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The 9 Best Law Firms in New York City (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 9 picks

The best law firms in New York City in 2026 are the elite Manhattan-headquartered firms: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for M&A, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Sullivan & Cromwell, Davis Polk, Simpson Thacher and Paul, Weiss. These firms advise major companies and financial institutions; for personal legal matters, see our guides to specialist NYC lawyers.

This guide is about the city's leading corporate law firms — the ones that advise on the largest deals, disputes and financings in the world. If you need a lawyer for an apartment purchase, a visa or a family matter, our specialist guides are a better place to start: real estate lawyers and immigration lawyers.

1. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz — Midtown (West 52nd Street), Manhattan

The M&A firm — small by big-law standards, and the most profitable per partner.

Specialty Mergers and acquisitions, takeover defense, corporate governanceBest for Public companies and boards

Wachtell Lipton was founded in 1965 and is famous for operating out of a single office in Midtown Manhattan, with far fewer lawyers than its peers. It is the firm boards call in a hostile takeover — it created the 'poison pill' defense in the 1980s — and it consistently tops the industry's profits-per-partner tables.

Its practice is concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, takeover defense, corporate governance, restructuring and high-stakes litigation.

Website

2. Cravath, Swaine & Moore — Hudson Yards, Manhattan

The original 'Cravath system' firm, dating back to 1819.

Specialty Corporate, litigation, tax, executive compensationBest for Major corporations and financial institutions

Cravath traces its roots to 1819 and gave its name to the 'Cravath system' of recruiting, training and promoting lawyers that shaped how elite American law firms work. It is known for M&A, securities and high-stakes litigation.

It moved its headquarters from Midtown to Hudson Yards in recent years, and it remains one of the most prestigious names in the profession.

Website

3. Sullivan & Cromwell — Financial District (Broad Street), Manhattan

Wall Street's law firm since 1879, a leader in banking and financial institutions work.

Specialty M&A, financial institutions, capital markets, litigationBest for Banks, financial institutions and multinational corporations

Sullivan & Cromwell was founded in 1879 and is still headquartered downtown on Broad Street, steps from the New York Stock Exchange. It is especially strong in financial institutions and banking work, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets.

It is regularly involved in many of the largest corporate transactions and regulatory matters in the world.

Website

4. Davis Polk & Wardwell — Midtown (Lexington Avenue), Manhattan

A capital-markets powerhouse with a history going back to 1849.

Specialty Capital markets, M&A, finance, litigationBest for Corporations, investment banks and financial institutions

Davis Polk dates back to 1849 and is known above all for capital markets — IPOs and securities offerings — as well as financial regulation, mergers and acquisitions and litigation. It represents both issuers and the investment banks that underwrite their offerings.

Its headquarters is on Lexington Avenue in Midtown.

Website

5. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett — Midtown (Lexington Avenue), Manhattan

The firm private equity runs on — founded in 1884.

Specialty Private equity, M&A, banking and credit, litigationBest for Private equity sponsors, corporations and lenders

Simpson Thacher was founded in 1884 and is particularly identified with private equity, representing many of the largest buyout firms on their acquisitions and fund formation, as well as banks on leveraged finance.

It is also a leading firm for M&A and litigation, and its headquarters is on Lexington Avenue in Midtown.

Website

6. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison — Midtown (Avenue of the Americas), Manhattan

A litigation and deals heavyweight with a long tradition of public-interest work.

Specialty Litigation, M&A, private equity, restructuringBest for Corporations, private equity firms and individuals in high-stakes matters

Paul, Weiss traces its history to 1875 and is known for both high-profile litigation and major transactions, including a large private equity practice built over the past decade.

Its headquarters is on Avenue of the Americas in Midtown.

Website

7. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — Hudson Yards, Manhattan

The firm that turned M&A into big business, now one of the largest law firms in the world.

Specialty M&A, litigation, regulatory, nearly every corporate practiceBest for Corporations and financial institutions worldwide

Skadden was founded in 1948 and rose to prominence on the wave of takeover battles in the 1970s and 1980s. Today it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world, with offices on several continents.

Its New York headquarters is at Hudson Yards.

Website

8. Debevoise & Plimpton — Hudson Yards, Manhattan

A refined white-shoe firm known for insurance, private equity and investigations.

Specialty Private equity, insurance, white-collar and investigations, arbitrationBest for Corporations, funds and insurers

Debevoise & Plimpton was founded in 1931 and is known for private equity, insurance, international arbitration and white-collar defense and investigations.

It relocated its New York headquarters to Hudson Yards.

Website

9. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton — Financial District, Manhattan

The most international of the New York elite, founded in 1946.

Specialty Cross-border M&A, sovereign debt, antitrust, capital marketsBest for Multinational companies, banks and governments

Cleary Gottlieb was founded in 1946 and opened in Paris within a few years, and its international outlook still defines it: it is a leading adviser on sovereign debt, cross-border transactions and antitrust matters on both sides of the Atlantic.

Its New York headquarters is in Lower Manhattan.

Website

Frequently asked questions

What are the 'white shoe' law firms?

'White shoe' is an old nickname for the long-established, elite law firms of New York — historically associated with Wall Street and the Ivy League. Today it loosely describes the top Manhattan corporate firms such as Cravath, Sullivan & Cromwell, Davis Polk, Simpson Thacher and Debevoise & Plimpton.

Will a top Manhattan law firm take an individual client?

Occasionally, for very large matters, but these firms are built to serve corporations, banks, funds and governments, and their hourly rates reflect that. For personal matters — buying property, immigration, divorce, wills — a specialist or boutique firm is almost always the better fit.

How do I check a New York lawyer's license?

Every attorney admitted in New York can be looked up on the New York State Unified Court System's attorney search, which shows their admission date and registration status.

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