The latest ruling has strengthened his standing as one of America’s leading constitutional lawyers — and placed him at the centre of a high-profile political and legal battle that may not be over yet
An Indian-origin lawyer has played a central role in the US Supreme Court decision that struck down Donald Trump’s global reciprocal tariffs. Neal Katyal, a former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, represented a group of small businesses challenging the duties — and described the outcome as a “complete and total victory”.
Following the 6–3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, Katyal said the judgment reinforced a basic constitutional principle: only Congress has the power to impose taxes. He also noted that two of Trump’s own judicial appointees voted against him.
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Born in Chicago in 1970 to Indian immigrant parents, Katyal studied at Dartmouth College and later at Yale Law School
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He clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer before rising to national prominence.
In 2010, he was appointed Acting Solicitor General by Barack Obama, arguing more than 50 cases before the top court — a record at the time for a minority attorney. Over the years, he has defended the Voting Rights Act and challenged Trump’s 2017 travel ban.
Currently a partner at Milbank LLP, Katyal also teaches at Georgetown University Law Center and has written the 2019 book Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump.
