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Best Law Firms by Practice Area

These firms were voted strongest in each practice area by associates working in that area at peer firms. Vault's 2023 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between January 2022 through March 2022.
Survey Methodology

Each year, Vault ranks law firms in a variety of practice areas based on the perceptions of associates practicing in those areas. Associates were asked to vote for up to three firms they consider strongest in their practice areas and were not permitted to vote for their own firms. For example, associates who identified themselves as corporate attorneys were allowed only to vote in corporate-related categories (securities, financial services, etc.). Our rankings list the top firms in each area, as well as the total percentage of votes cast in favor of each ranked firm.

Vault ranked the following practice areas this year: Antitrust; Appellate Litigation; Banking & Financial Services; Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Clean Tech/Renewable Energy; Emerging Companies/VC; Energy, Oil, & Gas; Environmental Law; General Commercial Litigation; General Corporate Practice; Health Care; Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Boutiques; International; Labor & Employment; Litigation Boutiques; M&A; Media, Entertainment, & Sports; Privacy & Data Security; Private Equity; Products Liability; Project Finance; Real Estate; Securities; Securities Litigation; Tax; and White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations.

Vault's 2023 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between January 2022 through March 2022.

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Each year Vault invites eligible law firms to participate in our annual Law Survey. Please contact us if you’re interested in having your firm considered for inclusion.

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2023 Best Law Firms for Antitrust

#1
% of Votes 32.66
2022 Rank 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Cleary is a leading global law firm, with offices on four continents and an unparalleled reputation for groundbreaking work. While long known as a dominant player in the international and corporate business world, Cleary has built out both...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 22.92
2022 Rank 3

Latham & Watkins

Latham is one of the world’s largest law firms. With more than 3,000 attorneys in 31 offices around the world, Latham practices in all the major jurisdictions in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and regularly represents companies...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#3
% of Votes 20.69
2022 Rank 2

Gibson Dunn

With more than 1,600 attorneys across 10 countries, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a force. Among the top firms in the country, Gibson Dunn is well known for its litigation and trial work—especially its bustling Appellate Litigation and...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#4
% of Votes 18.26
2022 Rank 6

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

With two centuries under its belt, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is one of the nation’s preeminent law firms. Cravath has settled on a lean-and-mean approach to world dominance with two strategically placed offices in New York and London. ...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#5
% of Votes 16.63
2022 Rank 5

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis, one the world’s most elite law firms, is known for its corporate, intellectual property, litigation, M&A, private equity, and restructuring work. With more than 3,000 lawyers, the firm is regularly recognized as one of...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#6
% of Votes 15.01
2022 Rank 7

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

Arnold & Porter is home to approximately 1,000 lawyers across 13 offices around the globe. The firm practices in more than 40 areas and is particularly well known for its antitrust, appellate litigation, environmental, life sciences and...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#7
% of Votes 14.81
2022 Rank 3

Skadden

Skadden is one of the most profitable and well-known law firms in the world. It was the first law firm to report $1 billion in annual revenue, now an industry brass ring. While the firm may be best known for its M&A prowess, it is an...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#8
% of Votes 10.35
2022 Rank 13

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

For almost 150 years, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison—and its predecessor firms—has been a mainstay in the New York City legal market, initially as a general commercial practice. The firm began expanding its litigation practice in...

Overview Why Work Here Summer Program
#9
% of Votes 9.74
2022 Rank 8

Covington & Burling

This “brain trust” law firm is known for quietly (and smartly) going about its business—that business being antitrust, litigation, white collar defense & investigations, corporate, IP, export controls, data privacy and cybersecurity, and...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 9.33
2022 Rank 9

Wilson Sonsini

With 950 attorneys across 19 offices around the world, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a global player with very deep tech roots. The firm has become a leader in technology and life sciences financings and M&A, tech licensing...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program