FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VAULT.COM UNVEILS LAW PRACTICE AREA RANKINGS
WEIL, GOTSHAL NAMED NO. 1 BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR
New York, NY, (June 27, 2012) Today, Vault.com, the source of ratings, rankings and insight for law students and lawyers, released its Practice Area Rankings for 2013. This year, as has been the case for the previous three years, Weil, Gotshal & Manges was the firm rated strongest in bankruptcy law by associates.
The firm once again beat out Kirkland & Ellis to claim its fourth straight title. According to survey respondents, Weil is “one of the big guys” and a “powerhouse,” whose attorneys are “bankruptcy masters.” Weil; Kirkland & Ellis; and Skadden Arps remained in the same positions as last year – No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, respectively – but the rest of the Top 10 saw some significant movement this year.
Among the changes, Jones Day jumped one spot to No. 4, pushing Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld down one spot to No. 5. White & Case also moved up one notch to No. 9, while Latham & Watkins returned to the Top 10—after a two-year hiatus—at No. 8 in a tie with Wachtell Lipton. Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones debuted on the list at No. 7, making it the only bankruptcy boutique voted onto the Top 10.
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.
The Top 10 Bankruptcy Law Firms Are:
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Jones Day
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
- Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
- Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones
- Latham & Watkins / Wachtell Lipton (tie)
- White & Case
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
“Bankruptcy practices saw a big boom in business after the economy tanked in 2008,” said Rachel Marx, law editor at Vault.com. “These firms stepped up to the plate and continue to be the go-to counsel for creditors and debtors going through reorganization or restructuring.”
The Vault Practice Area Rankings were released as part of a summer rollout of the Vault.com Top 100 Law Firm Rankings. Today, in addition to practice rankings, Vault.com has also released its Regional Law Firm Rankings, examining how law firms ranked in regions from New York to California and all areas in between.
Next week, Vault will release its Quality of Life Rankings, determining which law firms go beyond prestige and provide the best overall working experience, in categories ranging from firm culture and work hours to compensation and training opportunities.
In addition to rankings, Vault.com also features individual profiles of each law firm that provide readers with an insider’s perspective, revealing information on compensation, culture, training, diversity, and other pros and cons of associate life, as well as “The Buzz,” external perceptions of each firm.
Rankings and law firm profiles are available to press upon their release.
About Vault
Vault.com is the source of employer and university rankings, ratings and reconnaissance for highly-credentialed, in-demand candidates. Vault.com is organized by profession, industry, company and school. Vault profiles, rankings and assessment tools deliver the insider perspective and career research candidates need to successfully match themselves to the best available jobs, employers and career opportunities. The Vault.com website features profiles on more than 4,500 employers, 4,000 universities and hundreds of industries and professions including the law, finance, accounting and consulting sectors. Founded in 1996, Vault.com is the only career resource of its kind and attracts more than 1000 employer and recruiter advertisers, more than 1200 school and institutional subscribers and millions of individual visitors and members.