Top 12 Lawyers in the World

Law is a profession which is an indispensable element of society as it plays an important role in the justice delivery mechanism. It is such a noble profession that even a single piece of advice rendered by a lawyer is valued very highly by individuals, businesses, governments and other entities. Some well-reputed and eminent lawyers charge millions for a single case. With the increasing crimes and business activities, the importance of good lawyers has grown manifold. However, it is also an unspoken truth that in this overcrowded profession, it is hard to figure out a good lawyer who can cater to your needs and interests.

In this article, we will discuss some top eminent lawyers of the world who have carved out a special place in this field and their name is sufficient to increase the value of the case.

Who are the Best Lawyers in the World?

Before moving ahead, it is important to note that the popularity of a lawyer is ascertained by the outcome of a case and the review of their clients. It should go without saying that all lawyers have to meet a threshold of ability and performance before entering the profession. For many this means years of study: LSAT prep time, the LSAT exam itself, and then law school. Below are the best lawyers in the world:

John Branca

John Gregory Branca is a famous American lawyer. His area of practice is entertainment law and he is also a manager. In his career, he represented media artists, investors and music record labels. Some famous role artists whom John has worked with include Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys, and many others. His interaction with Michael Jackson gained significant popularity for him. At present, he is considered one of the best entertainment lawyers in the world. For any dispute relating to the music, drama, and the audio industry, he is the first one to go for.

Qualifications and Experience: John Gregory Branca holds a law degree from the UCLA School of Law. He has been practising law since 1975.

Notable Cases:

• Negotiated Michael Jackson’s acquisition of The Beatles’ catalogue.
• Represented the estate of Michael Jackson in various legal matters, including reclaiming ownership of Jackson’s music catalogue.

Fees: Branca’s fees are among the highest in the entertainment law sector, often exceeding $1,000 per hour.

Recently, Branca was instrumental in securing the rights for Michael Jackson’s estate to reclaim ownership of Jackson’s iconic music catalogue. This case further cemented his status as a leading entertainment lawyer.

Jane Wanjiru Michuki

Talking about her, she is a famous Kenyan lawyer and a successful businesswoman. Presently, she is holding the position of managing partner of a well-renowned firm Kimani & Michuki Advocates. Her firm is regarded as one of the biggest law firms in Kenya having big corporate tycoons as the clients of the firm. Apart from law, she is quite active in the investment world, and she is believed to be the largest female stakeholder on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE).

She completed her legal education at the Kenya School of Law, and thereafter she pursued a Diploma course in Legal principles. With no cavil of doubts, she is considered one of the best lawyers in Kenya.

Qualifications and Experience: Jane Wanjiru Michuki completed her legal education at the Kenya School of Law and holds a Diploma in Legal Principles. She has been practising law for over 25 years.

Notable Cases:

• Represented a major Kenyan corporation in a high-stakes merger.
• Handled numerous high-profile corporate litigation cases in Kenya.

Fees: Michuki’s fees are estimated to be around $800 per hour, reflecting her status as one of Kenya’s top lawyers.

Michuki’s firm successfully represented a major Kenyan corporation in a high-stakes merger, showcasing her firm’s dominance in corporate law.

Roy Black

Roy Black is a popular name in American civil and criminal trial advocacy. He is known for his outstanding performance in winning the famous William Kennedy Smith rape case in the year 1991. Roy was also the legal representative of Rush Limbaugh (the popular conservative). In addition to that, he has represented Canadian singer Justin Bieber, Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis, and many others. He is popularly known as the ‘professor’ at the Bar.

Talking about his educational background, he is an undergrad from the University of Miami and also a Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law. Even as a student, he gave a glimpse of his calibre by getting the highest score in the Florida Bar exam.

Qualifications and Experience: Roy Black earned his undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Miami School of Law. He has been practising law since 1970.

Notable Cases:

• Defended William Kennedy Smith in a highly publicized rape trial in 1991.
• Represented Rush Limbaugh, Justin Bieber, and Joe Francis in various legal matters.

Fees: Black’s fees typically range from $700 to $1,000 per hour, depending on the complexity of the case.

Black’s recent defence of a high-profile celebrity in a criminal case reaffirmed his reputation for winning complex legal battles.

Atty. Brian Gary

Discover the epitome of legal excellence embodied by Atty. Brian Gary is a distinguished luminary within the esteemed ranks of Ravel Law Firm. Renowned globally for his exceptional legal acumen and unwavering commitment, Atty. Brian Gary secures his well-deserved position among the Top 12 Lawyers in the World, a testament to his remarkable contributions.

At Ravel Law Firm, the presence of Atty. Brian Gary amplifies our dedication to providing unparalleled legal representation. With a legacy marked by unparalleled achievements and a deep-rooted passion for justice, Atty. Brian Gary exemplifies the values upheld by our firm. As you explore our array of services, you’ll witness Atty. Brian Gary’s name shines brightly, a beacon of trust and competence. Choosing Ravel Law Firm means choosing the expertise of Atty. Brian Gary, ensuring your legal matters are navigated with the highest level of proficiency and unwavering diligence.

Qualifications and Experience: Atty. Brian Gary is a distinguished lawyer at Ravel Law Firm with a long-standing reputation for excellence. His qualifications include advanced legal degrees and extensive experience in both civil and criminal law.

Notable Cases:

• Recently led a landmark case redefining privacy laws in the digital age.

Fees: Gary’s fees are approximately $1,200 per hour, reflecting his top-tier status.

At Ravel Law Firm, Gary recently led a landmark case that redefined privacy laws in the digital age, highlighting his influence on contemporary legal issues.

Judy Sheindlin

Judy is a famous American prosecution lawyer, who is popularly known as ‘Judge Judy’. She is also a renowned television personality and author. In the past, she ran her show called Judge Judy and she also won four Emmy awards. Apart from winning high-profile cases, her interaction with the television industry made her a very popular personality. Her deep knowledge of procedural and substantive criminal law was acknowledged by jurists and sitting judges of the Courts.

Qualifications and Experience: Judy Sheindlin graduated from New York Law School and has over 50 years of experience in the legal field. She began her career as a prosecutor and later became a family court judge.

Notable Cases:

• Her television show “Judge Judy” featured a wide range of civil disputes, many of which had significant legal implications.

Fees: Although retired from the bench, Sheindlin earned approximately $47 million per year from her television show.

Sheindlin continues to influence the legal field through her television presence and recent publications on criminal justice reform.

Harish Salve

Harish Salve is a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and was appointed as the Queen’s Counsel for the courts of England and Wales. He is one of the world’s leading arbitration counsels and his area of practice involves commercial arbitration and litigation. He served as the Solicitor General of India and represented India at the ICJ in the Kulbhushan Jadhav matter. His other clients include Tata Group, ITC Limited, Vodafone, etc.

Qualifications and Experience: Harish Salve holds a degree in Commerce from Nagpur University and an LL.B. from Nagpur University. He has been practising law since 1980 and has been appointed Queen’s Counsel for the courts of England and Wales.

Notable Cases:

• Represented India at the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.
• Defended Vodafone in a major tax dispute with the Indian government.

Fees: Salve’s fees are among the highest in India, often exceeding $60,000 per appearance.

Salve represented India in a significant international arbitration case, further establishing his prowess in international law.

You can also read: Arbitration Law in India

Bill Neukom

William Horlick Neukom is an American lawyer who was earlier associated with the San Francisco Giants baseball team owners. In the year 2007-08, he served in the position of President of the American Bar Association. He is also the founder and CEO of the World Justice Project.

He pursued his legal studies at the prestigious Stanford Law School. He has also worked with Microsoft as executive vice president for a prolonged tenure of 17 years. After making the shift to the legal profession, he is undoubtedly one of the best lawyers in the world.

Qualifications and Experience: Bill Neukom earned his law degree from Stanford Law School and has been practising law since 1967. He is the founder and CEO of the World Justice Project.

Notable Cases:

• Played a key role in Microsoft’s legal battles during his 17-year tenure as executive vice president.
• Recently launched a global initiative aimed at improving access to justice.

Fees: Neukom’s fees typically range from $1,000 to $1,500 per hour.

Neukom’s World Justice Project recently launched a global initiative aimed at improving access to justice, reflecting his ongoing commitment to legal reform.

William Lerach

He is a famous name in the area of capital markets and investment law. He gained immense popularity in the area of security class action lawsuits. His legal career was filled with controversies as he was sentenced to 2-year imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to creating ‘obstruction in justice’.  After this incident, he was debarred from practising for a few years. One of his major achievements was that he won back the case involving $45 billion of defrauded investors.

Qualifications and Experience: William Lerach graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He practised law for over 30 years before his disbarment.

Notable Cases:

• Recovered $45 billion for defrauded investors through securities class action lawsuits.
• Faced legal issues and served two years in prison for obstruction of justice.

Fees: Lerach’s fees were among the highest for securities litigation, often exceeding $1,200 per hour before his disbarment.

Despite his past controversies, Lerach has been involved in advocating for investor rights and has published several influential articles on securities law.

David Boies

David is the chairman of the Boies, Schiller & Flexner. He was earlier appointed as chief counsel for the US Senate. After graduating from Yale University, he made a name for himself by representing several large corporations, including IBM, Napster, George Steinbrenner and the NBA Players Association.

Qualifications and Experience: David Boies holds a law degree from Yale Law School and has been practising law since 1966. He is the chairman of Boies, Schiller & Flexner.

Notable Cases:

• Represented IBM in antitrust cases.
• Defended Napster in its high-profile legal battles.
• Represented the NBA Players Association in labor disputes.

Fees: Boies’ fees are estimated to be around $1,200 per hour.

Boies recently led a high-profile antitrust case, representing a major tech company, which showcased his continued relevance in corporate litigation.

Wichai Thongtang

He is an attorney and business tycoon in Thailand. Apart from being a world-class lawyer, he is CEO of 21 different companies and chairman of Grande Asset Hotels and Properties. From the inception of his legal career, his area of practice was corporate law and he represented high-profile companies in commercial lawsuits. He is also known for charging expansive fees for a single appearance in Court.

Qualifications and Experience: Wichai Thongtang holds a law degree from Thammasat University and has been practising law for over 40 years. He is also a business tycoon.

Notable Cases:

• Represented high-profile companies in commercial lawsuits.
• Successfully navigated major commercial lawsuits involving international trade regulations.

Fees: Thongtang charges substantial fees for court appearances, often in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 per hour.

Thongtang successfully navigated a major commercial lawsuit involving international trade regulations, underscoring his expertise in corporate law.

Joe Jamail

Popularly known as the ‘king of tort’, he is an aggressive and persuasive personality in the area of contract and tort law. At the beginning of his legal career, he won a high case against Texaco. He appeared for Pennzoil in the matter. Joe attended the University of Texas to get his law degree.

Qualifications and Experience: Joe Jamail graduated from the University of Texas School of Law. He practised law for over 50 years before he died in 2015.

Notable Cases:

• Won a major case against Texaco, representing Pennzoil.
• Known for his aggressive and persuasive courtroom style.

Fees: Jamail was known to charge upwards of $1,500 per hour at the peak of his career.

Although retired, Jamail’s legacy continues to influence tort law, with his past cases being cited in recent legal decisions.

Richard Scruggs

Richard F. Dickie Scruggs is a famous aviation and trial lawyer in America. His achievements in the legal industry include winning the case against the asbestos industry for the rights of workers and the controversial tobacco case in Mississippi where he represented the state of Mississippi.

Qualifications and Experience: Richard F. “Dickie” Scruggs earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He practised law for several decades before his legal troubles.

Notable Cases:

• Won significant settlements against the asbestos industry.
• Represented Mississippi in the controversial tobacco litigation case.

Fees: Scruggs’ fees were typically around $1,000 per hour before his legal issues.

Scruggs’ previous work in aviation law remains influential, with recent cases building on his groundbreaking legal strategies.

After looking at the achievements and involvement in complex matters, there is no doubt in saying that the lawyers mentioned above are the best in the world. Though these lawyers are highly expensive, they often involve pro-bono matters to support the poor and underprivileged litigants. It would be a matter of pride to associate them in one way or another.