Skip to Main Content
Vault Top Ranked shield

Home Law Rankings

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.

Take Our Survey

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.

Email us today

2023 Best Law Firms for General Commercial Litigation

#1
% of Votes 27.39
2022 Rank 1

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP has been cultivating the persona of an eccentric genius—shocking the often-staid (OK, uptight) legal world with its unorthodox approach while awing them with sweeping successes in the courtroom. This...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 22.96
2022 Rank 2

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
#3
% of Votes 19.89
2022 Rank 3

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 18.56
2022 Rank 4

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 17.10
2022 Rank 5

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
#6
% of Votes 15.42
2022 Rank 6

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
#7
% of Votes 15.07
2022 Rank 8

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
#8
% of Votes 14.55
2022 Rank 7

Williams & Connolly LLP

Williams & Connolly continues to hold its own against firms 10 times its size by following a basic mantra: Keep it simple. The firm’s roughly 300 attorneys focus almost exclusively on litigation from a single office in DC, positioning...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#9
% of Votes 12.67
2022 Rank 9

Susman Godfrey

Since its founding in 1980, Susman Godfrey has established itself as the nation’s premiere litigation firm. Susman Godfrey has more than 140 partners and associates across four offices—its original Houston location as well as offices in Los...

Overview Associate Reviews Q&As Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 9.46
2022 Rank 11

Jones Day

A heavy hitter with a hand in most major areas of law and an internationally recognized prowess in litigation, Jones Day boasts 42 offices in 17 countries, spread over five continents. The firm’s booming practices include antitrust, appellate...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program