In a wide variety of legal specializations, New York is the global hub for some of the most prominent law firms. The top law firms in New York are well-known for their dedication to providing exceptional legal representation to clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 corporations to individuals looking for an attorney.
Firms like these have been around for a long time, and they’re known for taking on big cases, complicated deals, and historic lawsuits that change the game in the legal world—and not just in New York. These legal companies are distinguished by their experienced lawyers, many of whom are industry leaders. Corporate, litigation, intellectual property, real estate, and tax law are just a few of the many areas of law covered by these businesses.
When it comes to providing unique legal solutions, they are likewise ahead of the curve, using state-of-the-art technology and procedures. With high-stakes cases and a constantly changing legal landscape, the best law firms in New York maintain their position as industry leaders, shaping the future of legal practice and helping clients with their most complex legal issues.
Top 10 Law Firms in New York
The following is a ranking of the best 10 law firms in New York, as determined by the quality of legal services they provide.
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
- Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- DeBevoise & Plimpton LLP
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
1. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Richard Blatchford founded Cravath, a legal firm in New York City, at 140 Water Street, on March 22, 1819. For over 200 years, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has been considered by many to be among the best legal firms in the United States. Their attorneys are world-renowned for their dedication to protecting their client’s best interests, and each of their professional areas is well-respected.
The firm’s representation of large enterprises and financial institutions in challenging corporate transactions, securities offerings, and high-stakes mergers and acquisitions is unparalleled. Cravath is a modest, well-established law firm based in New York City and has other offices in London and Washington, DC. Amgen, Deutsche Telekom, Disney, Epic Games, the European Investment Bank, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, and Viatris are a few of the companies that have worked with the firm.
William Seward, a co-founder of the firm with Richard Blatchford, was Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln. The company acted as an attorney for abolitionist Horace Greeley and inventor Samuel Morse, helped form NBC for the early owners, and represented IBM in the infamous 13-year antitrust case that started in 1969.
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2. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden is among the world’s most prestigious and expansive legal businesses. In 1948, on April Fools’ Day, Marshall Skadden, Les Arps, and John Slate started what would become Skadden, a scrappy business in New York City amid several more prestigious “white shoe” legal companies.
Later the same year, Joe Flom was hired on as the firm’s first associate, and in 1959, litigator Bill Meagher became the sixth partner whose name appears on the firm’s current paperwork. With expertise in corporate law, litigation, and regulatory concerns, the firm’s New York office is a formidable force.
Among the many complicated legal matters that Skadden assists clients include mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, securities litigation, and antitrust. The Skadden brand is well-known all over the globe, from New York to Shanghai. The firm has around 1,700 lawyers spread among thirteen foreign offices and eight in the United States. Skadden lawyers have limitless exit alternatives because of the firm’s renowned reputation and extensive alumni network. Lawyers are dedicated to pro bono work and are urged from the start to choose a pro bono case that piques their interest in helping the community.
3. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP offers its global clients the best possible legal guidance and representation. The Firm’s headquarters is in New York. For almost 140 years, the Firm’s accomplishments have distinguished it and made it a model for contemporary legal practice.
The firm provides advice to a broad spectrum of customers, including governments, commercial and industrial enterprises, financial organizations, private funds, individuals, estates, and trusts, as well as philanthropic, cultural, and educational institutions.
Sullivan & Cromwell is renowned for its proficiency in regulatory affairs and its capacity to manage complex, international transactions. Over 900 attorneys at S&C provide global client service via a network of 13 offices situated in top financial hubs throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and the US.
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4. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Founded in 1884, Simpson Thacher is now regarded as one of New York’s top law firms. With offices in Beijing, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Tokyo, Washington, D.C. and among others. The company has its headquarters in New York.
It is well known for its proficiency in mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and corporate law. They currently employ more than 1,300 attorneys across 11 locations to have a global presence. In well-known transactions such as leveraged buyouts, initial public offerings, and corporate restructurings, the company represents large enterprises, financial institutions, and private equity groups.
The firm has a great culture that emphasizes professional growth, as seen by its comprehensive training program, STB Ready, and the mentorship that senior staff members provide.
Among its clients are American Electric Power, EQT, First Reserve, Hellman & Friedman, Hilton Hotels, KKR, Mars, Microsoft, New Mountain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, Stonepeak, Blackstone, Carlyle Group, EQT, First Reserve, and Weight Watchers. Simpson Thacher’s Litigation Practice was highlighted by the New York Law Journal as one of the contenders for its “Finance Litigation Department of the Year” award for 2024.
5. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
One of the oldest law firms in New York, Davis Polk was established by Francis Bangs in 1849. The company has prominent offices in São Paulo, Beijing, London, Madrid, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.
Corporate law, litigation, and regulatory compliance are a few of the many areas of expertise offered by this top law firm. Customers get guidance from the business on a wide range of issues, including financial regulation, corporate governance, securities offerings, and complicated transactions.
In recognition of their leadership roles in two of the most prominent transactions of 2023, Davis Polk’s managing partner and chair, Neil Barr, as well as Louis Goldberg, who is co-chair of mergers and acquisitions, and M&A partners Shanu Bajaj, Oliver Smith, and Brian Wolfe, were named “Dealmakers of the Year” by the American Lawyer for 2024.
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6. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
The 1875-founded Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP was groundbreaking in many ways. It was the first big New York firm to employ a Black associate and elect a woman to the partnership.
It also had the distinction of being the first firm in the city where Jews and Gentiles practiced together. The firm has expanded from its original focus on litigation to become an industry leader in corporate restructuring, white-collar and regulatory defense, litigation, private equity, and public mergers and acquisitions.
More than 1,000 lawyers have worked at Paul, Weiss since it was founded. The firm now has 10 offices, five in the United States and five abroad. Companies such as Qualcomm, Amazon, General Electric, IBM, and General Motors have been given commitments by the team.
The firm has advised on mergers and acquisitions totaling over a trillion dollars and over 200 deals with values of 200 billion dollars or more since 2020. From the perspective of both the corporation and its creditors, Paul, Weiss’ restructuring section handles the most major restructuring problems. Additionally, the firm provides career development strategies for associates, and coaching for summer associates throughout both the summer program and the third year of law school. The firm also offers individual career coaching for lawyers of all levels.
7. Latham & Watkins LLP
The international legal firm Latham & Watkins LLP employs over 3,500 attorneys in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With an emphasis on tax and employment law, the business was established in 1934 by Dana Latham, a former commissioner of the IRS, and Paul Watkins.
The firm started its rapid and steady global expansion in the late 20th century. The firm’s flagship office on New York’s Avenue of the Americas is the biggest in the city. As a result of globalization, Latham can provide clients with access to the best lawyers worldwide. When it comes to tax services, litigation, environmental law, business transactions, and financial concerns, the company is unrivaled on a worldwide scale. 96% of Latham attorneys participate in the pro bono work.
A variety of skills, like trial advocacy, contract writing, communication, leadership, and more, are covered at the firm’s multi-day training academies, which are available to lawyers at all levels of the firm, from summer associates to partners. Additionally, the business is dedicated to diversity initiatives, which it does by providing billable credit for relevant work and by sponsoring affinity organizations.
8. Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Among the most prestigious law firms in the world, Kirkland & Ellis is well-known for the corporate, IP, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and restructuring cases it handles. The firm is consistently ranked among the world’s most successful with over 3,500 attorneys. Stuart Shepard and Robert McCormick, two young lawyers from Chicago, formed a partnership in 1909.
The “fair comment” argument, which Ellis fiercely defended, allows citizens to express their views on public figures and authorities in written or spoken form. Their 6,500 workers work from 21 locations in 21 countries comprising Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the US.
The firm’s 700+ litigators cover a wide range of topics, including securities litigation, consumer fraud, ERISA, and product liability. In 2016, the firm’s CareerLink program was honored with the North America Innovative Lawyers Awards by Financial Times. Through this program, current and former attorneys and alumni of the firm have access to confidential, one-on-one career coaching, a job board, and a “playbook” with advice on resumes, interviews, networking, and more.
9. DeBevoise & Plimpton LLP
One of the most influential law firms in New York, Debevoise & Plimpton represents well-known clients in business deals and legal issues in developed and developing nations all over the globe. International arbitration, complex litigation, white-collar/investigations, fund creation, insurance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic and private equity are the main franchise practices of the entity.
The firm was established in 1931 in New York by Eli Whitney Debevoise—a direct descendant of the cotton gin inventor—and William E. Stevenson, a gold medalist in the 1,600-meter relay team in the 1924 Olympics.
The attorneys at this firm routinely work as dealmakers for some of the most prestigious private equity companies, banks, and businesses in the world. The company is an expert in cross-border deals and complicated leveraged acquisitions across many different sectors. As part of their integrated worldwide practices, over 900 attorneys in nine locations on three continents provide legal representation to clients all over the globe.
The entity has a reputation for helping clients get a thorough knowledge of their businesses and for aggressively and creatively pursuing each subject to reach the best possible outcome. The firm is well-known for its intellectual and courteous culture, as well as its generous support of its colleagues via programs including career coaching and comprehensive mentorship.
10. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
For over 90 years, from its founding in 1931, Weil has served as the go-to legal advisor for major financial institutions, private equity groups, and public enterprises. Those who follow the legal industry often remark on how Weil’s attorneys help clients all around the world with their most complicated litigation, corporate, restructuring, tax, executive compensation, and benefits issues.
Weil was an early adopter of the practice of regional footprinting, which has enabled the Firm to form partnerships with clients throughout the world. The firm remains one of the world’s highest-grossing legal companies, with a workforce of over 1,100 attorneys spread across six countries and three continents.
Weil has managed over a hundred deals with a value of over $1 billion in the last five years. Additionally, the firm’s worldwide private equity practice is widely regarded as the best in its industry. Private equity (PE) customers of Weil include some of the most prominent and substantial financial institutions, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and private equity firms.
Since 1983, the lawyers of the firm have donated over a million hours of pro bono work, and the firm has donated over $120 million to charity. The Weil Legal Innovators program is the flagship charitable project of the company. It provides incoming law school students with paid fellowships of one year at prominent nonprofits in the United States, with a yearly contribution from Weil exceeding $1 million.
Conclusion
Summing up, the top 10 law firms in New York continuously uphold the highest standards of legal practice, cementing their position as global leaders in the field of law. They are at the forefront of their field because they have an in-depth understanding of client requirements and can expertly navigate the complex legal system. No matter the complexity of the case, from high-stakes litigation to complex business transactions or innovative intellectual property matters, these companies are known for their unfaltering dedication to their client’s success.
Even while New York is still one of the world’s leading hubs for finance and business, its reputable law firms will undoubtedly remain customers’ first choice for first-rate legal advice. What draws customers to them is their reputation as trustworthy advisers, therefore they will continue to be credible counselors for as long as they are in business.
FAQs
How Much Do Leading Attorneys in NYC Make?
As of August 28, 2024, a lawyer in New York makes, on average, $117,459 per year.
Who is the Richest Lawyer in New York City?
John Finley, a Blackstone chief legal officer, is the richest lawyer in NYC. In 2022 he received $22.2 million compensation.
Which US Law Firm Represents Apple Company?
Kirkland & Ellis represents Apple in a Landmark Antitrust Lawsuit in 2024.
How Long Do Attorneys Work in New York?
Lawyers frequently work between 55 and 80 hours a week at their jobs, depending on the size of the business.
