So, who are they? Here is a fast look in the wealthiest lawyers in the world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the greatest. Please note that the people on this list are practicing attorneys or judges. There are plenty of other "lawyers" using a considerably higher net value, but they just have a law degree and no longer use it.
Harish Salve: $6 million
At 59 years old, Harish Salve has worked tirelessly to develop a reputation as one of India's top (and most expensive) attorneys, specializing in commercial, constitutional, and tax law. Salve, who comes from a long line of attorneys and formerly served as the Solicitor General of India, currently costs clients about $45,000 per day. In addition to representing several government entities, large corporate clients, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, he has represented Bollywood celebrities in criminal cases. In reality, he is often known as famed actor Salman Khan's "guardian angel" for keeping him out of jail on a hit and run charge. (Indian prisons are notorious for harsh conditions)
Jane Wanjiru Michuki: $60 million
Educated at the Kenya School of Law and Warwick University, Jane Wanjiru Michuki is currently a managing partner at Kimani & Michuki Advocate, a corporate law firm in Nairobi, Kenya that represents Many of the biggest companies in Kenya, for example Equity Group Holdings Limited. In addition to her law career, she's the biggest female stockholder in the Nairobi Stock Exchange, which is where a good bit of her net worth comes from.
Wichai Thongtang: $1.1 billion
Considered by many in the sector to be "one of the top titles in the profession from around the planet," Wichai Thongtang is a strong lawyer in Thailand. After graduating from Thammasat University in 1970, he went to corporate law, by which he represented a range of leading Thai executives and corporations and took the chance to learn about the stock market and investing. In addition to his law profession, Thongtang is the Chairman of Cable Thai Holding PLC and owns 15 percent of Dusit Medical, a Bangkok healthcare company.
Robert Shapiro: $50 million
Presently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and began a career as a criminal lawyer. After serving on O.J. Simpson's legal team (and representing other actors ), he opted to move into civil lawsuit. Besides his law career, he has written a kids 's book and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.
Richard Scruggs: $1.7 billion
A 1976 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and also a prominent trial lawyer, Richard Scruggs is best known for his love of tobacco and asbestos cases as well as the fact he won more than $1 billion in judgements against various companies. He was also highly involved in 2000's Ritalin class action suits, as well as the 2003 case against Lehman Brothers which he won a $51 million verdict. However, in 2007, he was accused of judicial bribery. In 2008, he pled guilty and finally served six years in federal prison. Today, in the age of 70, he's completed his sentence, and it has retained his large fortune.
