Harish Salve KC, an esteemed Indian senior advocate, plies his trade at the Supreme Court of India. He has achieved victory in numerous landmark cases and consistently garners attention with his actions. Born on June 22, 1955, in Warud, Maharashtra, India, Harish Salve is presently 68 years old as of 2023. Interestingly, during his youth, he had no aspirations of becoming a lawyer; instead, he harbored plans for a career in accountancy. Today, he serves as an inspiration to countless aspiring lawyers both in India and beyond.

Harish Salve Biography

Harish Salve holds a distinguished reputation as one of the world’s ten most high-priced lawyers. He assumed the role of Solicitor General of India from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002. Even at the age of 68, he remains remarkably active and consistently shares his views on various legal matters publicly. Harish Salve was born into a diverse, multi-religious family that embraced liberal secular values at home. Between 1980 and 1986, he collaborated with the former Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee. Additionally, he represented Kulbhushan Jadhav in a prominent case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This renowned lawyer, Harish Salve, enjoys widespread admiration among aspiring lawyers globally due to his penchant for tackling complex cases and his unwavering determination never to retreat.

Harish Salve Picture

Harish Salve Young Age Picture

Harish Salve with his Second Wife (Caroline Brossard)

Harish Salve with his Third Wife (Trina)

Harish Salve with his Daughters

Family

Harish Salve hails from a Marathi family background. His father, NKP Salve, was a renowned chartered accountant, while his mother, Ambriti Salve, pursued a career as a teacher. Legal expertise runs deep in his family, as his grandfather, P.K. Salve, enjoyed success as a criminal lawyer, and his great-grandfather, who was P.K. Salve’s father, held the position of a munsif (subordinate judge). Despite their Maharashtrian roots, the Salve family originally hails from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

First Marriage & Children

Harish Salve entered into matrimony with Meenakshi Salve when he was 26 years old. Their union resulted in the birth of two daughters named Sakshi and Saaniya. However, Harish Salve later divorced Meenakshi Salve.

Second Marriage

In October 2020, Harish Salve entered into a second marriage with Caroline Brossard. They did not have any children together during their marriage. However, it’s worth noting that they have since divorced.

Third Marriage

Harish Salve entered into his third marriage with Trina in August 2023 when he was 66 years old. The wedding ceremony was graced by prominent figures such as Nita Ambani and Lalit Modi.

Education

The accomplished lawyer, Harish Salve, received his education at the renowned St. Francis DeSales High School in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He furthered his academic journey by obtaining a Chartered Accountancy qualification from ICAI and an LLB degree from Nagpur University. Interestingly, Harish Salve shared his school years with the former Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde. Prior to embarking on his legal career, Salve worked as a Chartered Accountant specializing in taxation.

Career

Harish Salve embarked on his legal career in 1980 at J. B. Dadachandji & Co., initially as an intern and later as a full-fledged lawyer. During this period, he provided valuable assistance to Palkhivala in the renowned Minerva Mills case (case citation: AIR 1980 SC 1789). He holds positions in both the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. His tenure as the Solicitor General of India spanned from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002. However, in 2011, he recused himself from this position during a hearing related to illegal mining, citing his prior representation of one or more of the involved parties. Apart from his significant litigation work, Harish Salve has also been involved in crucial non-litigation tasks, including managing WTO negotiations and contributing to the development of legislation for the Competition Commission.

Awards and Achievements

Harish Salve has garnered numerous prestigious awards and recognitions throughout his career. Here are some noteworthy achievements you should be aware of:

1. He held the esteemed title of Queen’s Counsel for the courts of England and Wales.
2. He received an honor from the Rotary Club of Madras, with commendations from K Parasaran and Mohan Parasaran.
3. Harish Salve was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan, the Republic of India’s third-highest civilian award, following the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, and preceding the Padma Shri.

 Net Worth

As per various media reports, Harish Salve’s estimated net worth is a substantial amount ranging from Rs. 50 crores to Rs. 70 crores. His fees for individual cases vary, typically ranging from 6 to 15 lakhs.

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