Vault not too long ago launched its intently watched rankings of the nation’s 100 most prestigious law firms. It was there that we realized Cravath has held onto its title as essentially the most prestigious agency in America for a decade, and that the highest companies noticed some fascinating modifications (together with one main agency getting into the High 10 for the primary time ever).
However what in case your agency wasn’t top-ranked within the Vault 100? Maybe your agency isn’t essentially the most prestigious, however that doesn’t imply it doesn’t have clout. Some legislation companies reign supreme in the case of sure apply areas, and others are recognized to dominate whole areas of the nation.
Which legislation companies are thought-about to be on the high of their sport by apply space and area? Let’s discover out!
For the needs of the apply space rating, Vault requested associates to vote for as much as three companies they consider because the strongest in their very own apply space, and the general rating signifies the companies that acquired the very best share of votes. Associates weren’t allowed to vote for their very own agency. Concentrate, potential laterals, as a result of this rating may very well be fairly helpful for you.
We’ve picked out a dozen of the apply areas that have been ranked by Vault (you’ll be able to see the complete record by clicking here):
Appellate Litigation: Williams & Connolly
Chapter/Restructuring: Kirkland & Ellis (changing Cleary Gottlieb)
Vitality, Oil and Gasoline: Vinson & Elkins
Basic Industrial Litigation: Quinn Emanuel
Basic Company Observe: Wachtell Lipton (changing Kirkland & Ellis)
Mental Property: Fish & Richardson
Worldwide: White & Case
Labor and Employment: Littler Mendelson
Non-public Fairness: Kirkland & Ellis
Actual Property: Gibson Dunn
Securities/Capital Markets: Davis Polk
Tax: Skadden
Subsequent up, we’ve received a rating that issues to those that assume “location, location, location” is an important factor in life. Vault’s regional rankings are primarily based on votes tabulated from associates who have been requested to price companies on a 1 to 10 scale primarily based on their status inside the area.
Right here’s the record of status by area from Vault (you’ll be able to see the complete record here):
Atlanta: King & Spalding
Boston: Ropes & Grey
Chicago: Kirkland & Ellis
Florida: Holland & Knight
Mid-Atlantic: Skadden
Midwest: Kirkland & Ellis
Mountain States: Gibson Dunn
New York: Wachtell Lipton (changing Cravath)
Northern California: Cooley (changing Morrison & Foerster)
Pacific Northwest: Perkins Coie
South Atlantic: Alston & Chook (changing King & Spalding)
Southern California: Latham & Watkins
Texas: Vinson & Elkins
Washington, DC: Covington & Burling
Congratulations to the companies that moved up on this yr’s apply space and regional rankings, and congratulations to all of the companies that made the reduce within the first place. It should be good to see which companies associates contemplate as their friends in status, and it should be even nicer for companions to know whose pricing fashions they should undercut the subsequent time round.
VAULT LAW RELEASES 2026 RANKINGS FOR ITS TOP 100 LAW FIRMS, BEST LAW FIRMS BY REGION, AND BEST LAW FIRMS BY PRACTICE AREA [PR Newswire]
Best Law Firms by Practice Area (2026) [Vault]
Best Law Firms by Region (2026) [Vault]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Regulation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be happy to email her with any suggestions, questions, feedback, or critiques. You’ll be able to observe her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join together with her on LinkedIn.
Source link