Top law firms in major disputes
A live ranking of law firms appearing in the TopDisputes index, combining the number of recorded matters with their size.
- 1 Latham & Watkins 12.46
- 2 Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan 12.43
- 3 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein 9.04
- 4 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 8.45
- 5 Williams & Connolly 8.27
- 6 Covington & Burling 6.71
- 7 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher 6.41
- 8 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom 6.02
- 9 Cravath, Swaine & Moore 6.00
- 10 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP 5.66
The chart stays fixed when you filter or sort the table.
| 1 | 12.46 | 7 | $122.1B | 3 / 7 | |
| 2 | 12.43 | 5 | $81.6B | 4 / 5 | |
| 3 | 9.04 | 4 | $38.1B | 3 / 4 | |
| 4 | 8.45 | 4 | $13.9B | 3 / 4 | |
| 5 | 8.27 | 5 | $26.8B | 2 / 5 | |
| 6 | 6.71 | 3 | $22.1B | 2 / 3 | |
| 7 | 6.41 | 4 | $3B | 2 / 4 | |
| 8 | 6.02 | 3 | $7.3B | 2 / 3 | |
| 9 | 6.00 | 4 | $110B | 1 / 4 | |
| 10 | 5.66 | 2 | $51.5B | 2 / 2 | |
| 11 | 5.27 | 2 | $66.8B | 2 / 2 | |
| 12 | 5.09 | 2 | $10B | 2 / 2 | |
| 13 | 4.00 | 2 | $150B | 1 / 2 | |
| 14 | 4.00 | 2 | $110B | 1 / 2 | |
| 15 | 4.00 | 2 | $17.1B | 1 / 2 | |
| 16 | 4.00 | 2 | $17.1B | 1 / 2 | |
| 17 | 3.96 | 2 | $9.1B | 1 / 2 | |
| 18 | 3.77 | 2 | $5.5B | 2 / 2 | |
| 19 | 3.49 | 2 | $3B | 1 / 2 | |
| 20 | 3.49 | 2 | $3B | 1 / 2 | |
| 21 | 3.02 | 3 | $4.4M | 1 / 3 | |
| 22 | 3.00 | 3 | — | 0 / 3 | |
| 23 | 3.00 | 1 | $150B | 1 / 1 | |
| 24 | 3.00 | 1 | $150B | 1 / 1 | |
| 25 | 3.00 | 1 | $65B | 1 / 1 | |
| 26 | 3.00 | 1 | $47B | 1 / 1 | |
| 27 | 3.00 | 1 | $25B | 1 / 1 | |
| 28 | 3.00 | 1 | $25B | 1 / 1 | |
| 29 | 3.00 | 1 | $25B | 1 / 1 | |
| 30 | 3.00 | 1 | $21B | 1 / 1 | |
| 31 | 3.00 | 1 | $18B | 1 / 1 | |
| 32 | 3.00 | 1 | $18B | 1 / 1 | |
| 33 | 3.00 | 1 | $17B | 1 / 1 | |
| 34 | 3.00 | 1 | $16.1B | 1 / 1 | |
| 35 | 3.00 | 1 | $14B | 1 / 1 | |
| 36 | 3.00 | 1 | $14B | 1 / 1 | |
| 37 | 3.00 | 1 | $14B | 1 / 1 | |
| 38 | 3.00 | 1 | $11B | 1 / 1 | |
| 39 | 3.00 | 1 | $11B | 1 / 1 | |
| 40 | 3.00 | 1 | $10.1B | 1 / 1 | |
| 41 | 3.00 | 1 | $10.1B | 1 / 1 | |
| 42 | 2.94 | 1 | $8.7B | 1 / 1 | |
| 43 | 2.75 | 1 | $5.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 44 | 2.75 | 1 | $5.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 45 | 2.67 | 1 | $4.6B | 1 / 1 | |
| 46 | 2.66 | 1 | $4.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 47 | 2.66 | 1 | $4.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 48 | 2.66 | 1 | $4.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 49 | 2.66 | 1 | $4.5B | 1 / 1 | |
| 50 | 2.66 | 1 | $4.5B | 1 / 1 |
No firms match your search.
HOW THE RANKING WORKS
The ranking uses the same published, live cases as the main TopDisputes index. Cases in “Previously” and unpublished drafts are excluded. Every eligible law firm recorded as counsel receives one contribution per case, even if it appears more than once in that case’s record. Each co-counsel firm receives full credit.
The table shows the top 50 firms by score. Search and sorting apply to these firms. Firms enter or leave the top 50 automatically as the live case records change.
A case contributes 1 base point, plus a logarithmic bonus for its recorded numeric USD value. The bonus is capped at 2 points so one very large case cannot dominate the ranking. A missing, undisclosed, invalid or nonpositive amount receives the base contribution only.
Firm score = Σ [1 + min(2, log10(1 + V / 100,000,000))]
V is the case’s recorded USD value. The formula and cap are editorial choices, not an empirically validated measure of firm quality.
A firm’s score is the sum of its case contributions. These examples use the same calculation as the ranking:
- Undisclosed
- 1.00 points
- $100M
- 1.30 points
- $1B
- 2.04 points
- $10B or more
- 3.00 points
Firms are ordered by score, then case count, then total recorded case value, and finally firm name. Calculations and sorting use full precision; displayed scores are rounded to two decimal places. The rank shown remains the overall rank when you filter or sort the table.
“Recorded case value” adds the positive numeric USD amounts recorded for a firm’s cases. These figures are approximate and can represent claims, awards, fines or other measures at different stages of a dispute. They are not necessarily recoveries. “Valued cases” shows how many of the firm’s cases have a usable recorded amount.
Because every co-counsel firm receives full credit, firm totals overlap. Do not add them together as a measure of the market. Firm names and aliases are normalized, and non-firm entries such as government agencies are excluded. Missing or incomplete counsel records can affect the results.
This measures recorded participation in a curated set of major disputes. It does not measure legal ability, wins, client satisfaction or market share. The ranking changes as cases and their records change. To report missing counsel or a correction, use “Suggest an edit” on the relevant case page.