Wachtell and Cravath top list of 100 most prestigious law firms, Vault survey says
Well-known BigLaw firms in the Big Apple retain their cachet among nearly 17,000 associates asked to rate the most prestigious law firms in the country. an annual Vault survey found.
Once again, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz topped the list, closely followed by Cravath Swaine & Moore, Wachtell has retained top billing for over 10 years, although Cravath appears to be closing the gap, Vault announced Wednesday.
Completing the top five were Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Sullivan & Cromwell and Davis Polk & Wardwell. The same five BigLaw firms also took top honors in last year’s Vault survey; however, Sullivan & Cromwell and Skadden switched places this year.
A chart on Vault’s website lists the top 100 firms, in order, and shows whether they are up or down on the list since last year.
Moving up on the list are litigation powerhouses Boies, Schiller & Flexner and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, ranked 13th and 15th respectively. Each stepped up two rungs on the prestige ladder since last year.
However the biggest moves were made by two other well-known firms. Cooley is now ranked 45, up 10 spots from last year and Duane Morris, at 91, is eight higher on the list.
Survey responders could not rank their own firms and were asked to offer their thoughts only about firms with which they were familiar, the Vault announcement notes.
The company, which bills itself as “the Web’s ultimate destination for insider career and job information,” offers branding and sponsorship opportunities to employers seeking to connect with its target audience.
See also:
ABAJournal.com (2012): “Wachtell Holds on to No. 1 Spot in Vault Law Rankings; Latham Makes Top 10 After Fall”
ABAJournal.com (2011): “Weil Trumpets ‘Trifecta’ in Vault 2012 Rankings, But Wachtell, Cravath and S&C are 1-2-3 in Prestige”
ABAJournal.com (2010): “NY BigLaw Dominates, Wachtell Remains at Profession’s Pinnacle in Annual Vault 100 Survey”
ABAJournal.com (2008): “Wachtell Still #1, Vault Survey Says”
