How General Counsels Rank the Best National Law Firms
from July/August 2008
More than 200 GCs chose the firms they would most like to have on their side in national matters. Fourteen of their picks also appear in the national Top 20 selected by directors. The six from the national list that didn’t rank among the GCs’ favorites are Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Fulbright & Jaworski, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, O’Melveny & Myers, and Hogan & Hartson. They were supplanted by Sidley Austin, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, King & Spalding, Baker Botts, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, and DLA Piper. Two firms from last year’s GC Top 20, Fulbright & Jaworski and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, were replaced this year by King & Spalding and DLA Piper.
|
The Top 20 Firms |
2008 Directors' Ranking |
| 1. SKADDEN ARPS SLATE MEAGHER & FLOM (last year's ranking: 1) |
1
|
| 2. WACHTELL LIPTON ROSEN & KATZ (2) |
3
|
| 3. CRAVATH SWAINE & MOORE (3) |
2
|
| 4. LATHAM & WATKINS (6) |
6
|
| 5. JONES DAY (9, tied) |
7
|
| 6. SULLIVAN & CROMWELL (5) |
5
|
| 7. SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT (8) |
10
|
| 8. KIRKLAND & ELLIS (11) |
8
|
| 9. DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL (4) |
4
|
| 10. GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER (7) |
13
|
| 11. WEIL GOTSHAL & MANGES (14) |
9
|
| 12. SIDLEY AUSTIN (9, tied) |
-
|
| 13. BAKER & MCKENZIE (15) |
14, tied
|
| (TIE) SHEARMAN & STERLING (12, tied) |
11, tied
|
| 15. MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS (17, tied) |
-
|
| 16. KING & SPALDING (-) |
-
|
| 17. BAKER BOTTS (16) |
-
|
| (TIE) WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE & DORR (12, tied) |
-
|
| 19. DLA PIPER (-) |
-
|
| 20. COVINGTON & BURLING (17, tied) |
16
|
Source: The 2008 Corporate Board Member/FTI Consulting Survey
