Top Criminal Lawyers in India

The top criminal lawyers in India have secured their positions through precise education, a constant work ethic, and participation in cases that have influenced the nation's legal framework. Read further to know more.

Top 10 Criminal Lawyers in India

We have considered the education, experience, major cases, and the impact made on the entire legal system to create a list of the top criminal lawyers in India. Check some of the famous lawyers and their backgrounds below:

Ram Jethmalani

He completed his LLB from Mumbai University at the age of 17. Later, he also completed his LLM degree. He began his career as a lecturer; however, after the partition, he came to our country and practiced law here. He was well known for taking high-profile cases. For each appearance, it is said that he used to charge as much as INR 10-20 lakh.

Harish Salve

Salve did not choose law as his first choice. He got trained in Chartered Accountancy first and then he got into law profession. He completed his LLB degree from Nagpur University. He is not only a top-notch criminal lawyer but also a constitutional lawyer. He served as the Solicitor General of India from 1999 to 2002. He is one of the highest paid lawyers in India. He reportedly charges between INR 6 to 15 lakh per appearance in court.

Gopal Subramaniam

Subramaniam holds expertise in constitutional, commercial and criminal law. He completed his LLB from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. He took his training from some of the known personalities like former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee. He served as the Solicitor General of India from 2009 to 2011. He charges INR 5 to INR 10 lakh per appearance.

Fali S. Nariman

A well-known name in the legal world. His expertise is in constitutional law. Nariman completed BA from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and an LLB from Government Law College, Mumbai. He was appointed as a Senior Advocate by the Apex Court in 1971. He served as the Solicitor General of India in 1975. He was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005.

Indira Jaising

Jaising is a human rights lawyer who has worked for women's rights. She is the first woman to be appointed as the Additional Solicitor General in 2009. Completed law from the Government Law College, Mumbai and later pursued her LLM degree. The per appearance charge of Jaising is between INR 5 lakh to INR 10 lakh. Also she was awarded the Padma Shri in 2005.

Siddharth Luthra

Luthra is known for his contributions in several important cases, mainly in the areas of constitutional, commercial, and criminal law. He completed his BA in history from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. He then completed his LLM degree from University of Cambridge. There he specialised in International Law. He served as the Additional Solicitor General of India from July 2012 to May 2014.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Singhvi is a well-known Indian Lawyer and politician. Known for both public and legal services. Completed a BA in Economics from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi and LLB from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. Singhvi completed his Master's degree in Law from the University of Cambridge, specialised in International Law and Constitutional Law. Also, he holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford.

Notable Cases

• NJAC Case.
• 2G Spectrum Case.
• Vodafone Tax Case.
• Presidential Reference on 2G.
• Challenge to Aadhaar.

Kapil Sibal

Sibal is a well-known politician and lawyer working as a senior advocate, minister, and legal advisor. Completed BA LLB from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi and Master's from Harvard Law School. Sibal worked as Minister of Human Resource Development, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Minister of Law and Justice. Sibal charges INR 5 lakh to INR 20 lakh for per appearance in the court.

Notable cases

• Article 370 Abrogation.
• Aadhaar Case.
• Triple Talaq.
• Right to Privacy.
• Article 377.

Karuna Nuddy
She did her LLB from University of Cambridge. Later, she did her Master of Laws from Columbia Law School, New York. She is an international lawyer but practices in the Apex Court. For per hearing she charges around INR 5 lakh to 8 lakh. She played important role in drafting anti-rape laws.

Notable Cases:

• Arbitration Experience.
• Paytm petition to implement the TCCPR Rules and TRAI Act.
• 1984 gas disaster and toxic waste dumps in Bhopal.
• Marital Rape.
• Legalisation of Queer Marriage.
• Criminal Law Amendments 2013.
• National Food Security Act, 2013.
• Shreya Singhal v. Union of India.