Top 15 Most Prestigious Law Firms In The World
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| Top 15 Most Prestigious Law Firms In The World. Photo KnowInsiders |
| Contents |
A law firm is a specific type of enterprise specialized in the field of legal advice and provision of legal services.
Lawyer is one of leading jobs in the world that require special skills and telents. While the legal profession is a means of living, a law firm is the tool to achieve it, as a law firm is where lawyers work and exercise their legal and analytical skills.
Based on reliable sources, KnowInsiders.com have summarized a list of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Our list is based on rankings of The American Lawyer, a monthly legal magazine; Benchmark Litigation-US; Chamber and Partners-UK; Vault Law 100 and International Financial Law Review.
Besides useful information on headquarters, websites, founders and awards, our rankings evaluate the law firms based on following criteria:
-Gross annual revenue
-The number of attorneys employed
 Top 15 Most Prestigious Law Firms In The US In the list of the best and the largest law firms in the world, law firms from the US account for a large number. Check ... |
What criteria evaluate a reputable law firm?
When having legal problems, clients are often advised to seek the assistance of a lawyer. With the current technology era, finding lawyers and law firms is completely easy. However, not everywhere is a reputable law firm for clients to feel secure to submit their personal legal issues.
Different countries, political institutions, cultures and people will have different ways of evaluating law firms. However, at the international level, a reputable law firm has built its reputation based on the following criteria:
-Based on the prestige and experience of the lawyers in that Law Firm.
-Based on the record of successful cases, the size and influence of the cases that the law firm undertakes.
-Based on the number of years of existence and operation of the Law Firm
-Based on the size and form of the Law Firm
-Based on the evaluation of the clients who have used the services of the Law Firm
♦ Read More: Top 15 Largest Law Firms In The World by Number of Attorneys & Offices
Top 15 Most Prestigious Law Firms In The World
1. Kirkland & Ellis LLP
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Headquarters: Chicago
Gross Revenue: $6,042,000,000
Number of attorneys: 3,025
Founder: Robert R. McCormick
Website: Kirkland.com
Overview: Kirkland & Ellis is one of the most successful Law firms in the world. It now has over 100 years of practice experience, employs more than 3,000 attorneys, has over 15 offices worldwide and is the best Law firm in the world based on the revenue it has generated over the past few years.
Ranking:
Kirkland & Ellis has 3,025 attorneys and is ranked 5th in the United States in the National Law Journal's 2022 NLJ 500 ranking of firms based on size. The firm ranked first on The American Lawyer's 2022 Am Law 200 list with $6,042,000,000 in gross revenue in 2021. Kirkland & Ellis was named the world's top-earning law firm in the 2022 Global 200 survey.
Kirkland is ranked as a tier 1 firm in appellate, bankruptcy, commercial, antitrust, intellectual property, and securities litigation by Benchmark Litigation. Furthermore, Kirkland is ranked as a tier 1 firm in 24 different practice areas in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. Kirkland is ranked sixth in the world by Vault Law 100.
2. Myers Fletcher & Gordon
Headquarters: 210 Shepherds Bush Rd, London, Essex, W6 7NJ, United Kingdom
Revenue: <$5 Million
Number of attorneys: 580
Website: myersfletcher.com
Overview:
Myers, Fletcher & Gordon is a general commercial law firm based in West London's Hammersmith business district.
They offer a full range of legal services to our clients, who range from individuals to medium-sized businesses to international governments.
Their lawyers have a wealth of experience, specialist knowledge, and expertise, allowing us to meet the needs of their clients and provide excellent service in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Ranking:
Following the announcement of the Chambers and Partners (Chambers) ranking, law firm Myers Fletcher & Gordon has been ranked as a Band 1 firm for 2023.
MFG has maintained its international Band 1 ranking while also having individual partners recognized and promoted.
3. Cravath, Swaine & Moore
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Headquarters: New York
Founders: William H. Seward, Richard M. Blatchford
Revenue: $800 million
Number of attorneys: More than 500
Website: cravat.com
Overview: Cravath, also known as Cravath, Swaine & Moore, is one of the world's most prestigious law firms. Its origins can be traced back to 1819, when banking lawyer Richard Blatchford opened his own office in New York. The firm's main turning point came in 1899, when prominent Manhattan-based attorney Paul Drennan Cravath joined as a partner.
Ranking:
Firm of the Year”; Competition, Compliance, Fintech, M&A and Technology “Practice Group of the Year”, 2021—Law360
“Class Action Litigation Department of the Year”, 2021—New York Law Journal
“Most Innovative Deal of the Year (Large Cap)”, “Financial Services Deal of the Year (Large Cap)”; Recognized in “Deal of the Year” Category, 2021—The Deal
“Pro Bono Publico Award”, 2021—The Legal Aid Society
Ranked First Among Top Law Firms for Largest Average Value ($4 Billion) Per M&A Deal, 2021—Bloomberg
#1 Vault Law 100
#1 Best Law Firms for General Corporate Practice
#1 Best Law Firms in New York
Overview: Cravath is one of the nation’s oldest law firms, and it certainly has made its mark. Firm founders Richard Blatchford and William Seward both served in Lincoln’s administration—Seward was the Secretary of State. Over the years, the firm has had its hand in representing famed abolitionist Horace Greeley and inventor Samuel Morse, organizing NBC for its original shareholders, and handling the famed 13-year antitrust lawsuit that began in 1969 for IBM.
Feedback on Vault Law 100:
“Lots of responsibility and learning at a fast pace. Culture encourages pushing yourself to be the best, but not competitiveness/measuring yourself in relation to fellow associates. Mutual respect among associates. Genuinely like my colleagues. Unparalleled partner contact.”
“Dedicated people, always on the cutting edge, and a family-feel to the firm.”
4. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Headquarters: New York
Revenue: $882 million
Number of attorneys: >260
Founders: Martin Lipton, Herbert Wachtell, Leonard Rosen
Website: wlrk.com
Overview: Wachtell Lipton is a law firm that specializes in mergers and acquisitions and is a market leader in New York. Wachtell Lipton is known for its high-profile matters and above-market compensation, and it is home to a passionate group of lawyers who value hard work and professionalism. The firm is small by elite, BigLaw standards, which fosters a collegial environment, and it has resisted domestic or international expansion by remaining a sole office in New York.
Ranking:
#2 Vault Law 100
#1 Best Law Firms for Mergers & Acquisitions
#2 Most Selective Law Firms
American Lawyer Dealmakers of the Year, 2022 – Steven Rosenblum, Elina Tetelbaum, Raaj Narayan.
Benchmark Litigation Bill Savitt inducted into Benchmark Litigation’s Hall of Fame.
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5. Latham & Watkins
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Headquarters: 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020
Revenue: $4.3 billion
Number of attorneys: About 2,900
Founders: Paul Watkins, Dana Latham
Website: lw.com
Overview: 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 doing business in Latin America and Africa. The firm is a global leader in corporate transactions, environmental law, finance matters, litigations and trials, and tax services.
Ranking:
#5 Vault Law 100
#1 Best Law Firms in Southern California
#2 Best Law Firms for Antitrust
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6. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
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Headquarters: New York
Revenue: $2.4 billion
Number of attorneys: 1,700
Founder: John Slate
Website: skadden.com
Overview: Skadden, also known as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates, is a relatively new law firm founded in 1948 in New York by three of its name partners: Marshall Skadden, Les Arps, and John Slate. Despite facing stiff competition from more established law firms in its early days, Skadden evolved as a legal powerhouse in the 1980s, becoming one of the largest law firms in the United States.
Ranking:
Skadden was the fourth-largest law firm in terms of revenue in 2016. However, it fell two places to sixth in 2019. Skadden ranks 14th among US-based law firms in terms of profits per equity partner (PPEP) in 2021, trailing Cravath, Latham & Watkins, and Paul Weiss.
7. Davis Polk & Wardwell
Headquarters: New York
Revenue: $1.7 billion
Number of attorneys: 980
Website: davispolk.com
Overview:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (including its affiliated entities) is a world-class global law firm with world-class practices in every area. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has one of the best and most comprehensive corporate departments in the country, with impressive teams in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and finance.
Ranking:
#4 Vault Law 100
#1 Best Law Firms for Banking & Financial Services
#1 Best Law Firms for Securities/Capital Markets
In 2019, Davis Polk was ranked 25th largest law firm by annual revenue. However, based on the profits per equity partner (PPEP), it was ranked second largest after New York-based Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The Benchmark Litigation consistently ranks it a Tier 1 firm in securities, commercial, white-collar crime, and antitrust litigation.
Feedback on Vault Law 100:
“You are working with the smartest lawyers on the most sophisticated deals in an incredibly cordial and warm environment.”
“The people are what makes this firm so great to work for. We have a very collaborative, collegial culture (though no one ever forces us to attend social events).”
8. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Headquarters: 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York
Revenue: $1.3 billion
Number of attorneys: >1,000
Website: paulweiss.com
Founders: Randolph E. Paul, Louis S. Weiss, Lloyd K. Garrison, Simon H. Rifkind, John F. Wharton
Overview: Paul, Weiss's core practice areas are in litigation and corporate law. In addition to its headquarters in New York, the firm has offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Wilmington, Delaware, Toronto, London, Tokyo, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
Ranking:
#9 Vault Law 100
#2 Best Law Firms for White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations
#4 Best Law Firms for Bankruptcy/Restructuring
9. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
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Headquarters: California
Revenue: $2 billion
Number of attorneys: 1,400
Website: gibsondunn.com
Overview: Gibson Dunn is a multinational law firm based in the United States that is well-known for its appellate litigation practice. Several large corporations have been represented by the firm in widely publicized lawsuits and court cases in recent years. They have earned the title of "corporate rescue" expert. Some examples include Apple v. Samsung, in which the firm represented Apple in a patent infringement suit involving Samsung's Galaxy Nexus. It defended Intel in 2008 against billion-dollar lawsuits purchased by AMD in the European Union.
Ranking:
The 2021 edition of Legal 500 (U.S.) ranks Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a Tier 1 law firm in antitrust, commercial disputes, international disputes, and real estate litigation. Gibson Dunn tops the Benchmark Litigation rankings for the best appellate and labor/employment litigation law firm.
10. Baker McKenzie
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Headquarters: Illinois
Revenue: $3.1 billion
Number of attorneys: About 4,800
Website: bakermakenzie.com
Founders: John McKenzie, Russell Baker
Overview: Baker McKenzie is a global law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1949 under the name Baker & McKenzie. It now has 77 offices in 46 countries, with 4,809 attorneys and 13,000 employees. In 2021, the firm earned $3,126,729,000 in gross revenue, placing it fourth on The American Lawyer's 2022 Am Law 200 list.
Ranking:
For the 11th year in a row, Thomson Reuters' Acritas Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index ranked Baker McKenzie first in the world, ahead of DLA Piper and Clifford Chance.
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11. Clifford Chance
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Headquarters: London
Revenue: $2.5 billion
Number of attorneys: 3,300
Website: cliffordchance.com
Overview: Clifford Chance is the largest law firm in Europe and the United Kingdom in terms of revenue. It is a member of the "Magic Circle," an informal group of law firms in London that are larger and more profitable than any other law firm in the country. Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May are the other firms in the group.
Ranking:
It is one of the top ten largest law firms in the world, both in terms of lawyers and revenue.
In Chambers UK 2023, Clifford Chance is ranked Band 1 in 24 categories, the firm's best overall performance in the Guide since 2017.
The firm was ranked ninth in the 2022 Global 200.
12. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Headquarters: New York
Revenue: $1.2 billion
Number of attorneys: More than 1,200
Website: Clearygottlieb.com
Founder: Henry Friendly
Overview: Cleary Gottlieb is your typical white-shoe law firm, with a presence on every major continent and a long history of being among the best in the business. The firm was founded in 1946 by a group of attorneys who left their previous firm to form their own.
Ranking:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is ranked as the 14th best and most prestigious law firm in the United States by Vault Law 100. Benchmark Litigation ranks it as a tier 1 firm in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial, antitrust, international arbitration, and finance-related crime (white-collar). Since 2015, it has been named "Americas Law Firm of the Year" by International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Americas.
Furthermore, Cleary Gottlieb was named Corporate Team of the Year in the United Kingdom by Legal Business Awards 2021 for its advisory role in Euronext's acquisition of Borsa Italiana (the Italian stock exchange).
13. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Headquarters: 125 Broad Street New York
Revenue: $1.76 billion
Number of attorneys: >900
Website: sullcrom.com
Overview: Sullivan & Cromwell, a BigLaw powerhouse, has followed—if not created—the blueprint for legal success: it has expanded internationally and in response to the increasing cross-border M&A, restructuring, and finance transactional demands of the world's largest corporate clients
Ranking:
#6 Vault Law 100
#4 Best Law Firms for Securities Litigation
#5 Best Law Firms in New York
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14. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Headquarters: 425 Lexington Avenue New York
Revenue: $2.2 billion
Number of attorneys: >1,000
Website: stblaw.com
Overview: A Wall Street institution, Simpson Thacher houses elite teams in M&A, banking, capital markets, private equity, and litigation. With more than 1,000 lawyers across 10 global offices, Simpson Thacher has long held its spot among the most elite law firms in the world.
Ranking:
#8 Vault Law 100
#2 Best Law Firms for Private Equity
#6 Best Law Firms for Banking & Financial Services
15. Milbank
Headquarters: New York
Revenue: $1.23 billion
Number of attorneys: 819
Website: milbank.com
Overview: Milbank LLP is a national leader in corporate finance and restructuring, litigation, and project finance, and is well-known for its international work and energy sector focus.
Ranking:
#11 Vault Law 100
#1 Best Law Firms for Project Finance
#5 Best Law Firms for Clean Tech/Renewable Energy Law
Conclusion
It is as difficult for a lawyer to survive without a law firm just like doctors do not exist without hospitals. For this reason, every lawyer wants to own or work for a top law firm and the above article has listed the 15 most prestigious law firms in the world. An experienced and well-resourced independent law firm can enhance your legal research and findings on your case or any legal issue.
In building a reputable law firm, the image, role and activities of a lawyer are always particularly important. It is the clearest evidence for the customer's evaluation and trust in a law firm.
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