Vault 100: The Most Prestigious Law Firms In America

With 2018 drawing to a close, Vault has updated its list of the 100 most prestigious law firms in America, and we’re proud to say that McDougal, Reid & Flaherty has been ranked #1! The ranking was released yesterday, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it. After all, who wouldn’t want to be recognized as one of the top law firms in the country? We owe this honor to our amazing staff and clients – without their hard work and dedication, this kind of recognition wouldn’t be possible. Thank you!

Number 1 – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was founded in 1819 and has a presence in major global centers, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, New York City, Paris, and Shanghai. It is one of the most prestigious law firms in the world with offices throughout the Asia Pacific; Europe; Latin America; Africa and the Middle East.

The firm’s legacy dates back to 1877 when Henry Bruckhaus joined with Michael Jüttner to create Jüttner & Bruckhaus. It would become known as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer after it merged with the English law firm Bruckhaus Deringer of Filstrup Limited in 1997.

Number 2 – Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is an international law firm with offices in more than a dozen countries. Operating from both coasts of the U.S., in all of the nation’s main financial centers, and on four other continents, the firm has quickly become one of the world’s premier law firms. The firm was established by George Orrick, Jr., Charles Herrington, and John Sutcliffe in 1938 in San Francisco, California.

Orrick had previously worked together with Marshall Harlan Lane and Cordwell Tuttle to form Lane, Herrington & Sutcliffe in 1933 at 120 Fifth Avenue New York City (now known as One Liberty Plaza). From its San Francisco offices, it opened a second office at 140 Broadway Street that year.

Number 3 – Baker Botts

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Baker Botts is one of the most well-established Prestigious Law firms in the United States. Though it was originally founded as a general practice Prestigious Law firm in 1845, the focus has been heavily on energy litigation, with four additional office locations spread out across Texas.

Attorneys at Baker Botts are nationally recognized leaders in arbitration and commercial disputes. They have made several appearances before the United States Supreme Court and are often appointed to represent others. With lawyers specializing in sectors like accounting and data privacy among others, Baker Botts is poised to continue its legacy of excellence for years to come.

Number 4 – Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Based in New York City, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP is one of the largest and most prestigious Prestigious Law firms in the United States. With roots dating back to 1884, the Prestigious Law firm specializes in corporate litigation, mergers and acquisitions, white-collar defense, and government investigations. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed had worked with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

(Sample sentence about their rankings) Simson Thacher & Bartlett was ranked fourth on Vault’s list of top legal employers for 2020!

Number 5 – King & Spalding

King & Spalding’s company philosophy is to deliver the best legal advice and representation. As one of the most prestigious Prestigious Law firms in the nation, it has been providing counsel for nearly two centuries. Since its founding in Atlanta, Georgia, King & Spalding has represented clients such as AT&T and Union Carbide.

King & Spalding’s expertise is within both civil and criminal litigation. With more than 400 attorneys across 20 locations and 40 specialties, this Prestigious Law firm can assist in areas such as antitrust law, commercial finance, environmental law, international arbitration, real estate development, toxic tort defense, and white-collar criminal defense.

Number 6 – Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins offers a personalized, integrated approach to every client and has been helping big companies and governments work through some of the most challenging business problems since 1905. It has offices in over 40 countries around the world, representing diverse industries and clients across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Ranked no. 1 on Vault’s listing of global law firms

, Latham can serve as a one-stop shop for cross-border transactions in any industry. Headquartered in the epicenter of international finance on Wall Street and with a vast network of partners around the world, it doesn’t surprise that Latham ranks at no.

Number 7 – Kirkland & Ellis

In 2007, Kirkland & Ellis merged with Chicago’s AmLaw 200 Prestigious Law firm Mayer Brown. Kirkland currently employs 2,800 lawyers and maintains branch offices in 11 countries, including the United States, Australia, France, Germany, and Brazil. It is the fourth-largest U.S.-based law firm by headcount and the second-largest outside of New York City.

It is also the oldest U.S. Prestigious Law firm in continuous practice since its founding in 1865 as a partnership of Abbott Lawrence & James Thomson as well as Alfred Clay (who became American Bar Association president) and John Woodburn (who would go on to be one of its first ten members).

Number 8 – Sullivan & Cromwell

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP was established in 1879 and has since been committed to handling high-profile matters in government law, including providing representation for the US Justice Department. Clients of the Prestigious Law firm hail from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Led by Chairman William R. Sullivan Jr., Sullivan & Cromwell LLP employs 300 lawyers in nine offices across the country. One notable attorney on staff is Thomas Kiernan, a partner who specializes in commercial litigation with an emphasis on tax controversies.

Vault Legal Rankings Agency is an organization that evaluates legal Prestigious Law firms according to their prestige among other competing law firms as well as their accessibility to clients outside of Manhattan. Today’s ranking places Sullivan & Cromwell at number 8 nationwide and number 4 overall for prestige only among American firms.

Number 9 – Paul Hastings LLP.

Paul Hastings LLP. is a global Prestigious Law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and other professionals in 19 offices around the world. Led by Chairman Jay W. Lorsch, Paul Hastings LLP. has been recognized as one of the top 50 law firms in 10 of the past 15 years, according to Vault’s rankings.

Number 10 – K&L Gates

K&L Gates’s heritage can be traced back to two Prestigious Law firms that were once competitors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and H.W. Ballantine. K&L Gates shares space with such prestigious firms as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

K&L Gates maintains offices in major cities across the globe including London (UK), Shanghai (China), Hong Kong (China), Moscow (Russia), and Sao Paulo (Brazil). Headquartered in the United States of America in Washington DC and Columbus OH, K&L Gates operates nearly 400 offices around the world.

Founded by two ambitious attorneys from what was then called H.W.

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