Share
In the 2025 Vault Securities Litigation prestige rankings, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP; Skadden; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; and Paul, Weiss land in the top five spots.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Moving up to the top spot in Vault’s Securities Litigation rankings in2025, Cravath is also the No. 1 firm in the Vault Law 100 and Vault’s Best Law Firm in New York. Known for its corporate and litigation prowess, Cravath’s elite status is evident from its 10 top 10 Vault rankings. In addition to its No. 1 Securities Litigation placement, it is positioned at No. 3 in Vault’s General Commercial Litigation, General Corporate Practice, and Tax; No. 4 in Banking & Financial Services, M&A, and Securities/Capital Markets; No. #6 in Antitrust; No. 7 in Private Equity; and No.8 in White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations rankings. As a result of the firm’s prominent BigLaw status, the top-flight attorneys selected to work at Cravath—approximately 750 lawyers in three offices—can expect to learn fast and work hard. Notably, the payoffs for these efforts are substantial. Associates describe lean teams that enable them to develop their skills with no worries about receiving enough work to earn a top salary and bonus. The firm does not impose a billable hour requirement, and it accepts an abundance of challenging and interesting work from high-profile clients. The earnings and growth potential are complemented by a professional and cordial work environment. Moreover, the options for Cravath-trained attorneys cannot be surpassed. Notably, the firm has recently increased the number of long-term counsel and non-equity partner positions available to associates earning promotions.
Skadden
Becoming a lawyer at Skadden means becoming part of an exclusive team. The No. 2 firm in Vault’s Security Litigation rankings, Skadden employs 1,700 attorneys. Its 21 offices are all prestigious settings. In fact, the firm is ranked for every Vault region in which it has an office: the Mid-Atlantic region (No. 1); the Midwest (No. 3); Chicago (No. 4); New York (No. 4); Southern California (No. 5); Washington, DC (No. 5); Boston (No. 6); Northern California (No. 6); and Texas (No. 9). With 20 top 25 Vault practices, Skadden attorneys handle many types of transactional and litigation matters. In addition to its No. 2 position for Security Litigation, the firm holds a top five placement in Vault’s Tax (No. 1); M&A, Products Liability, Project Finance, and Securities/Capital Markets (No. 3); General Corporate Practice and Private Equity (No. 4); and Antitrust and Banking/Financial Services (No. 5) practice rankings. The Skadden culture is described as inclusive, and partners are said to be invested in associate success. Skadden requires its attorneys to bill 1,800 hours per year with uncapped pro bono hours counted as billable. The outstanding attorneys working at Skadden enjoy fabulous career options in the firm and with clients or in the government.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Earning a position among Wachtell Lipton’s 500 attorneys is a lofty goal. To maintain its reputation for excellence, Wachtell Lipton has established exacting hiring criteria (No. 3 in Vault’s Selectivity rankings). Everyone works in a single New York office (ranked No. 2 in Vault’s regional rankings). Therefore, only professional candidates who show the ability to collaborate with associates, partners, and staff will make the cut. Because experience is also valued, laterals are welcome, and they can expect to be fully and properly integrated, as indicated by the firm’s No. 1 spot in Vault’s Integration of Laterals & Clerks rankings. The camaraderie established because everyone works closely on matters is important to Wachtell Lipton lawyers, who can expect to bill 3,000 per year without the burden of a billable hour requirement. Wachtell Lipton associates are commensurately rewarded for their quality work products and long hours. It is the No. 2 Best Firm for Compensation in Vault’s quality-of-life rankings. Moreover, by working at this firm with its 12 top 25 spots in Vault’s practice area rankings, Wachtell Lipton attorneys have a fabulous future; the firm is No. 13 in Vault’s Career Outlook rankings. Although making partner can be difficult, counsel positions are available, and the openings for attorneys exiting this No. 2 Vault 100 firm are exceptional.
Sullivan & Cromwell
The No. 5 firm in the Vault Law 100, Sullivan & Cromwell, is ranked No. 4 in Vault’s Securities Litigation rankings. It employs 800 attorneys who work in four U.S. offices with headquarters in New York City. It also operates nine international offices. Sullivan & Cromwell boasts high prestige rankings in many of the same corporate practices (nine top 10 Vault rankings) as the other firms on this short list, but it is unique in its generalist approach. Attorneys work on multiple teams handling a variety of matters in different industries. As a result, employees receive well-rounded experience that serves them well. Sullivan & Cromwell attorneys can successfully lateral or secure in-house roles. Alternatively, to continue enjoying the firm’s respectful and warm culture, substantive work assignments, and market compensation, attorneys can seek long-term internal positions, such as counsel or equity partnership. In fact, the future for those who stay is bright; the firm ranks No. 7 in Vault’s Business Outlook rankings. Sullivan & Cromwell does not mandate a set number of billable hours or days working in the office.
Paul, Weiss
Rounding out the top five firms for Securities Litigation, Paul, Weiss is another prestigious firm headquartered in New York City. It has a long history of progressive hiring policies that make it stand out as a place of opportunity. Today, the firm is composed of 1,000 attorneys working out of five U.S. and five international offices. Attorneys take responsibility early in their careers at Paul, Weiss, and the firm handles a variety of complex matters. Among its many high-profile practice areas, Paul, Weiss is the No. 1 firm for White Collar Defense & Internal Litigation, the No. 3 firm for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, and the No 4 firm for Appellate Litigation in Vault’s prestige rankings. Attorneys do not need to worry about a billable hour requirement or being short-changed on compensation. Attorneys earn lockstep market salaries and bonuses. High billers can earn additional bonuses. Although choices abound for attorneys leaving the firm, Paul, Weiss does not have an up-or-out culture. Long-term positions as counsel are available, and promotion to equity partnership is possible for high performers with patience and stamina.
***
The corporate law firms in this short list of Vault’s Best Law Firms for Securities Litigation epitomize BigLaw. They are all headquartered in New York. They all offer market compensation. They have been in operation for generations. The youngest firm, Skadden, is 76 years old. They all earn a top 10 placement in the Vault Law 100 and top 25 rankings in many of the same corporate practice areas rankings. Jobs at these firms are highly coveted.
However, these are not the only firms that offer stellar opportunities to litigators or other attorneys interested in securities or corporate law. Moreover, there are 95 other firms in the Vault 100 and Vault’s Top 150 Under 150 midsize and small firms representing practices in many different areas to consider. These other first-class firms also offer benefits to attorneys entering the market or seeking a change.
Are you interested in applying to a firm where the work-life balance is sustainable, work arrangements are flexible, pro bono work is encouraged, or diversity is a priority in hiring? You can assess these and other quality-of-life metrics of a firm by reading its Vault profile. Each profile provides relevant statistics, contact information, and a write-up about the firm. The Associate Reviews section consists of anonymous quotes from the attorneys who work at the featured firm, and the Vault Verdict presents a summary of the firm based on associate-provided scores and responses in Vault’s Annual Associate Survey.
In addition to the prestige and quality-of-life rankings, Vault also offers The Best Summer Associate Programs and Best Firms for Diversity rankings. The sites with this information, the Practice Area and Regional Resource Centers, and weekly blogs are all accessible at the Vault Law Home Page.
Share
