Based on the Vault 2025 rankings, here are some of the top law firms in the United States, recognized for their prestige, regional influence, and excellence in various practice areas:
Top 10 Most Prestigious Law Firms (Vault 2025):
| Rank | Firm Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP |
| 2 | Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz |
| 3 | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
| 4 | Latham & Watkins LLP |
| 5 | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP |
| 6 | Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
| 7 | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP |
| 8 | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP |
| 9 | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP |
| 10 | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
These rankings are derived from Vault’s annual survey of over 20,000 law firm associates, reflecting their perceptions of prestige and quality within the legal industry .
Top Firms by Practice Area:
| Practice Area | Top Firm |
|---|---|
| General Corporate Practice | Kirkland & Ellis |
| Banking & Financial Services | Kirkland & Ellis |
| Securities Litigation | Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP |
| General Commercial Litigation | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP |
| Appellate Litigation | Williams & Connolly LLP |
| White Collar | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP |
| Real Estate | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
| Private Equity | Kirkland & Ellis |
| Tax | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
| Intellectual Property | Fish & Richardson P.C. |
These firms have been recognized for their leadership and expertise in their respective practice areas .
Top Firms by Region:
| Region | Top Firm |
|---|---|
| New York | Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP |
| Washington, DC | Covington & Burling LLP |
| Southern California | Latham & Watkins LLP |
| Texas | Vinson & Elkins LLP |
| Northern California | Morrison & Foerster LLP |
| Chicago | Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
| Boston | Ropes & Gray LLP |
| South Atlantic | King & Spalding LLP |
| Mountain States | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
These firms have demonstrated exceptional prestige and influence within their respective regions .