New York, NY, (July 27, 2010) Vault.com, the source of ratings, rankings and insight for law students and lawyers, has released its Practice Area Rankings for 2011, examining how law firms rank in 21 practice areas ranging from Appellate Litigation to Tax.  

In order to determine the Vault Practice Area Rankings, associates were able to vote for up to three firms 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 associates a tool to aid in their career search.

“Aspiring trial lawyers are looking for the best litigation departments; would-be corporate rainmakers want to know which are the hottest M&A shops. For the savviest law students and lateral associates, the choice of an employer involves considering an array of factors, and none is more important than specific practice area prowess,” said Vault.com Managing Editor Brian Dalton.   

Top Ranked Firms in Corporate Categories and Sample Quote “Buzz” From Peer Firms:

General Corporate Practice: Wachtell (“Unmatched”)
M&A: Wachtell (“Always the best. David Katz's M&A articles are just great.”)
Private Equity: Simpson Thacher (“Very intellectual, attention to detail”)
Securities: Sullivan & Cromwell (“Doing really well despite the economy”)

Top Ranked Firms in Litigation Categories and Sample Quote “Buzz” From Peer Firms:

General Commercial Litigation: Kirkland & Ellis (“Collegial and very skilled litigators”)
Antitrust Litigation: Skadden (“A+ for keeping it real. What you see is what you get.”)
Appellate Litigation: Gibson Dunn (“Innovative. Happy associates”)
Class Actions: Skadden (“Brilliant lawyers”)
IP Litigation: Fish & Richardson (“Extremely bright patent litigators”)
Labor & Employment Disputes: Littler Mendelson (“Great labor and employment firm”)
Products Liability: Skadden (“Classy outfit, these guys are professionals”)
Securities Litigation: Skadden (“Top dog”)
White Collar Defense/Internal Investigations: Williams & Connolly (“Because everybody who's anybody gets indicted”)

Top Ranked Firms in Other Categories and Sample Quote “Buzz” From Peer Firms:

Antitrust: Arnold & Porter (“Cerebral; Antitrust kings”)
Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights: Weil Gotshal (“Where else would you want to be during the great recession?”)
Clean Tech/Renewable Energy: Cooley LLP (“Silicon Valley player”)
Intellectual Property: Fish & Richardson (“Winners”)
International: White & Case (“The definition of ‘international’”)
Labor & Employment: Morgan Lewis (“Great employment group”)
Real Estate: Fried Frank (“Real estate bosses”)
Tax: Skadden (“Nothing will stop the Skadden machine”)

The Vault Practice Area Rankings have been released as part of a month-long rollout of the 2011 Vault Law 100 Rankings that began on July 20, 2010.  The rankings are considered the “bible” for law students, associates, partners and law firm recruiters, and a detailed perspective on the criteria considered by candidates when evaluating law firms.  

View the Complete Practice Area Rankings.

About Vault
Vault is the source for employer and university rankings, ratings and insight for highly credentialed, in-demand candidates.  Vault’s editorial mission is to provide the research required by candidates to evaluate professions, industries, educational pathways, and top companies.  Vault ratings and rankings inform candidates’ analysis of companies and allow direct comparison between potential employers in such high value industries as law, banking, consulting and accounting.  Vault’s customers include Fortune 1000 advertisers and recruiters, the country’s top universities and graduate schools—and 8 million consumers worldwide.


CONTACT:
Jon Minners
jminners@vault.com
646-792-6205