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Best Law Firms by Practice Area

These firms were voted strongest in each practice area by associates working in that area at peer firms. Vault's 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.
Survey Methodology

Each year, Vault ranks law firms in a variety of practice areas based on the perceptions of associates practicing in those areas. Associates were asked to vote for up to three firms they consider strongest in their practice areas and were not permitted to vote for their own firms. For example, associates who identified themselves as corporate attorneys were allowed only to vote in corporate-related categories (securities, financial services, etc.). Our rankings list the top firms in each area, as well as the total percentage of votes cast in favor of each ranked firm.

Vault ranked the following practice areas this year: Antitrust; Appellate Litigation; Banking & Financial Services; Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Clean Tech/Renewable Energy; Emerging Companies/VC; Energy, Oil, & Gas; Environmental Law; General Commercial Litigation; General Corporate Practice; Health Care; Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Boutiques; International; Labor & Employment; Litigation Boutiques; M&A; Media, Entertainment, & Sports; Privacy & Data Security; Private Equity; Products Liability; Project Finance; Real Estate; Securities; Securities Litigation; Tax; and White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations.

Vault's 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

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Each year Vault invites eligible law firms to participate in our annual Law Survey. Please contact us if you’re interested in having your firm considered for inclusion.

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2021 Best Law Firms for Real Estate Law

#1
% of Votes 34.09
2020 Rank 1

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP advises many of the world’s leading corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions on their critical legal needs and business opportunities. With approximately 500 lawyers in North...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#2
% of Votes 28.53
2020 Rank 2

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

With more than 1,355 attorneys across 10 countries, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a force. Among the top firms in the country, Gibson Dunn is well known for its litigation and trial work—especially its bustling appellate litigation and...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#3
% of Votes 28.25
2020 Rank 3

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP counts among its clients some of the biggest names in information technology, energy, entertainment, telecommunications, real estate, financial services, and health care. With over two dozen offices worldwide, an...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program
#4
% of Votes 12.13
2020 Rank 8

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis, one the world’s most elite law firms, is recognized for its corporate, intellectual property, litigation, M&A, private equity, and restructuring work. With more than 2,700 lawyers, the firm is regularly recognized as...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#5
% of Votes 11.98
2020 Rank 5

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Skadden is one of the most profitable and well-known law firms in the world. It was the first law firm to report $1 billion in annual revenue—now an industry brass ring. While the firm may be best known for its M&A prowess, it is an all-star...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#6
% of Votes 11.41
2020 Rank 4

DLA Piper

With approximately 4,300 lawyers in 90-plus offices around the globe, DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms—both by headcount and by revenue—in the world. From Big to Ginormous DLA Piper is a law firm empire. Its massive growth is the...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Summer Program
#7
% of Votes 9.42
2020 Rank 7

Paul Hastings LLP

Over the last few decades, Paul Hastings has grown from a mid-market U.S. firm to an international outfit with strengths in employment, tax, and business law and big-name clients in more than 80 countries. With offices in Beijing, Hong Kong,...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#8
% of Votes 9.13
2020 Rank 6

Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham is one of the world’s largest law firms, a bona fide member of the clique that includes the Magic Circle and the elite U.S. heritage firms. With more than 2,800 attorneys in 29 offices around the world, Latham practices in all the major...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#9
% of Votes 8.70
2020 Rank 9

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

A Wall Street institution, Simpson Thacher houses elite teams in M&A, banking, capital markets, private equity, and litigation. With more than 900 lawyers across 10 global offices, Simpson Thacher has long held its spot among the most elite...

Overview Associate Reviews Why Work Here Q&As Summer Program
#10
% of Votes 7.42
2020 Rank 12

Holland & Knight LLP

A veritable global conglomerate, Holland & Knight complements its fleet of offices in the United States with locations in England, Colombia, and Mexico. With a political pedigree and strong Capitol Hill ties, the firm covers dozens of...

Overview Associate Reviews Summer Program
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