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June 19, 2013

Vault.com Unveils 2013 Law Practice Area Rankings

New York, NY, (June 27, 2012) Vault.com, the source of ratings, rankings and insight for law students and lawyers, has released its Practice Area Rankings for 2013, examining how law firms rank in 23 practice areas ranging from Antitrust to Technology. 

Vault’s influential rankings, considered the “bible” for law students, associates, partners and law firm recruiters, provide a detailed perspective on the criteria considered by candidates when evaluating law firms. In order to determine the Vault Practice Area Rankings, nearly 17,000 associates were asked to vote for up to three firms they consider strongest in their own practice area, but were not permitted to vote for their own firm.  Vault’s rankings indicate the top firms in each area, as well the total percentage of votes, offering law students and associates a tool to aid in their career search.

“Many law students—and most potential lateral associates—have a sense for what kind of law they hope to practice,” said Rachel Marx, law editor at Vault.com. “Vault’s Practice Area Rankings help applicants focus their job search based on their long-term career goals.”  

Top Ranked Firms in Corporate Categories and Representative “Buzz” From Associates at Peer Firms:

General Corporate Practice: Wachtell Lipton (“Gold standard corporate firm”)

Financial Services: Sullivan & Cromwell (“Top notch lawyers”)

M&A: Wachtell Lipton (“Excellent New York M&A”)

Private Equity: Simpson Thacher (“Private equity powerhouse”)

Securities: Sullivan & Cromwell (“Stellar firm”)

 

Top Ranked Firms in Litigation Categories and Representative “Buzz” From Associates at Peer Firms:

General Commercial Litigation: Quinn Emanuel (“Trial leaders”)

Appellate Litigation: Gibson Dunn (“Fantastic litigators”)

Class Actions: Skadden Arps (“Cream of the crop”)

Products Liability: Skadden Arps (“Best all around”)

Securities Litigation: Skadden Arps (“Great reputation”)

White Collar Defense: Williams & Connolly (“Best litigators by a mile”)

Litigation Boutiques: Susman Godfrey

 

Top Ranked Firms in Other Categories and Representative “Buzz” From Associates at Peer Firms:

Antitrust: Cleary Gottlieb (“Solid all around”)

Bankruptcy: Weil Gotshal (“Bankruptcy masters”)

Clean Tech: Morrison & Foerster (“Progressive and smart”)

Energy: Vinson & Elkins (“Oil and gas central”)

Intellectual Property: Fish & Richardson (“As good as it gets for IP”)

Intellectual Property Boutiques: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear

International: Freshfields (“International powerhouse”)

Labor & Employment: Seyfarth Shaw (“Excellent labor and employment”)

Real Estate: Fried Frank (“Bright, hard-working attorneys”)

Tax: Skadden Arps (“Precise”)

Technology: Fish & Richardson (“Technology savvy”)

© 2012 Vault.com Inc.

About the Author

Law Editor

Rachel Marx is the Law Editor for Vault.com. She covers career advice for lawyers and law students, as well as the latest legal news and trends. Rachel also edits the annual Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms. Prior to joining Vault, Rachel was a litigation associate at a Vault Top 10 firm in New York. She has a law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

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