The Top Five Law Firms for Appellate Litigation

According to the 2025 Annual Associate Survey, Vault’s Best Law Firms for Appellate Litigation practice are Williams & Connolly LLP; Gibson Dunn; Jones Day; Paul, Weiss; and Kirkland & Ellis.

Williams & Connolly LLP

Williams and Connolly is once again the No. 1 firm for Appellate Litigation in the 2025 Vault prestige rankings. The firm employs fewer than 500 attorneys, many of whom are former clerks. Hopeful candidates must meet rigorous criteria to land a position. In fact, the firm is in the No. 2 spot for Selectivity in Vault’s quality-of-life rankings. Attorneys who manage to join the team can expect a promising future: Vault ranks the firm No. 2 and No. 5 for Business Outlook and Career Outlook, respectively, and making partner at Williams & Connolly is a realistic goal. The firm also ranks in five other top 15 quality-of-life areas, indicating the desirability of being on the Williams & Connolly team. In addition its top Appellate Litigation ranking, Williams and Connolly takes four other top 15 positions in Vault’s practice area rankings: White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations (No. 3), General Commercial Litigation (No. 7), Antitrust (No. 12), and Products Liability (No. 13). Among the many elite law firms practicing in the Capitol City, Williams & Connolly earns the No. 2 position in Vault’s Washington, DC, regional rankings. Comprising a small group working in one location, attorneys at Williams & Connolly maintain a professional and collegial environment. They engage with a free market system of work distribution to find assignments that enable them to choose their own path at the firm. Moreover, they are entrusted to manage their own schedules without restrictions on work location or a billable hour requirement. In summary, litigators at Williams & Connolly hold highly coveted roles with the freedom to excel.

Gibson Dunn

Gibson Dunn is another highly selective firm with a free market assignment system that specializes in litigation and corporate matters. It is the No. 1 firm for Real Estate, No. 2 firm for Appellate Litigation, No. 3 firm for Antitrust, and No. 4 firm for General Commercial Litigation and White Collar Defense & Internal Investigation in Vault’s practice area rankings. It also places high (No. 4) in Vault’s Washington, DC, regional rankings, as well as in four other top five Vault-ranked regions: Mountain States (No. 1), Southern California (No. 2), and Texas (No. 5). It has established offices in 21 locations and employs 1,900 attorneys. Gibson Dunn lawyers set their own place and time for work, which helps in maintaining a relaxed and respectful firm culture. This favorable environment does not mean that Gibson Dunn attorneys work fewer hours than their peers. They put in as many as 200 hours per month for market rate compensation. The impact of their efforts is evident in 13 top 15 Vault prestige rankings and 11 top 25 Vault Best Law Firm to Work For rankings. Moreover, the success of Gibson Dunn attorneys qualifies them to move into positions in-house or in the government. Those who stay at the firm have a reasonable chance of making partner, and other long-term roles, such as counsel, are viable alternatives.

Jones Day

The megafirm Jones Day, with its 2,400 attorneys, captures the third spot in Vault’s Appellate Litigation rankings again in 2025. The firm holds 14 other top 20 spots in Vault’s practice area rankings. Notably, it holds the No. 4 spot for Products Liability and the No. 10 spot for Labor & Employment. The firm has offices in 40 locations (18 offices in the United States) and earns high placements in 11 of the 14 Vault-ranked regions, including the Midwest (No. 2), Atlanta (No. 3), Florida (No. 4), the Mid-Atlantic states (No. 4), and Chicago (No. 9). Founded in Ohio, the firm maintains its Midwestern roots by hiring smart, humble, and hardworking associates who contribute to its “one firm worldwide” ethos. Substantive work assignments from high-profile clients are distributed across offices. Therefore, office location does not hinder attorneys from engaging in matters from important clients or from receiving compensation aligned with large market rates. Partners at Jones Day help associates gain the skills needed to make partner, and those who choose another path can find it going to clients, the government, or other firms.

Paul, Weiss

Vault reports that Paul, Weiss has moved into the No. 4 position in its 2025 Appellate Litigation rankings. The firm has landed in eight other top 10 Vault practice area rankings, including top 5 rankings for White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations (No. 1), Bankruptcy/Restructuring (No. 3), and Securities Litigation (No. 5). Attorneys at Paul, Weiss work hard in a positive and professional environment. Associates receive regular training and assigned mentors, which help them develop the skills needed to be successful as 1 of the 1,000 outstanding lawyers working on substantive work in 10 offices (five U.S. locations). Because of the firm’s stellar reputation, Paul, Weiss attorneys can find many positions, including roles with clients, to practice law using the skills that they have honed at the firm. Attorneys who stay at the firm receive the high compensation, first-rate benefits, and wide range of pro bono opportunities that have made Paul, Weiss an attractive firm for job seekers. In addition, securing long-term roles, including partnership, is possible at Paul, Weiss.

Kirkland & Ellis

The No. 6 firm in the Vault Law 100 is the No. 5 firm in Vault’s Appellate Litigation rankings: Kirkland & Ellis. With 19 offices and 60 practice areas, Kirkland has been recognized in the following top 5 Vault prestige rankings:

• No. 1 for Banking & Financial Services, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, General Corporate Practice, Private Equity, and Products Liability.
• No. 2 for Energy, Oil & Gas; General Commercial Litigation; M&A; and Tax.
• No. 3 for Intellectual Property.
• No. 4 for Antitrust and Real Estate.
• No. 5 for Appellate Litigation, Environmental Law, and Securities/Capital Markets.

The firm also boasts an impressive list of six top 5 Vault regional rankings. The 3,500 attorneys at Kirkland acquire top of the market (or higher) compensation, work that is appropriate for one’s experience level, and formal training. Notably, litigators participate in Kirkland Institute of Trial Advocacy and Kirkland Institute of Pretrial Practice to learn from experienced trial attorneys. Attorneys enjoy firm-and practice-sponsored events and a professional day-to-day environment. They can look forward to maintaining a relationship with the firm as “colleagues for life” even if they take advantage of the many excellent exit opportunities available to them. Those who stay at the firm can expect to make non-equity partner, but equity partnership is not a realistic goal for most associates.

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Top-notch litigation experience is important for aspiring trial attorneys. The firms that Vault ranks among the best for Appellate Litigation provide experiences that contribute to a strong career. They differ in significant ways, however. Therefore, lawyers seeking a firm that best fits their circumstances are encouraged to evaluate each shop with respect to work allocation, hiring practices, potential for advancement, and firm culture. They can find these facts and additional information, including associate comments about important quality-of-life aspects of the firm, in Vault’s firm profiles.

In addition, lawyers are encouraged to consult the profiles of other firms ranked by Vault for Appellate and other litigation practices, such as those in Vault’s Intellectual Property and Securities Litigation rankings. Lawyers looking for a midsize or small firm that specializes in litigation should look at Vault’s ranking of 25 Litigation Specialty firms. Attorneys and law students will find Vault’s Practice Area, Regional, and Summer Program Resource Centers helpful in their search for the perfect workplace situation.

Best of luck on your legal job search from all of us at Vault Law!