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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 2026-2027 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from October 22, 2025 to January 23, 2026.
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 2026-2027 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from October 22, 2025 to January 23, 2026.

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.

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2027 Best Law Firms for Project Finance

#1
% of Votes 37.63
2026 Rank 1

Milbank LLP

Milbank LLP is one of the nation’s leading firms for corporate finance and restructuring, litigation and project finance, and it is known for its international work and focus on the energy sector. Embracing Change Milbank planted its roots...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 32.16
2026 Rank 2

Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s largest law firms. With more than 3,500 attorneys in 14 countries around the world, Latham practices in all the major jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and regularly...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#3
% of Votes 20.10
2026 Rank 3

Skadden

Skadden is one of the most profitable and well-known law firms in the world. Renowned for its M&A prowess, the firm is an all-star across practice areas, with over 1,700 lawyers around the globe. From Proxy Fights to Powerhouse ...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#4
% of Votes 13.35
2026 Rank 4

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP boasts one of the nation’s best and most comprehensive corporate departments with impressive teams in capital markets, M&A, investment management, executive compensation, finance, financial institutions,...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#5
% of Votes 12.45
2026 Rank 5

Simpson Thacher

A Wall Street institution, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett houses elite teams in M&A, banking, capital markets, private equity, and litigation. With more than 1,000 lawyers across 15 global offices, Simpson Thacher has long held its spot...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#6
% of Votes 11.06
2026 Rank 6

White & Case

Founded at the dawn of the 20th century, White & Case has grown from its New York beginnings to become a truly global law firm. The firm has 43 offices across 29 countries—including 8 offices in the United States—and is well-known for its...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#7
% of Votes 10.78
2026 Rank 7

Sidley Austin LLP

Sidley Austin is a global powerhouse with a long list of clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups in a range of industries, including energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, sports and media, and technology. With...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#8
% of Votes 10.22
2026 Rank 8

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

A BigLaw powerhouse, Sullivan & Cromwell has created a blueprint for legal success: It has grown internationally and in response to the increasing cross-border M&A, restructuring, and finance transactional demands of the biggest...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#9
% of Votes 9.44
2026 Not Ranked

Paul Hastings LLP

Over the past few decades, Paul Hastings has grown into a global powerhouse with strength in employment, entertainment and media, financial restructuring, fintech, global finance, intellectual property, investigations and white collar defense,...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 7.43
2026 Rank 9

Vinson & Elkins

Founded in Houston in 1917, Vinson & Elkins has been one of the most vital energy law firms since its start. Today, V&E attorneys are trusted advisers to clients in the most important industrial and financial industries, such as digital...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program