Top 10 Highest Paying Law Firms in India 2024 (with Salaries)
Some of the highest paying law firms in India are Trilegal India, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, AZB & Partners, etc. These law firms pay the highest salaries starting from INR 10 - 15 Lakhs and are among the top firms for law graduates in India.
Highest Paying Law Firms in India are known for providing competitive salaries to their new joiners. These firms are ready to shell out very high starting salaries ranging anywhere from INR 10 lakhs to INR 16 lakhs to fresh and talented law graduates. Some of the top law firms in India that give the highest salaries in 2024 are Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM), AZB & Partners, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM), Khaitan & Co and Trilegal.
For fresh graduates, the starting salaries at CAM, which is India's biggest full-service law firm, range from INR 15-18 lakhs per annum. This company has a strong reputation in corporate and business law, with a team of specialists along with former regulators. They have been recognized many times for their work including being ranked as one of the best firms by Chambers and Partners as well as IFLR.
AZB & Partners, a corporate law company situated in New Delhi, gives initial yearly wages of INR 9-12 lakhs. They are well-known for their work in mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity, infrastructure and taxation. Other high-paying companies are Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (INR 11 - 16 LPA), Khaitan & Co (INR 16 - 18 LPA) and Trilegal (INR 12 -17 LPA), all of which excel in different practice fields. You can also check out this list of law courses in India that will help you reach one step closer to your dream law firm in India.
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Top 10 Highest Paying Law Firms in India
Here’s a list of some of the highest paying law firms in India:1. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM)
CAM is India’s premier law firm that specializes in delivering timely and accurate legal solutions to its clients across the world. CAM has handled many clients such as domestic and international commercial entities, financial institutions, private equity and venture capital funds, startups, etc. and some governmental and regulatory bodies as well. The firm has offices in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, GIFT City, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, making it one of the central players in the Indian and international legal markets.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 1 Crore - INR 3 Crore
- Principal Associate: INR 50 Lakhs - INR 1 Crore
- Senior Associate: INR 30 Lakhs - INR 50 Lakhs
- Associate: INR 18 Lakhs - INR 30 Lakhs
Key Cases
- Guided Reliance Industries for their $7 billion rights issue, which is the biggest in India's business history.
- Acted as legal counsel for Walmart in its purchase of Flipkart, a transaction worth $16 billion and the biggest M&A deal within India's e-commerce sphere.
- Advised the Government of India on the strategic disinvestment of Air India.
2. AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners is a top Indian law firm that offers complete legal services, emphasizing intricate commercial dealings, regulatory issues and high-risk disagreements. The clientele of this company is varied and includes multinational businesses, financial organizations like banks or insurance companies as well as private equity funds among others.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 1 Crore - INR 3 Crore
- Principal Associate: INR 50 Lakhs - INR 1 Crore
- Senior Associate: INR 30 Lakhs - INR 50 Lakhs
- Associate: INR 18 Lakhs - INR 30 Lakhs
Key Cases
- Backed Bharti Airtel in combining with the India division of Telenor
- Helped the Tata Group acquire Bhushan Steel by providing counsel.
3. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) is a huge full-service law firm in India with a strong presence in key cities. It has a reputation for handling intricate commercial dealings, legalities of regulatory nature and high-value conflicts.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 1 Crore - INR 3 Crore
- Principal Associate: INR 50 Lakhs - INR 1 Crore
- Senior Associate: INR 30 Lakhs - INR 50 Lakhs
- Associate: INR 18 Lakhs - INR 30 Lakhs
Key Cases
- Supported PPP projects for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
- Gave Adani Group financing advice totalling $750 million for the proposed Carmichael coal mine.
4. Khaitan & Co
Khaitan & Co is one of the leading law firms situated in India which primarily deals with corporate laws. Starting with the fresh graduates' pay of INR 6-8 lakhs per annum, the firm provides its services in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, infrastructure and taxation. Some of its accomplishments include being listed by the Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal500 as a leading firm in corporate and M&A. The firm has been involved in corporate litigation and taxation law matters in India including a $1.6 billion tax dispute for Cairn Energy concerning internal restructuring.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 65 Lakhs - INR 1Cr
- Principal Associate: INR 32 Lakhs - INR 50 Lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 27 Lakhs - INR 35 Lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 24 Lakhs - INR 39 Lakhs
- Associate: INR 14 Lakhs - INR 18 Lakhs
- Consultant: INR 9 Lakhs - INR 22 Lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 11 Lakhs - INR 12 Lakhs
- Intern: INR 1 Lakhs - INR 2 Lakhs
Key Cases
- Acted as Oyo Rooms' representative during its $1 billion funding round.
- Represented Etihad Airways in its purchase of Jet Airways for a 24% share.
5. Trilegal India
Trilegal, a law firm offering comprehensive services, has robust expertise in corporate law, M&A (mergers and acquisitions), real estate and intellectual property. The firm includes over 400 lawyers in offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Trilegal is recognized for its experience with intricate transactions and it has given counsel to many notable deals within the Indian market. The firm's dedication to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated by a considerable proportion of women partners and senior lawyers.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 50 lakhs - 1 crore
- Principal Associate: INR 26 lakhs - 48 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 24 lakhs - 37 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 22 lakhs - 40 lakhs
- Associate: INR 13 lakhs - 19 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 9 lakhs - 20 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 9 lakhs - 11 lakhs
- Intern: INR 90,000 - 1.5 lakhs
Key Cases
- Gave Flipkart advice over Walmart's $16 billion acquisition.
- Acted as Amazon's representative when it acquired Tapzo
6. Luthra & Luthra Law Offices
The Luthra & Luthra Law Offices is a significant and well-known law firm recognized for its corporate law ability. It gives an initial salary of INR 7-9 lakhs every year to newly graduated individuals. This company provides services such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity (PE), infrastructure projects including roads, tax-related matters, and energy sources like wind power farms or solar panel installations. They have been ranked among the top firms in corporate and M&A by Chambers Asia Pacific as well as Legal500. The company has experience with intricate corporate lawsuits and tax cases in India. They managed the $2.5 billion tax arbitration case for Vodafone, which involved a dispute between the Government of India and the company.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 50 lakhs - 90 lakhs
- Principal Associate: INR 30 lakhs - 55 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 28 lakhs - 48 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 25 lakhs - 42 lakhs
- Associate: INR 22 lakhs - 38 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 20 lakhs - 35 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 18 lakhs - 30 lakhs
- Intern: INR 12 lakhs - 25 lakhs
Key Cases
- The firm acted as legal counsel for Alpha Vision Inc. in a transaction involving the transfer of business to Z Home India Private Limited
- The firm advised Vortiv Limited on its acquisition of Transaction Solutions International (India) Private Limited from CX Partners
7. Argus Partners
Argus Partners, a law firm based in India, has its main offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru with an additional branch in Kolkata. The professionals from this company are described as business lawyers because they not only know the law but also understand business and finance matters. Their expertise helps clients to recognize real dangers within their businesses and offer feasible legal answers. With a strong history of delivering consistent high-quality services, Argus Partners boasts rich domestic and international experience along with recognition from different publications.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 55 lakhs - 1 Cr
- Principal Associate: INR 35 lakhs - 65 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 32 lakhs - 58 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 30 lakhs - 55 lakhs
- Associate: INR 28 lakhs - 50 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 25 lakhs - 45 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 22 lakhs - 40 lakhs
- Intern: INR 15 lakhs - 30 lakhs
Key Cases
- Conscient Group Acquisition: Argus Partners advised an entity forming part of the Conscient Group on its purchase of an industrial building and land measuring 6.6 acres in Gurugram from Benetton India.
- Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited: The firm represented Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited before the Calcutta High Court, which observed that the process of selection adopted by a public undertaking must be transparent to ensure the best competitor is chosen.
- Prag Distillery Insolvency: Argus Partners represented Standard Chartered Bank before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai, in the insolvency and liquidation proceedings of Prag Distillery. The NCLT permitted Prag Distillery to move out of the liquidation process and reinstated its board of directors for management of operations.
- Smartstaff Series A Funding: The firm advised Arkam Ventures on their investment in the Series A funding round of Smartstaff, a blue-collar staffing platform that raised $6.2 million
- HDFC vs. IL&FS: Argus Partners successfully represented HDFC before the Supreme Court against IL&FS.
- Tata Steel Industrial RTC Power Project: The firm advised Tata Steel Limited on its investment in one of the biggest industrial RTC power projects in India under Group Captive Regime
8. J. Sagar Associates (JSA)
J. Sagar Associates (JSA) is an Indian law firm that has gained a reputation for its vast knowledge in corporate, finance and disputes law. Equipped with a robust team of skilled attorneys and a deep understanding of various practice areas, JSA delivers tactical legal solutions to clients through innovation and strategy. Their notable cases along with dedication towards excellence establishes them as reliable associates for businesses and institutions who require legal guidance within India.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 60 lakhs - 1.1 Cr
- Principal Associate: INR 40 lakhs - 75 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 38 lakhs - 70 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 35 lakhs - 65 lakhs
- Associate: INR 32 lakhs - 60 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 30 lakhs - 55 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 28 lakhs - 50 lakhs
- Intern: INR 20 lakhs - 40 lakhs
Key Cases
- JSA suggested Kirloskar Brothers reveal the full 'deed for family settlement' (DFS) of its promoters. This deed managed aspects like asset distribution, share transfer, entity ownership and more.
- The firm also represented the lenders in taking over complete control of the Go First resolution process. They substituted the company-appointed interim resolution professional, process advisor and legal agency to show their intention to manage India's largest voluntary bankruptcy.
- JSA is standing for Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in its plans to contest the NCLT's decision of dismissing their claims in Jaypee insolvency case. YEIDA wishes to file an appeal within a set duration.
9. Desai & Diwanji
The law firm Desai & Diwanji, which was founded in 1935, is among India's top legal establishments. With offices located in Mumbai, Gurgaon and New Delhi, this firm holds a powerful standing for managing significant business deals, important legal problems as well as complicated commercial conflicts. The areas of practice that the firm covers include aviation, banking and finance, capital markets, competition law disputes resolution employment labor energy natural resources infrastructure project financing mergers acquisitions private equity venture capital start-ups real estate construction technology media telecoms.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 65 lakhs - 1.2 Cr
- Principal Associate: INR 45 lakhs - 85 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 42 lakhs - 80 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 40 lakhs - 75 lakhs
- Associate: INR 38 lakhs - 70 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 35 lakhs - 65 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 32 lakhs - 60 lakhs
- Intern: INR 25 lakhs - 50 lakhs
Key Cases
- Care India Acquiring Majority Stake in CIIGMA Group Entities: Desai & Diwanji, along with DSK and CAM, acted on this significant deal.
- Shapoorji Pallonji Sale of Gopalpur Port to Adani: The firm, along with Trilegal and SAM, advised on this major transaction.
- Blackstone Acquisition of CARE Hospitals and KIM'S HEALTH: Desai & Diwanji, along with Trilegal and SAM, acted on this significant deal.
- Pioneer Legal and Desai Dewanji on Isprava Series A Capital Raise: The firm advised on this significant funding round for Isprava.
Expertise:
- Aviation: The firm has knowledge in aspects such as the purchase and leasing of the aircraft, financing of aircraft and securitization of airline receivables.
- Banking and Finance: Desai & Diwanji assists clients in the complete range of financial products that include syndicated and leveraged acquisition financing, asset finance, derivatives, securitization, insolvency and restructuring, and financial regulatory law practices.
- Capital Markets: Currently the firm is cited to have a leading practice in corporate finance involving issuers, underwriters, investors, trustees, mutual funds, rating agencies and financial institutions in several complicated corporate finance as well as capital market transactions.
- Competition: The firm’s lawyers in particular have ample knowledge about antitrust laws that are regulatory and enforcement in nature and litigations that occur in this legal field.
- Dispute Resolution: Desai & Diwanji has a very good practice area in domestic litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution services to clients.
10. Phoenix Legal
Phoenix Legal, an excellent Indian law firm offers a wide range of legal services including transactional, regulatory advisory, dispute resolution as well as tax-related matters. The starting salary is INR 5-7 lakhs per annum for fresh graduates and the firm serves a diverse clientele which includes domestic and international companies along with banks, financial institutions, funds promoter groups, public sector undertakings etcetera. It has been recognized by Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal500 for its corporate M&A capabilities among other accomplishments. The firm has advised in many prize-winning and significant infrastructure financing deals, such as the initiation of a $1 billion real estate fund for Kotak Investment Advisors.Salary Structure
- Partner: INR 70 lakhs - 1.3 Cr
- Principal Associate: INR 50 lakhs - 95 lakhs
- Senior Consultant: INR 48 lakhs - 90 lakhs
- Senior Associate: INR 45 lakhs - 85 lakhs
- Associate: INR 43 lakhs - 80 lakhs
- Consultant: INR 40 lakhs - 75 lakhs
- Junior Associate: INR 38 lakhs - 70 lakhs
- Intern: INR 30 lakhs - 60 lakhs
Key Cases
- Giving guidance to REC Limited about INR 89.75 crore funding for buying and using electric buses in Rajkot, Gujarat.
- Providing crucial support to Northern Arc Capital in launching various new financial products.
- Helping Piramal Capital and Housing Finance with structured real estate debt topics, Siddharth Hariani is recognized as a skilled partner in the field of real estate.
- For our client in Singapore, we successfully handled the challenging regulatory environment and resolved historical corporate matters. We received high praise for the quick and clear advice from our partner Abhishek Saxena.
- Advice for top OEMs/defence big players from the US, Europe and India about high-value defence projects for Indian armed forces.
Expertise: The firm provides various types of legal assistance, such as transactional, regulatory, advisory and dispute resolution services. They also offer tax advice to their clients. Phoenix Legal's deep expertise lies in areas characterized by strict regulation, such as insurance, financial services, mining and pharmaceuticals among others. They have provided advice for complex deals and transactions that are often valued over $1 billion every year the firm has been active.
The firm is famous in areas such as banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, insurance, energy/ oil & gas and more. It has received acknowledgement as a leading firm from publications like Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, India Business Law Journal and Asian Legal Business.Also Read: Best Study Plan for CLAT 2025
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FAQs
What other factors beyond just salary do lawyers consider when choosing a law firm?
Not only money, but also a variety of other things are thought about by lawyers when they decide which law firm to work for. These factors include: The particular expertise and standing of the firm in their area of law practice. The type of culture and balance between work and life within the organization; growth possibility at professional level along with chances for advancement; where exactly it's located geographically; as well as how well their personal values match up with those found within its atmosphere - all these elements play an important part in making this decision.
Are there any notable trends or changes in law firm salaries in India in recent years?
The salaries of law firms in India have been escalating in recent times, and the leading firms have provided average salary hikes of 10%- 15% with the high achievers being offered 20%- 25%. Spot awards could range between 120% to 150% of the initially targeted variable pay for excellent performers. This is due to a rise in the legal industry, staff turnover at middle management, and concern for talent retention.
How do the salaries at Indian law firms compare to those at top international law firms?
Salaries in the highest Indian law firms usually fall below what leading worldwide law firms offer. Though these top Indian companies provide very competitive pay, particularly at the partner level, the most prestigious international organizations might still give considerably more compensation. This is especially true for senior-level lawyers and it showcases their work on an international scale with clients from around the globe.
What are the key criteria these firms use to determine associate salaries?
Criteria that the best law firms in India use to decide salaries for associates are performance in academics, work experience related to the field, special skills and demonstrated excellence during the recruitment process. These factors are assessed by firms so they can find and pay legal professionals with highest talents and potential who will add value towards the firm's achievements.
How do the salaries at these top law firms compare to in-house legal roles or smaller/ mid-sized firms?
Salaries in the highest paying law firms of India show a big difference compared to jobs within legal departments or smaller/ mid-sized firms. For starting associates, top firm salaries can be between INR 11-15 lakhs per year and for partners it might go up to INR 65 lakhs - INR 1 crore per annum whereas in-house positions generally pay around INR 4.5-10 lakhs yearly.
Do these firms also offer other benefits and perks beyond just high salaries?
Best law firms in India not only give high salaries, but also provide good benefits like bonuses based on performance, health insurance, contributions for retirement and chances to work abroad for some time. These extra advantages assist these firms in drawing and keeping excellent legal professionals by offering a complete pay package that is more than just the basic salary.
Which practice areas tend to pay the highest salaries at these firms?
The most money-making practice areas in leading Indian law firms consist of mergers & acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, banking & finance, and competition/antitrust law. These fields are very much needed and need special knowledge; this permits the firms to ask for more money from clients and pay high salaries to keep attracting and keeping top legal professionals.
What factors determine the high salaries at top law firms?
Important factors involve the firm's special knowledge, reputation, who their customers are, deal history and capacity to get and keep top legal talent. Elements such as educational background, work experience and specific abilities also affect individual salaries.
What are the average salaries at these top law firms?
The average salaries range from around INR 11-15 lakhs per annum for entry-level associates, up to INR 65 lakhs - INR 1 crore per annum for partners at the top firms like CAM and SAM.
What are the top 10 highest paying law firms in India in 2024?
The top 10 highest paying law firms in India in 2024 are: 1) Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM), 2) Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. (SAM), 3) Trilegal, 4) Khaitan & Co., 5) J. Sagar Associates (JSA), 6) DSK Legal, 7) AZB & Partners, 8) S&R Associates, 9) Desai & Diwanji, and 10) Luthra & Luthra Law Offices.