The latest issue of Corporate Board Member magazine ranks the leading corporate law firms. Here’s a director’s cut of the Top 10 (with the 2004 ranking in parentheses):
1. Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, New York (1)
2. Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, New York (3)
3. Cravath Swaine & Moore, New York (2)
4. Sullivan & Cromwell, New York (4)
5. Jones Day, Cleveland (7)
6. Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York (5)
7. Baker & McKenzie, Chicago (6)
8. Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago (11)
9. Latham & Watkins, Los Angeles (10)
10. Shearman & Sterling, New York (13)
GC’s also weigh in with their own list.
These are fine firms, one and all. One problem with this sort of ranking is that it rewards large firms who have more clients and therefore higher awareness among board members. This makes Wachtell Lipton’s performance all the more impressive, due to its smaller size.
I’d also like to see the raw scores, to know the difference between 1 and 10.
But #1 is making the most of it–#2 doesn’t mention it.
Congratulations, Skadden; advantage Wachtell?
Speaking of lists, watch this space on June 29 for an early peek at the 2005 Am Law 100.