The only change in the top 5 was Sullivan & Cromwell leapfrogging Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom for the third spot. In a press release, Vault.com Managing Editor Brian Dalton noted the continuing rise of litigation boutiques in the rankings. As an example, Dalton notes Quinn Emmanuel has jumped from No. 43 in 2008 to No. 19 this year. He theorizes the down economy has allowed boutiques to compete with full-service firms for top students.
“As the Great Recession is well into its litigation phase, litigation boutiques are increasingly competing with the large full-service firms for the top law student talent,” Daltonsaid. “Quinn Emmanuel’s meteoric rise through our rankings reflects the growing success and impact of the boutique model industry-wide.”
The rankings were compiled through an anonymous survey of more than 15,000 attorneys at 165 law firms.
Here is Vault.com’s Top 10:
1. Wachtell
3. Sullivan & Cromwell.
4. Skadden
