Either the Times of India thinks that only advocates are lawyers or that law firm lawyers are just not so very top.
While I certainly would not dare disagree with the calibre and legal genius of each of these individuals, could not at least one law firmite have made it to the list?
Here's TOI's full list of top 10 lawyers, along with our nutshell summary of the paper's often brilliant commentary on each:- Fali Nariman
The "wise man of the Bar" with a stature that "allows him to be blunt in court". - Soli J Sorabjee
Former glorious AG, fierce free speech and HR advocate, "mad 'bawa' (Parsi) jokes", successful daughter. - Harish Salve
The "legal robot" and all-round legal talent. - K. Parasaran
"Articulate" and "ethically driven" "man for all seasons". - Ram Jethmalani
Passionate about crimes with "rapier-sharp wit", proving crime does pay. - Abhishek Manu Singhvi
"Buddha of the Bar", youngest additional solicitor general ever and happy enabler of all tricolor-wavers. - Mukul Rohatgi
Voluble "king" of Delhi HC and Anil's gas dispute trusted counsel. - K.K. Venugopal
"Constitutional crorepati", Emergency counterweight and collector - but where's the grey hair? - Rohinton F Nariman
Cheerful corporate stalwart, fast riser to senior counsel, Fali's son. - Ashok Desai
Reclusive former AG, softly-spoken but packing a serious punch and control.
Possible explanations:
- court-room work is simply more glamorous than the desk-bound transactional variety,
- the ones on the list really are a league apart that law firmites have not yet been able to match, or
- the TOI did not read the Lawyers Collective judgment that "legal practice" includes desk-work.
For Times of India's full list click here - it's a very entertaining read that brings out many a wonderful personality!
By reading the comments you agree that they are the (often anonymous) personal views and opinions of readers, which may be biased and unreliable, and for which Legally India therefore has no liability. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, please click 'Report to LI' below the comment and we will review it as soon as practicable.
threads most popular
thread most upvoted
comment newest
first oldest
first
The problem is that its hard to compare apples and oranges like this because they both do v different things.
What about T.R. Andhiyarijuna?
Supremely Respected. Very picky about the work and experience to put many to shame.
Keshavananda Bharti, I.R. Coelho, Kerala Education society...you name it, he's been there.
or are we measuring wealth and charges too?
With all due respect Sir please refer to his similar kind of ranking of U.K lawyers by TIME magazine available at I would like to quote from the same article which has provided the ranking of lawyers "There is no business lawyer in the Top Ten — which reflects the panel’s view that unlike their US counterparts who are often leading voices on social or policy issues, no City lawyer had a broad enough influence to be in the Top Ten". Similar is the position in India the position of Corporate Lawyer is India relatively to the U.S position is very weak. I agree that Shroff nd Modi have a big say in policy matters but numerically they count very less. While drafting economic policies also Govt seeks for advise from these Top lawyers only i.e Palkiwala was never corp but he was revered for his expertise in financial laws. I tend to disapprove the notion the Corp lawyers or transaction lawyers are less capable or something like that but my whole argument is based on a primary assumption that the position of corp law in India is relatively weaker than other jurisdiction. For example at present my friends in law school might be knowing that there are very few Indian legal scholars who are dedicated to Corp law n India. The legal scholarship dedicated to corp law is at very niche stage i.e the only name for a corp law scholar comes to my mind and who is most visible in the respective feild Umakanth. So there are certain lacunae in the present legal frame which needs to be addressed and I think ur blog is an initial step to that direction. Btw I felt that if corp lawyers should have been added that why dont we refer to Prof Upendra baxi's name also that guy was also invited to hold a position as a SC judge though he refused as he though joining Warwick mite turn out to be a better option. Also I agree with you that still we have a very cliched notion of lawyering which refers to court work only. We need to expand both the scope and relevance of lawyering but that has begin from law school. I think iin major law schools there is a huge problem in India that ppl are not interested in law but to get in Amarchand nd have a charming life. i agree that most of the ppl in law school r from humble background nd cannot afford nething else but those who r not r still afraid to venture out or to diversify. In law school ppl r more aware Shroff than their corp law teacher or the book. I agree knowing abt shroff might provide a major incentives in life but there are other avenues also which one can venture. the scope of Corp law has always been limited law firms but i would suggest that if a person is really interested in that particular subject he can venture in I Banks, Consultancy firms, IFC World Bank or ne renowned research think tanks which can provide both more economic intellectual incentive to neone. But as usual we tend to confuse between Shroffs nd Modi's with Corp law.
Cheers
This list may be "Top Recognised Lawyers" but not at all "Top Lawyers". I agree with Kian that lawyers in Law firms ( my list..like Rahul Matthan, Shradul Shroff, Jyoti Sagar) are equally good. Some of the lawyers in the TOI list don't deserve the mention.
That being said, a huge "ha-ha" to the reference to the 'charming life' of law firms. It's a long way to the top and it takes hard work, be it litigation or making partner in a law firm.
1. Zia Mody;
2. Cyril Shroff;
3. Sandeep Bhagat;
4. Nishith Desai;
5. M.P. Bharucha;
6. Somasekhar Sundaresan;
7. Bahram Vakil;
8. Sanjay Asher;
9. Anand Prasad; and
10. Shobhan Thakore
i think jyoti sagar, rajiv luthra, shardul shroff should find mention in the list as well
threads most popular
thread most upvoted
comment newest
first oldest
first