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 South Atlantic
King & Spalding LLP
After almost 140 years in Atlanta, King & Spalding is now a global firm with 23 offices in 10 countries and more than 1,300 attorneys. The firm counsels clients in many industries, including transportation, energy, financial services, food and beverage, higher education, technology, and life sciences and healthcare. Focusing on trial, regulatory, and transactional work, King & Spalding balances BigLaw with a social, congenial, and family-friendly culture.
SCORE 7.596
2024 Ranking
#3
Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird is home to more than 800 attorneys working in eight major practice areas, including in areas for which the firm is recognized, namely, healthcare, privacy & data security, real estate, and tax. The culture is friendly and mentorship is strong across the board. Pro bono work is a source of pride for associates, encouraged by firm leadership, and supported through high billable credit.
SCORE 7.522
2024 Ranking
#1
McGuireWoods
McGuireWoods, home to over 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices worldwide, is a full-service firm that provides legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients across a range of industries, including the banking and financial services, energy, healthcare, and private equity sectors. The firm is regularly recognized by BTI Consulting for client service and by The Financial Times for innovation. Associates have reported that McGuireWoods offers a welcoming environment where they are treated with respect by partners.
SCORE 7.097
2024 Ranking
#2
Moore & Van Allen PLLC
This Charlotte, NC, stalwart is one of the largest law firms in the Southeast and for the last decade and a half has been the only Charlotte-based law firm in the national top 100 in profits per partner. With more than 300 attorneys working out of only two offices—and 90 percent of those out of the Charlotte headquarters—Moore & Van Allen is a regional powerhouse.
SCORE 7.009
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 6.776
2024 Ranking
#5
Winston & Strawn LLP
Winston’s Midwestern roots are reflected in its top-to-bottom friendly culture despite its expansion to 10 domestic and 5 international offices. The firm is known for its work in middle-market private equity, intellectual property, labor and employment, renewable energy, sports law, and white collar expertise. Strong mentorship allows junior associates to develop skills on high-profile matters quickly, and robust wellness, diversity, and pro bono programs contribute to the overall Winston experience.
SCORE 6.541
2024 Ranking
#11
Mayer Brown LLP
Among the largest law firms in the world, Mayer Brown does it all. Among its standout practice is appellate litigation—through which the firm has argued more than 250 cases before the Supreme Court. The firm has a professional atmosphere where lawyers take control of their workload via the free market system. Pro bono work is a hallmark of Mayer Brown, as it was the first major law firm to develop and implement a pro bono strategic plan.
SCORE 6.453
2024 Ranking
#8
Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson is an AmLaw 100 firm with 31 offices across the U.S. and the U.K. The full-service firm has a wide variety of practice areas and over 1,100 attorneys, and while the firm has grown into a global powerhouse, it retains the core values from its founding, with an emphasis on personality, collegialtiy, and fit in hiring.
SCORE 6.412
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 6.351
2024 Ranking
#6
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Home to over 970 attorneys in over a dozen U.S. offices, Nelson Mullins is a powerhouse full-service firm with deep roots in the South. The firm handles over 100 different practice areas, and while they have some gripes about the compensation model, associates express near-total agreement with the firm’s sterling reputation for quality of work. The firm is also known for its commitment to pro bono work, with over 813,000 pro bono hours logged by firm attorneys since 1990.
SCORE 6.240
2024 Ranking
#12
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
Robinson Bradshaw is a growing firm of more than 170 attorneys, with four offices operating in and around North Carolina. Prospective associates are expected to work primarily from one of the firm’s offices, but those who do have a strong chance of making partner so long as they stick around (and that is what they want for their career). With no billable-hour requirement and with lockstep compensation, it’s no wonder Robinson Bradshaw stands out in career outlook, hours, satisfaction, associate/partner relations, and firm culture.
SCORE 6.214
2024 Ranking
#9
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Though Hunton Andrews Kurth did not take on its current form until 2018 after a major merger, the foundation of the firm was laid well before—in 1901. From this single office in Richmond, Virginia, the firm has blossomed into a legal giant with 18 offices and over 900 attorneys. It is known for its strength in the energy, financial services, real estate, and retail and consumer product industries.
SCORE 6.120
2024 Ranking
#16
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein L.L.P
A North Carolina staple, Parker Poe has been operating in the Tar Heel State since 1884, when it was founded by a future North Carolina Supreme Court justice. Now around 275 attorneys in eight regional offices, the firm represents many of the Southeast’s largest companies and local governments in transactions, regulatory issues, and complex litigation.
SCORE 6.093
2024 Ranking
#14
Holland & Knight LLP
Associates at Holland & Knight enjoy their work and appreciate their colleagues. The firm is a true pro bono leader, especially when it comes to its work supporting veterans. For those hoping to make partner, the firm provides a realistic pathway. The firm crosses state and national borders with approximately 2,200 attorneys spread across 34 locations. Holland & Knight has a laid-back culture but takes service to the community seriously.
SCORE 6.010
2024 Ranking
#15
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Cadwalader has traditionally been a place for talented associates to launch their careers. The firm offers early hands-on experience, access to elite clients, and endless career paths within and outside the firm. Associates appreciate the friendly, social culture, and the mentoring opportunities available while working at the firm.
SCORE 5.919
2024 Ranking
#7
Kilpatrick
With roots in Atlanta dating back to the 1800s and 22 global offices, Kilpatrick is a worldwide force in the legal arena. Specifically, it is a leader in intellectual property and IP litigation, with clients such as Google, Meta, and Amazon.com, and they take pride in helping companies protect their most prized assets. Associates are treated well and enjoy complex but interesting work.
SCORE 5.878
2024 Ranking
#13
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Don’t assume that Katten’s casual, friendly culture indicates a lack of challenging, interesting work for the firm’s nearly 700 attorneys. Associates across more than a dozen offices around the globe have plenty of opportunities for early hands-on experience. Associates value the firm’s strong support of pro bono work, as well as other perks.
SCORE 5.630
2024 Ranking
#17
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 5.364
2024 Ranking
#18
Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP
Smith Anderson is the largest business and litigation law firm in North Carolina’s Research Triangle region. Operating from a single Raleigh location, the firm’s more than 130 attorneys represent regional, national, and international companies ranging in size from large public companies to emerging growth businesses, with clients located in 23 countries and 43 U.S. states. Their practices include corporate, finance, government, health care, litigation, private client services, private equity, real estate, technology, and workplace law.
SCORE 5.011
2024 Ranking
#21
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Alabama-based, full-service law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings is a legal stronghold in the Southeastern U.S., with ten offices in six states and in Washington, DC. Its strategically located offices enable the firm to serve clients on a regional, national, and international level. Attorneys from the firm have represented clients like pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, country music singer Clint Black, and big banks Wachovia and Wells Fargo. The firm is dedicated to pro bono work and employs full-time pro bono counsel to help manage the program.
SCORE 5.000
2024 Ranking
#24
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP
With three offices in North Carolina, Brooks Pierce is a go-to law firm in the Tarheel state. Boasting a stand-out litigation practice, the firm is also known for its bankruptcy, corporate, employment, and environmental practices. The firm embraces a generalist model through which lawyers are not pinned down to one specific practice. The firm touts autonomy as one of its values and offers its lawyers freedom to explore practices and even change their focus over time.
SCORE 4.850
2024 Ranking
#19
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Operating out of a single office in Raleigh, NC, Wyrick Robbins advises clients in four main areas: business, commercial real estate, litigation, and wealth preservation. The firm’s transactional lawyers work with clients in such areas as banking, information technology, life sciences, private equity, and venture capital. In the litigation area, Wyrick Robbins has experience in appellate litigation, general commercial litigation, family law, government contracting, and labor and employment. The firm also has a busy commercial real estate department that covering development, environmental issues, financing, and land use and permits—among other areas.
SCORE 4.826
2024 Ranking
#22
Williams Mullen
Williams Mullen is a full-service law firm with more than 230 attorneys in offices across Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; and Washington, DC. Williams Mullen provides its clients with the sort of legal service that comes with its AmLaw 200 size, with fees that undercut its big city rivals. Its practice groups include corporate law, litigation, finance and real estate. In addition, the firm offers more specialized practices, including employee benefits & executive compensation, environmental law, intellectual property, government contracts, government relations, health care, intellectual property, labor & employment, tax law and white collar & investigations.
SCORE 4.625
2024 Ranking
#25
Poyner Spruill
Hailing from the land of sweet tea and NCAA hoops, Poyner Spruill is a North Carolina firm through and through, with four offices all located in the Tar Heel state. The firm practices across myriad areas, with particular strength in health care, employment law, and employee benefits. Among the industries that Poyner Spruill serves are banking, construction, entertainment, energy, fintech, food and beverage, government, health care, insurance, nonprofit, real estate development, and transportation.
SCORE 4.437
2024 Ranking
#23
Ellis & Winters LLP
Ellis & Winters' litigation team has handled a broad spectrum of matters, from pre-suit investigations and counseling through trial and appeal. The firm’s commercial real estate practice handles a similarly broad array of projects. These include purchases, sales, leases of all kinds, a variety of commercial loans, and numerous developments, including those that change city skylines.
SCORE 3.910
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
