One of India's most prominent legal minds, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, has reportedly been engaged to advise Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran in an ongoing dispute with Tata Trusts. This latest high-profile assignment once again brings Salve's illustrious career into the spotlight, highlighting his extensive experience in both domestic and international legal arenas.
A Distinguished Legal Journey
Harish Salve embarked on his legal career in 1980, initially interning and later practicing at JB Dadachandji & Co. During this period, he notably assisted Nani Palkhivala in the landmark Minerva Mills case, a pivotal moment that cemented his path in law. Influenced by Palkhivala, Salve transitioned from chartered accountancy to law, subsequently joining the chambers of former Attorney General of India, Soli Sorabjee.
His career escalated rapidly, leading to his appointment as Solicitor General of India, a position he held from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002. Salve has built a global reputation for his expertise in international commercial arbitration, litigation, public international law, human rights, and tax disputes.
Key Cases and High-Profile Clients
Salve's client roster reads like a who's who of Indian and international figures, including Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, Tina Ambani, Lalit Modi, and Salman Khan. His notable assignments span a wide range of complex legal challenges:
- Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: Salve represented India before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2017, successfully securing an order to restrain Pakistan from executing Jadhav. He famously charged a token fee of Re 1 for this critical national duty.
- Vodafone Tax Disputes: He successfully represented Vodafone International Holdings BV in significant tax and Bilateral Investment Treaty arbitration disputes against the Indian government, arguing against Indian tax authorities' jurisdiction.
- Reliance Industries: Represented the company in the Krishna Godavari Basin gas dispute.
- Ratan Tata: Advised in the privacy case connected to the Niira Radia tapes.
- Uphaar Cinema Fire Case: Appeared pro bono as Special Public Prosecutor for the Central Bureau of Investigation, representing the state through various court levels.
Beyond these, Salve has also appeared in numerous other prominent criminal and commercial matters, consistently demonstrating his legal acumen.
From Chartered Accountant to Senior Advocate
Salve's academic background includes a Bachelor of Commerce from Nagpur University in 1975, followed by becoming an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1978. He earned his Bachelor of Legislative Laws (LLB) from Nagpur University in 1980, solidifying his foundation in law.
His contributions to the legal field have been widely recognized. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor. Further international recognition came in 2020 when he was admitted to the Bar in England and Wales and appointed King's Counsel, solidifying his standing as a global legal authority.