Harish Salve is an Indian lawyer known for his work in tax law, public international law, arbitration and major constitutional and commercial disputes.
About Harish Salve
Harish Salve is a prominent Indian lawyer whose career has extended from tax litigation in India to international disputes before the International Court of Justice and practice at the English Bar. His professional journey includes serving as Solicitor General of India, representing major corporate interests in high-value tax disputes, and appearing for India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case before the ICJ.
His career has also taken him beyond Indian courts. After being admitted to the English Bar in 2013, Salve joined Blackstone Chambers in London and was appointed Queen’s Counsel, now known as King’s Counsel, for England and Wales in January 2020. His present practice covers international commercial arbitration and litigation, public international law, human rights, civil fraud, energy and tax law.
Early Life & Background
Harish Salve was born on 22 June 1955 in Warud, Sindkheda, in Maharashtra’s Dhule district. He came from a family with both legal and professional backgrounds. His father, N.K.P. Salve, was a chartered accountant and a prominent Indian National Congress politician, while his mother, Ambriti Salve, was a doctor.
The legal profession was also part of Salve’s family history. His grandfather, P.K. Salve, was a criminal lawyer, and his great-grandfather served as a munsif, or subordinate judge. This background placed law within the family’s professional tradition, although Salve initially also pursued a formal qualification in accountancy.
He studied at Nagpur University, where he completed his BCom and LLB. Alongside his legal education, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. His combination of legal and accountancy training later became particularly relevant to his work in taxation and commercial disputes.
Career / Rise
Salve began his legal career in 1980 at J.B. Dadachandji & Co. He initially joined as an intern and subsequently became a full-time member of the firm. Early in his career, he assisted the eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala in the landmark Minerva Mills case, reported as AIR 1980 SC 1789.
From 1980 to 1986, Salve also worked under Soli Sorabjee, who would later become Attorney General of India. These formative years gave him exposure to some of India’s leading constitutional and legal practitioners before he moved towards establishing an independent practice.
In 1986, Salve established his independent practice and developed a reputation as a leading tax lawyer. His professional standing continued to rise, and in 1992 he was designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India.
His career then moved into government service. Salve served as Solicitor General of India from 1 November 1999 to 3 November 2002. He became India’s youngest-ever Solicitor General at the age of 43. During his tenure, he argued India’s first anti-dumping case in the Supreme Court and appeared in the BALCO privatization case.
| Period / Date | Career milestone |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Began legal career at J.B. Dadachandji & Co. |
| 1980–1986 | Worked under Soli Sorabjee |
| 1986 | Established independent practice |
| 1992 | Designated Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India |
| 1 November 1999 – 3 November 2002 | Served as Solicitor General of India |
| 2013 | Admitted to the English Bar and joined Blackstone Chambers |
| 16 January 2020 | Appointed Queen’s Counsel, now King’s Counsel, for England and Wales |
Salve declined a second term as Solicitor General, citing personal reasons. His government tenure nevertheless formed an important stage in a career that subsequently expanded from Indian tax and constitutional litigation into international legal practice.
Notable Work / Turning Point
One of Salve’s significant corporate cases was his representation of Vodafone in its $2.5 billion tax dispute with the Indian government. The matter added to his profile in high-value tax litigation and reflected the area of practice in which he had established his reputation earlier in his career.
His international profile became particularly prominent through the Kulbhushan Jadhav case before the International Court of Justice. From 2017 to 2019, Salve served as lead counsel for India in the proceedings. The ICJ ruled in India’s favour, directing Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav and to review his death sentence.
The Jadhav case also became notable for the fee Salve charged for his representation. He accepted a symbolic fee of Re. 1 for the case. The fee was later collected on behalf of the late External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj by her daughter, fulfilling Swaraj’s final wish.
Salve’s international practice developed further alongside his work in India. He was admitted to the English Bar in 2013 and joined Blackstone Chambers in London. On 16 January 2020, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel for England and Wales, a designation now known as King’s Counsel.
His practice today spans international commercial arbitration and litigation, public international law, human rights, civil fraud, energy and tax law. He has appeared in two cases before the International Court of Justice, extending his courtroom practice beyond domestic litigation into international disputes.
Legacy / Current Standing
Salve was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2015, one of India’s highest civilian honours. The award marked formal recognition of a legal career that had included senior government service, major tax disputes, constitutional litigation and international advocacy.
His professional standing has also extended into legal education. In August 2025, he was appointed Distinguished Professor at National Law University Delhi.
Salve’s career reflects a progression from accountancy and tax law to senior advocacy in India and, subsequently, international legal practice. His work has included appearances before the Supreme Court of India, representation in major commercial and tax disputes, service as Solicitor General, and advocacy before the International Court of Justice. His appointment as King’s Counsel in England and Wales further marks the international dimension of his legal career.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Issues 10 Directions to Speed Up Dowry and Cruelty Trials
