Our Ranking Methodology
Our legal firm rankings employ a comprehensive, data-driven methodology that evaluates practices across multiple dimensions of excellence.
Case Outcomes 25%
Success rates, landmark cases, and the significance of legal precedents established.
Legal Expertise 25%
Depth and breadth of legal knowledge, specializations, and attorney credentials.
Client Satisfaction 20%
Client feedback, retention rates, and testimonials from businesses and individuals.
Industry Reputation 15%
Peer recognition, industry awards, and standing within the legal community.
Innovation & Growth 15%
Legal technology adoption, business model innovation, and strategic expansion.
Key Facts
Data Sources
- Peer review surveys among legal professionals
- Client satisfaction surveys and interviews
- Public court records and case outcomes
- Financial performance data
- Industry association recognitions
- Legal directories and publications
Evaluation Period
Data collected from 2022-2025, with emphasis on the most recent client engagements and case outcomes.
Ranking Updates
Rankings are updated annually each July. Last updated: July 2025.
The World's Leading Legal Firms
Our comprehensive evaluation of legal practices worldwide has identified these firms as the pinnacle of legal excellence. These organizations consistently demonstrate exceptional performance across client service, case outcomes, legal expertise, industry reputation, and innovation.
Each firm in our top 10 offers unique strengths and specializations while maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. From landmark litigation victories to groundbreaking corporate transactions, these firms represent the best that the legal profession has to offer.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins has established itself as the world's premier legal practice, known for its exceptional work in complex corporate transactions and high-stakes litigation. With a truly integrated global platform and collaborative culture, the firm delivers consistent excellence across jurisdictions and practice areas.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirkland & Ellis has established itself as a global powerhouse, particularly renowned for its market-leading private equity practice and litigation capabilities. The firm's entrepreneurial culture and business-focused approach have made it the go-to counsel for complex, high-stakes matters worldwide.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden has long been synonymous with high-stakes, complex legal matters, particularly in M&A and securities litigation. The firm's strategic approach to solving clients' most challenging legal issues has established it as a trusted advisor to corporations, financial institutions, and governments worldwide.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy stands as a global elite law firm with particular strength in banking, capital markets, and international transactions. The firm's innovative approach and deep sector expertise have established it as a market leader in complex cross-border matters across Europe, Asia, and emerging markets.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Clifford Chance LLP
Clifford Chance combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge to deliver strategic solutions to the world's leading corporations and financial institutions. The firm's truly integrated global platform and collaborative culture enable it to handle the most complex cross-border matters with sophistication and precision.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Davis Polk is renowned for its sophisticated advice on the most complex and high-stakes matters, particularly in capital markets, M&A, and financial regulation. The firm's intellectual rigor, precision, and judgment have made it a trusted advisor to the world's leading corporations, financial institutions, and governments.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Wachtell Lipton is widely recognized as the world's premier M&A and corporate governance firm. Despite its boutique size and single-office model, the firm handles the largest, most complex, and highest-profile corporate transactions, special situations, and litigation matters worldwide.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Freshfields combines deep historical roots with modern innovation to deliver exceptional legal services globally. The firm is particularly renowned for its cross-border M&A, antitrust, and dispute resolution capabilities, serving the world's leading corporations and financial institutions on their most challenging matters.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell is known for its unparalleled expertise in complex financial transactions and litigation matters. The firm's distinctive approach combines exceptional legal insight with deep commercial understanding, making it a trusted advisor to the world's leading corporations, financial institutions, and governments.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Gibson Dunn is renowned for its litigation prowess, particularly in high-stakes, bet-the-company cases and appeals, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm combines exceptional trial skills with sophisticated transactional capabilities, serving clients across industries and practice areas worldwide.
Key Strengths
Core Practice Areas
Notable Work
Our Legal Firm Ranking Methodology
At WhosBest.org, we employ a comprehensive, data-driven approach to evaluate legal firms across multiple dimensions of excellence. Our methodology combines quantitative metrics with qualitative assessments to provide a holistic view of each firm's strengths and achievements.
Data Collection
We gather data from multiple sources, including peer reviews, client feedback, public court records, financial performance data, and industry publications. All data undergoes rigorous verification to ensure accuracy and currency.
Evaluation Criteria
Legal firms are evaluated across five key dimensions: Case Outcomes (25%), Legal Expertise (25%), Client Satisfaction (20%), Industry Reputation (15%), and Innovation & Growth (15%). Each dimension comprises multiple specific metrics designed to capture different aspects of legal excellence.
Scoring System
Each metric is standardized to enable fair comparisons across firms of different sizes and types. Weighted scores are calculated for each dimension and combined to produce an overall score on a scale of 0-10, determining the final ranking position.
Expert Review
A panel of legal industry experts reviews the preliminary rankings to provide qualitative insights and identify any anomalies that require further investigation. This human oversight ensures that our data-driven approach captures nuances that numbers alone might miss.
Annual Updates
Rankings are updated annually to reflect the latest data and developments in the legal industry. Our methodology is continuously refined to ensure it remains relevant and accurately captures what constitutes excellence in the evolving landscape of legal services.