Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Harish Salve’s High-Profile Career Enters Tata Sons Power Struggle
Harish Salve is a well-known lawyer who has worked on many important cases.
His clients have included business leaders, companies, actors and politicians.
He started by studying commerce and chartered accountancy before becoming a lawyer.
He began practicing law in 1980 and once served as India’s Solicitor General.
He has represented India in cases before the International Court of Justice.
In the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, he helped obtain an order stopping Pakistan from carrying out an execution while the case continued.
He has also handled major disputes involving Vodafone and Reliance Industries.
His name is now connected with the legal dispute between Tata Sons and Tata Trusts.
Harish Salve has advised Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, Tina Ambani, Lalit Modi, Salman Khan and politicians Mulayam Singh Yadav and Prakash Singh Badal.
His major cases have included Vodafone’s tax disputes, Reliance Industries’ Krishna Godavari Basin gas dispute and Ratan Tata’s privacy case involving the Niira Radia tapes.
Salve began his legal career in 1980 after earning commerce, accountancy and law qualifications from Nagpur University.
He served as Solicitor General of India from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002, and received the Padma Bhushan in 2015.
His representation of India before the International Court of Justice and his work in major corporate disputes preceded his emergence in the Tata Sons-Tata Trusts conflict.
- Who
- Harish Salve, a senior lawyer and former Solicitor General of India, whose clients have included major companies, business leaders, politicians and public figures.
- What
- A review of Salve’s legal career and prominent cases as his name emerges in the Tata Sons-Tata Trusts dispute while advising the Tata Sons chairman.
- When
- Salve began his legal career in 1980 and served as Solicitor General from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002; his latest involvement is in the current Tata dispute described in the article.
- Where
- The cases discussed involved India, the International Court of Justice, Pakistan and disputes before Indian courts and tribunals.
- Why
- His extensive experience in high-profile constitutional, criminal, commercial, tax and international cases has brought him into the closely watched Tata corporate dispute.
- Legal career began
- 1980, at JB Dadachandji & Co.
- Education
- Bachelor of Commerce in 1975, chartered accountancy qualification in 1978 and LLB in 1980, all associated with Nagpur University or the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
- Solicitor General
- Served from November 1, 1999, to November 3, 2002.
- Civilian honour
- Received the Padma Bhushan in 2015.
- International role
- Represented India before the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and a case brought by the Marshall Islands.
- Jadhav case fee
- Charged the Indian government a token fee of one rupee.
- Current relevance
- His name has emerged in the dispute between Tata Sons and Tata Trusts.