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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 2024 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between January 2023 through March 2023.
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; International; Labor & Employment; Litigation Specialty; 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 2024 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between January 2023 through March 2023.

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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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2024 Best Law Firms for Privacy & Data Security

#1
% of Votes 31.01
2023 Rank 1

Cooley

With more than 1,400 lawyers practicing across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Cooley is synonymous with tech and venture capital work. The firm is also well regarded for its clean tech, cyber/data/privacy, IP, M&A, private equity, and...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 24.35
2023 Rank 4

Morrison & Foerster LLP

In 1973, those cats in San Francisco approved “MoFo” as Morrison Foerster’s official nickname, accentuating the firm’s unconventional modus operandi. Still, the firm is distinguished by much more than its rebel epithet. MoFo complements its...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#3
% of Votes 22.61
2023 Rank 2

Perkins Coie LLP

While its largest office is still in Seattle, Perkins Coie has expanded to include 17 domestic offices—four of which are in California—and three offices in Asia. Perkins Coie likes to say that it provides “counsel to great companies,” and a look...

Overview Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#4
% of Votes 18.26
2023 Rank 3

Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells is a global megafirm with more than 45 offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The firm boasts more than 2,800 lawyers, making it one of the largest firms around. The Making of a...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#5
% of Votes 15.65
2023 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
#5
% of Votes 15.65
2023 Rank 7

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
#7
% of Votes 14.78
2023 Rank 5

Orrick

Orrick is a global firm of more than 1,100 attorneys that is fiercely committed to teamwork and innovation. The firm has dozens of offices across the globe, including in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#8
% of Votes 13.33
2023 Rank 9

ZwillGen PLLC

ZwillGen is a decade-old boutique that represents the biggest names in technology in complex and cutting-edge legal challenges. Though the firm is both young and small, ZwillGen is known as a leading firm on Internet law and its lawyers have...

Overview Employee Reviews
#9
% of Votes 13.04
2023 Rank 6

DLA Piper

With approximately 4,300 lawyers in 90-plus offices (including relationship firms) around the globe, DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms—both by headcount and by revenue—in the world.  From Big to Ginormous DLA Piper is a law firm...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 11.59
2023 Rank 10

Latham & Watkins

Latham is one of the world’s largest law firms. With more than 3,000 attorneys in 30 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