Vault Top Ranked shield

Home Law Rankings

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 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

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 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

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.

2021 Best Law Firms for Securities/Capital Markets

#1

% of Votes 31.03

2020 Rank 1

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, finance, restructuring, and tax. Its lauded litigation practice includes top-notch...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#2

% of Votes 27.56

2020 Rank 2

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Skadden is one of the most profitable and well-known law firms in the world. It was the first law firm to report $1 billion in annual revenue—now an industry brass ring. While the firm may be best known for its M&A prowess, it is an all-star...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#3

% of Votes 24.58

2020 Rank 3

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

With two centuries under its belt, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is one of the nation’s preeminent law firms. Cravath has settled on a lean-and-mean approach to world dominance with two strategically placed offices in New York and London. ...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#4

% of Votes 20.76

2020 Rank 4

Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham is one of the world’s largest law firms, a bona fide member of the clique that includes the Magic Circle and the elite U.S. heritage firms. With more than 2,800 attorneys in 29 offices around the world, Latham practices in all the major...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#5

% of Votes 18.44

2020 Rank 5

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

A Wall Street institution, Simpson Thacher houses elite teams in M&A, banking, capital markets, private equity, and litigation. With more than 900 lawyers across 10 global offices, Simpson Thacher has long held its spot among the most elite...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#6

% of Votes 15.77

2020 Rank 6

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

A BigLaw powerhouse, Sullivan & Cromwell has followed—if not created—the blueprint for legal success: It has grown internationally and in response to the increasing cross-border M&A, restructuring, and finance transactional demands of...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#7

% of Votes 13.85

2020 Rank 7

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Each year, a significant chunk of the world’s dealmaking—major mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and shareholder litigation, big-name restructurings, and multi-billion-dollar real estate ventures—gets cranked through the well-oiled machine...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#8

% of Votes 10.98

2020 Rank 9

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis, one the world’s most elite law firms, is recognized for its corporate, intellectual property, litigation, M&A, private equity, and restructuring work. With more than 2,700 lawyers, the firm is regularly recognized as...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#9

% of Votes 9.82

2020 Rank 8

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Cleary is a leading global law firm, with offices on four continents and an unparalleled reputation for groundbreaking work. While long known as a dominant player in the international and corporate business world, Cleary has built out litigation...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program

#10

% of Votes 6.55

2020 Rank 10

Sidley Austin LLP

Sidley is a global powerhouse, with approximately 2,000 lawyers across 20 offices. The firm boasts a long list of marquee clients in a range of industries, including banking, energy, health care, insurance, life sciences, and technology. The...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program