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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 2022 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from March 2021 through May 2021.
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 2022 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from March 2021 through May 2021.

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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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2022 Best Intellectual Property Speciality Law Firms

#1
% of Votes 32.03
2021 Rank 1

Desmarais LLP

In 2010, John Desmarais left a successful patent litigation practice with Kirkland & Ellis to hang a shingle with some of his former Kirkland colleagues. The result was Desmarais LLP, now a successful and expanding midsize law firm focused...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 23.39
2021 Rank 2

McKool Smith

With 130 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America’s leading trial firms. The firm has secured 17 nine-figure jury...

Overview Employee Reviews Summer Program
#3
% of Votes 23.29
2021 Rank 3

Durie Tangri LLP

Durie Tangri is a hot-shot IP boutique with an impressive resume when it comes to copyrights, trademarks, and patents. But the firm is also a litigation powerhouse, specializing in professional liability, contract and commercial, class action,...

Overview Employee Reviews Summer Program
#4
% of Votes 20.78
2021 Rank 5

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP

Headquartered in San Francisco, Keker, Van Nest & Peters is perhaps best known for handling major intellectual property disputes for some of the country's leading names in technology. The firm also has a reputation for unleashing experienced...

Overview Employee Reviews Summer Program
#5
% of Votes 19.68
2021 Rank 4

Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

Chicago-based IP boutique firm Banner Witcoff is unique not only for its status as a top firm in its field, but also for its role in shaping IP law by having represented defendants in groundbreaking Supreme Court cases. The firm—which has...

Overview Summer Program
#6
% of Votes 14.56
2021 Rank 6

Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

One of the most reputable firms in Boston, Wolf Greenfield has made a name for itself as an IP powerhouse. With over 100 attorneys, Wolf Greenfield is known for its work in patent litigation on technology matters. The firm has kept to the East...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program
#7
% of Votes 9.34
2021 Rank 7

Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.

Virginia-based IP boutique Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P. has one foot in the United States and one in Japan, and both are strategically placed. The firm’s U.S. office in Alexandria, Virginia is located next to the USPTO, and...

Overview Employee Reviews
#8
% of Votes 8.53
2021 Rank 9

Brinks Gilson Lione

*Effective July 2, 2021, Brinks Gilson Lione merged with  Crowell & Moring . This profile is the legacy profile for Brinks Gilson Lione. Brinks Gilson & Lione is an intellectual property shop headquartered in Chicago, where it sits...

Overview Employee Reviews
#9
% of Votes 7.33
2021 Rank 14

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. is an IP firm based in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Boston, MA and Ossining, NY. With a staff of about 45 attorneys, the firm is small but mighty and is best known for its IP litigation...

Overview Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 7.23
2021 Rank 10

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff is an intellectual property law firm with offices in Illinois and California. The firm's client list includes Fortune 100 companies, midsize companies, startups, and academic institutions. Speaking the...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program