Best Law Firms by Region
Associates rate the reputations of peer firms in their own regions. These rankings reveal the most prestigious law firms by region across the U.S. Vault's 2025 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from January 2024 through March 2024.
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2025 Best Law Firms in the Mid-Atlantic
Skadden
With practices from M&A to tax, Skadden is a legal powerhouse and mainstay among the most prestigious firms in Vault’s Top 100 ranking. Skadden lawyers are a social bunch who value teamwork and mentorship, and they dive headfirst into complex matters. From New York to Hong Kong, the Skadden name is known worldwide, with nearly 1,700 attorneys across eight U.S. offices and 13 international offices. Exit opportunities are endless for Skadden attorneys due to the firm’s strong alumni network and prestigious name. Attorneys are committed to pro bono work and are encouraged from day one to find a pro bono matter that sparks their interest to benefit the community.
SCORE 8.427
2024 Ranking
#1
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
A top firm for labor and employment work, Morgan Lewis has an expansive worldwide reach across 30+ offices. The firm attracts those who want to give back via pro bono work—20 hours are required for bonus eligibility—and who are seeking a nonhierarchical culture with ample transparency. Boasting an army of over 2,000 attorneys nationwide and worldwide, Morgan Lewis provides a wealth of opportunities to work on diverse and high-stakes matters in the firm’s core practice areas.
SCORE 7.614
2024 Ranking
#2
Dechert
Dechert is a global firm, but its collegial culture seems to create a sense of close community. The firm encourages attorneys to participate in firm citizenship in addition to billable work, offering a STARS award, which includes a bonus, for contributions related to teaching, diversity, and innovation. Dechert is recognized as one of the best law firms for pro bono work, with many hours contributed every year and for which accolades have been conferred.
SCORE 7.380
2024 Ranking
#3
Jones Day
With a Midwestern culture of collegiality and teamwork, Jones Day is among the best of the best in the legal industry. Home to more than 2,400 attorneys in dozens of worldwide offices, clients can call upon its vast resources and exceptional legal talent across jurisdictions and practice areas. Associates love the interesting work, friendly culture, and commitment to pro bono service.
SCORE 7.063
2024 Ranking
#4
K&L Gates LLP
At K&L Gates, the firm’s nearly 2,000 attorneys tackle sophisticated issues for high-caliber clients in a supportive environment. A free market assignment system allows associates to exercise control over their workload, and more-senior attorneys serve as willing mentors.
SCORE 6.784
2024 Ranking
#6
Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith LLP is the perfect fit for associates who want to take on challenging legal work in a laid-back, welcoming environment. Partners are active mentors, and on-the-job training is supplemented with courses through the firm’s learning and development programs. The social sphere encompasses all 13 international offices and 18 domestic offices, and attorneys work side-by-side regardless of their locations. Reed Smith takes the responsibility of advising some of the largest companies in the world.
SCORE 6.610
2024 Ranking
#5
Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells is home to over 2,800 lawyers working across more than 45 offices. The firm focuses on three major practices: corporate and finance; litigation, arbitration and employment; and global regulatory and intellectual property. It is particularly well-known for its privacy work and its high-profile pro bono matters. Lawyers who enjoy a collegial, collaborative culture and have a strong desire to give back through pro bono fit well into the firm.
SCORE 6.596
2024 Ranking
#8
Ballard Spahr
With deep roots in Philly, Ballard Spahr has made its mark across the United States with 15 offices. The firm has a particularly robust litigation practice and has been lauded for its focus on innovation. The firm attracts friendly, outgoing types who are supportive of their colleagues and enjoy socializing.
SCORE 6.564
2024 Ranking
#7
Blank Rome LLP
Blank Rome has its roots in Philadelphia, but its reach is nationwide and even global. Among the firm’s 16 practice groups, Blank Rome has lent its legal expertise to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and everything in between. Associates aren’t without support in tackling high-stakes matters—the firm’s Career Development Advisor program ensures attorneys advance in their professional growth at every stage of their career.
SCORE 6.340
2024 Ranking
#9
Duane Morris LLP
Duane Morris has evolved into a legal powerhouse since its doors opened more than a century ago. Although its roots are in Philadelphia, the firm has a global reach via offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Despite the firm’s rapid expansion into new markets, Duane Morris hasn’t wavered from upholding its core values and maintaining a collaborative culture. Moreover, the strategies used to maintain these virtues have been articulated in case studies used at the Harvard Business School.
SCORE 6.291
2024 Ranking
#10
Troutman Pepper
Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton combined a century’s worth of legal expertise to form Troutman Pepper. The merger allowed the firm to expand its geographic presence and strengthen its focus on the firm’s key practice areas—energy, financial services, health sciences, private equity, and insurance. Attorney development is a priority of the firm, and numerous formal and informal trainings ensure that the firm maintains its innovative and client-valued services.
SCORE 6.277
2024 Ranking
#11
Faegre Drinker
Faegre Drinker, established only recently, in 2020, has roots in law firms founded in the mid-1800s. The firm has undergone a series of combinations, and is now an international firm with 1,200 attorneys and consulting professionals licensed in nearly every state in the United States and offices in London and Shanghai. It provides a full range of transactional, litigation, and regulatory services. Associates are taught extensively by partners, and they appreciate the firm's commitment to pro bono work.
SCORE 6.245
2024 Ranking
#12
Fox Rothschild
With an eye toward continuous growth, Fox Rothschild has been steadily expanding over the years. With nearly 1,000 attorneys across 30 U.S.-based offices, the firm has established niche areas, including cannabis and media and entertainment. The firm gives its attorneys independence and flexibility, creating a top-notch work-life balance and respectful atmosphere. Associates looking for a firm with which to grow long term should look no further than Fox Rothschild.
SCORE 5.904
2024 Ranking
#14
Cozen O'Connor
At Cozen O’Connor, attorneys get to tackle exciting legal challenges while maintaining a life outside of work. Associates appreciate the autonomy they are given to do their jobs and the responsibility they are given early in their careers.
SCORE 5.883
2024 Ranking
#13
Venable LLP
Founded in Baltimore in 1900, Venable has expanded geographically to 10 domestic offices and professionally to 850 attorneys. The firm provides a full range of legal services, including regulatory, legislative, and government affairs through its Beltway and Baltimore offices. Many notable past and current elected officials have worked at Venable. Attorneys enjoy the work-life balance promoted by the firm culture and office social life.
SCORE 5.672
2024 Ranking
#17
Richards, Layton & Finger
Richards, Layton & Finger, Delaware’s largest law firm and one of its oldest, has been committed from its founding to helping sophisticated clients navigate complex issues and the intricacies of Delaware law. The firm advises Fortune 500 companies, global law firms, financial institutions, hedge funds, venture capital firms, local businesses, and prominent individuals on Delaware law issues.
SCORE 5.630
2024 Ranking
#16
Dentons
As a global giant, Dentons provides a plethora of opportunities for associates to develop their legal careers. Meaningful mentorship complements early responsibility, and many associates envision long-term careers at the firm. The Dentons culture is supportive and social, and associates work hard but feel that their life outside the firm is respected.
SCORE 5.607
2024 Ranking
#25
Saul Ewing LLP
Saul Ewing is a full-service, nationwide law firm of 400-plus attorneys with roots in the Mid-Atlantic. The firm’s practices include litigation, corporate, bankruptcy and restructuring, real estate, higher education, insurance, energy and public utilities, environmental, labor and employment, and public finance. Saul Ewing’s attorneys regularly handle significant matters for clients in industries like pharmaceutical and healthcare; food, beverage, and agribusiness; cannabis; real estate; higher education; retail; insurance; and technology.
SCORE 5.575
2024 Ranking
#15
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
The second-largest law firm in Delaware, Young Conaway's status as a leading bankruptcy, corporate counseling, and litigation firm transcends its small state and draws local, national, and international clients from corporations, state governments, stockholders, and individuals. While it is best known for bankruptcy, it isn’t the firm’s only forte. Young Conaway has a strong corporate litigation and counseling practice focused on serving directors, officers, and other fiduciaries. The firm is also home to a busy intellectual property litigation practice, as well as a general litigation and trial practice. Among the disputes the firm handles are general commercial, insurance, environmental, mass torts, and securities litigation.
SCORE 5.389
2024 Ranking
#19
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler is a full-service law firm, with over 300 attorneys in nearly 50 practice areas. Founded in New Jersey, the firm now has five offices across the U.S. Associates report challenging but satisfying work, and they are overwhelmingly pleased with various aspects of working here, from the culture to the work-life balance. Of particular note is the firm’s real commitment to pro bono work, which associates report is genuine.
SCORE 5.094
2024 Ranking
#23
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is full service but known for its strengths in the energy, finance, health care, and life science industries. Its high-octane client list includes fifty Fortune 100s and big names in sports—like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates. The first also has a government relations group that, in addition to lobbying, assists clients in matters like strategic planning, issues development and monitoring, appropriations and procurement, business development, and coalition-building.
SCORE 5.047
2024 Ranking
#20
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
From its single office in Delaware, Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell represents clients nationwide in corporate, commercial, intellectual property, and bankruptcy matters. The firm remains local to Delaware clients with its practices in bankruptcy; general business; trusts, estate, and tax planning; and real estate. Though its geographic span is small, Morris Nichols has a pro bono practice that runs deep in its local community. The firm supports numerous Delaware organizations including Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Delaware Special Olympics, and Goodwill of Delaware.
SCORE 5.028
2024 Ranking
#18
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
As one of the oldest firms in the country, Delaware firm Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP has been involved in historic and influential cases since its inception. Operating from only one office, it continues to serve corporate heavyweight clients locally, nationally, and internationally, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies. Potter Anderson has a deep connection to the history-making case Brown v. Board of Education, and its work on the case extended well beyond the 1950s.
SCORE 4.990
2024 Ranking
#22
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Intellectual property is the name of the game at Fish & Richardson, so be prepared to show off your technical or science background during interviews. Founded in 1878 and home to over 360 attorneys, the firm is home to busy associates who are treated to a great culture, top-notch IP work, and high levels of flexibility. Fish & Richardson hires candidates with the expectation that they will climb the ranks, offering a clear path to partnership for anyone willing to put in the work.
SCORE 4.902
2024 Ranking
#27
McCarter & English, LLP
Founded as a small-town, one-lawyer practice in the Garden State more than 175 years ago, McCarter & English is one of New Jersey’s oldest law firms, and one of its largest. The firm has grown—both organically and strategically—to around 400 lawyers in 10 offices on the East Coast, including offices in Delaware; Massachusetts; New York; Pennsylvania; Connecticut; and Washington, DC. McCarter has been focused on serving innovative clients since it was founded in 1865 by Thomas Nesbitt McCarter.
SCORE 4.879
2024 Ranking
#21
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Home to around 200 lawyers, Stradley Ronon is a BigLaw shop with what the firm describes as a “small-firm atmosphere.” The firm is headquartered in Philadelphia, but its reach is wide, with an additional seven offices across the U.S. Stradley Ronon offers a range of practices but is most well known for its bankruptcy, investment fund, and litigation work. The firm also makes pro bono a priority, partnering with numerous organizations to donate legal services.
SCORE 4.855
2024 Ranking
#24
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Based in Philadelphia, Dilworth Paxson is a full-service East Coast firm that operates with a multi-disciplinary approach, serving clients in the automotive, biotechnology, construction, education, energy, family office, financial services, infrastructure, insurance, manufacturing, media, and transportation industries. With practices in nearly every major legal arena from antitrust and healthcare law to real estate and tax law, the firm has served clients ranging from individual entrepreneurs and investors to big-name companies like Dow Chemical Company.
SCORE 4.669
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Labor and employment law is Littler Mendelson’s forte, and it dominates on an international scale. The firm has a massive footprint, with more than 1,500 attorneys across 58 offices nationwide and 36 abroad. Littler exclusively represents management, but its clients come in all sizes and industries, from Fortune 500 corporations to small, single-office businesses. The firm has also received a number of awards for its diversity initiatives and is known for offering its clients innovative solutions.
SCORE 4.663
2024 Ranking
#26
White & Williams
White and Williams LLP is a global-reaching, full-service law firm committed to developing and maintaining long-lasting partnerships with their clients. They represent public and private companies across a wide spectrum of industries including education, energy generation and distribution, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, private equity/venture capital, commercial real estate and technology.
SCORE 4.650
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Day Pitney LLP
Day Pitney has the East Coast covered, with 13 offices from New York to Florida. The firm focuses on the following eight “core” industries: energy and utilities, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, intellectual property and technology, family office practice, real estate and environmental, and tax-exempt organizations and charitable giving. Pro bono is engrained in the Day Pitney culture, as evidenced by the firm’s involvement with many local and nationwide initiatives and organizations.
SCORE 4.627
2024 Ranking
#30
