HS
Lawyer

Harish Salve

Born 21 June 1955 · Maharashtra

Argued the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice in 2019.

Harish Salve is an Indian senior advocate who practices at the Supreme Court of India. He served as the Solicitor General of India from 1 November 1999 to 3 November 2002. He also fought the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On 16 January 2020 he was appointed as a King's Counsel for the courts of England and Wales.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Harish Salve was classmates with Sharad Arvind Bobde, the 47th Chief Justice of India, at St. Francis De'Sales High School, Nagpur.

The Story

1
In 1980, Harish Salve began his legal career as an intern at J. B. Dadachandji & Co. in Mumbai, simultaneously practicing Chartered Accountancy in taxation, blending finance with law early on.
2
🌟 At 43, in November 1999, he was appointed Solicitor General of India, holding the position until November 2002, during which he argued landmark cases like the first Anti-Dumping case and the Balco privatization matter.
3In 2013, Salve was admitted to the English Bar and joined Blackstone Chambers, marking a rare transition from Indian law to high-profile international practice, including complex arbitration and Supreme Court cases overseas.
4🌍 In 2017, he represented Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, taking the case pro bono and arguing India’s position against Pakistan’s charges for a nominal fee of Re 1.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2020, Harish Salve was appointed a King's Counsel for the courts of England and Wales, a title awarded to select senior lawyers, underscoring his international legal reputation beyond India.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Maharashtra
Harish Salve was born in Warud, Sindkheda, Dhule district, Maharashtra, into a family with a legacy in law and politics.
1955
⚡
Career
Started legal career
Began as an intern at J. B. Dadachandji & Co., assisting in the Minerva Mills case and blending law with his Chartered Accountancy background.
1980
⚡
Career
Appointed Solicitor General of India
At age 43, Salve took office as Solicitor General, representing the Union of India in major constitutional and commercial cases till 2002.
1999
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Career
Admitted to English Bar
Joined Blackstone Chambers in London, expanding his practice to international arbitration and Supreme Court cases outside India.
2013
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Career
Argued Kulbhushan Jadhav case at ICJ
Represented India at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on a pro bono basis, challenging Pakistan’s charges against Jadhav.
2017
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Award
Appointed King's Counsel
Received the prestigious title of King's Counsel (QC) for the courts of England and Wales, recognizing his expertise in law across jurisdictions.
2020
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
👤PERSONAL

Before his full-time legal career, Salve qualified as a Chartered Accountant and practiced taxation, a rare combination that helped him master complex corporate tax litigation.

02 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He represented Vodafone in a $2.5 billion tax dispute with the Indian government, losing initially at Bombay High Court but winning at the Supreme Court after shifting his base to London to prepare the case thoroughly.

03 / 05
👤PERSONAL

Salve argued the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice for a nominal fee of just Re 1, highlighting his commitment to cases of national importance over monetary gain.

No quote recorded for Harish Salve yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Harish Salve-Arnab On Legends: Padma Bhushan Harish Salve Recounts Kulbhushan Jadhav's Case
More from this archive
Harish Salve-Arnab On Legends: Padma Bhushan Harish Salve Recounts Kulbhushan Jadhav's Case
01
Harish Salve-Arnab On Legends: Padma Bhushan Harish Salve Recounts Kulbhushan Jadhav's Case
Harish Salve: All you need to know about him | वनइंडिया हिंदी
02
Harish Salve: All you need to know about him | वनइंडिया हिंदी
Harish Salve: Why Supreme Court is Unlikely to Void Article 370 Move
03
Harish Salve: Why Supreme Court is Unlikely to Void Article 370 Move
Harish Salve Interview | 'Vested Interests Creating Anti-Business Environment': Harish Salve To NDTV
04
Harish Salve Interview | 'Vested Interests Creating Anti-Business Environment': Harish Salve To NDTV
India's Harish Salve argues case for Kulbhushan Jadhav at ICJ | Part - 01
05
India's Harish Salve argues case for Kulbhushan Jadhav at ICJ | Part - 01
SIAC India Webinar: Interview with Mr Harish Salve QC
06
SIAC India Webinar: Interview with Mr Harish Salve QC
Development Dialogue with Adv Harish Salve | Part 1 | Prudent | 13 April 21
07
Development Dialogue with Adv Harish Salve | Part 1 | Prudent | 13 April 21
Cover Story by Priya Sahgal: Harish Salve - NewsX
08
Cover Story by Priya Sahgal: Harish Salve - NewsX
#DDSVignettes Shri Harish Salve on "India an Experiment"
09
#DDSVignettes Shri Harish Salve on "India an Experiment"
Harish Salve Argues Case For Kulbhushan Jadhav Part - 2
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Harish Salve Argues Case For Kulbhushan Jadhav Part - 2

🌱 What changed because of them

Harish Salve transformed India's legal landscape in taxation and international arbitration, influencing how multinational corporations approach high-stakes litigation. His arguments in cases like Vodafone’s tax dispute set precedents affecting retrospective tax laws and corporate legal strategy. His role at the ICJ in Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case brought international attention to India’s diplomatic legal efforts.

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