auctions. Is especially fond of Tanjores.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi– 51 years

Landmark case: Won the right to fly tricolour for Navin Jindal

Legal Style: From logical in court to rhetorical flourish in Parliament to snappy sound bites for the media on TV

Fee Per Appearance – RRs. 2.5 Lakh  ($5,500) to Rs. 3 Lakh ($6,600). For a full day, its Rs. 25 lakh ($55,000).

Indulgence – A limited edition Visonti pen with a custom made nib and watches from every luxury brand.

Observation from the article: “Manu Singhvi is the greatest multi-tasker”

Ram Jethmalani – 87 years

Landmark case: Got the Jain Hawala case against L.K. Advani squashed; currently defending former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah

Legal Style: Argues forcefully. Has an acerbic wit.

Fee Per Appearance – Rs. 5 Lakh ($11,110)

Indulgence – Has an indoor badminton court built in his MP Bunglow that is the envy of Lutyens’ Delhi.

Observation from the article: “The one person who defies the generational gap is Jethmalani who was India’s leading criminal lawyer in the 1960’s and is so today”

Majid Memon – 55 years

Landmark case: He represented Yakub Memon but could not set him free. 

Legal Style: He argues in the court with his right leg on a chair.

Fee Per Day – Rs. 10 Lakh ($22,000). Charges Rs. 2 Lakh ($4,400) for a bail application.

Indulgence – Likes to travel, makes frequent trips to exotic locations.

Observation from the article: “There are those who recall him coming to the TADA court in 1996 on an old scooter. He now drives a Mercedes”. 

Arvind Datar – 53 years

Landmark case: Was one of the lawyers in the Vodafone vs. Income Tax case

Legal Style: Says one lesson he learnt is to never antagonize a judge. It’s not only your bread and butter but your client’s life.

Fee Per Appearance – Rs. 50,000 ($1,100) to Rs. 5 Lakhs ($11,100).

The Indulgence – His first car was a Toyota Corona in 1990. Now he drives an Audi. Has penned a three volume commentary on Constitutional law.

Satish Maneshinde – 50 years

Landmark case: He secured bail for Sanjay Dutt in the Bombay blast case and for Salman Khan who allegedly killed one person while driving drunk. 

Legal Style: Argues calmly in court and looks straight into the judge’s eyes.

Fee Per Day – Rs. 10 Lakh ($22,200)

The Indulgence – His Mercedes and a passion for Page 3 parties.

India Today also lists the appearance fee per case for the top law officers, Attorney General (AG) and the Solicitor General (SG). Apart from the monthly retainer of Rs. 25,000 ($555), the AG and the SG are paid Rs. 20,000 ($440) per appearance in each case.  

Soli Sorabjee concludes by saying “To charge Rs. 30 to 40 lakh ($88,000) per day is nothing short of extortion. It is no excuse to say that the client can afford it. Lawyers are professionals, not tradesmen in a market place.