Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession & Rule of Law at the 3rd edition of the Economic Times Global Legal Awards 2025-26, held on March 14, 2026, in Mumbai.
The award, one of the most prestigious in the Special Awards category at the event, was conferred by a Grand Jury that included Justice Dipak Misra (former Chief Justice of India), Justice Uday Umesh Lalit (former Chief Justice of India), Dev Bajpai (Advisor, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) Formerly, Whole Time Director Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)), Justice B. N. Srikrishna (Former Judge of Supreme Court), Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri (Former Judge of Supreme Court), Justice S. L. Bhayana (former Delhi High Court judge) and Dr. Pinky Anand (Former Additional Solicitor General at the Supreme Court of India). Mehta, who joined the ceremony virtually, acknowledged the recognition with characteristic humility. “Whatever little contribution I may have made in the development of rule of law, it is the highest calling for any lawyer,” he said in his acceptance address.
Speaking on the nature of legal practice, Mehta offered a reflection on what makes the profession enduring. “Law by itself is not a static subject. It’s an ongoing process that develops with time. Each generation faces its own peculiar problems and the beauty of this profession lies in its flexibility,” he said.
He described his own career as a series of learning experiences shaped by the bench. “Whenever I have tried to assist the bench on some of the most relevant topics of the day, apart from my assistance to the bench, it was more a learning experience from the bench. And I have always found that after each matter, I have grown, I have evolved,” he added.
Accepting the honour on behalf of those who shaped him, Mehta said: “I accept it with humility on my behalf and on behalf of everyone who has taught me something which has helped me evolve as a lawyer, as a professional and as a human being.”
The event brought together general counsels, managing partners, legal tech leaders and policymakers and served as a platform for recognising transformative work across legal strategy, compliance and AI-driven innovation.
