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NYSE Governance Services (NYSE:ICE), a leading provider of corporate governance, risk, ethics and compliance services for public and privately held companies along with FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced the results of the 15th Annual America’s Best Corporate Law Firms Study, a comprehensive ranking by U.S. corporate directors and general counsel of the top 25 corporate law firms.
New York’s Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP received the top ranking among corporate directors, a position it has held since the first survey in 2001. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz also maintained its top ranking among general counsel, a position it’s held since 2013. Both Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Director ranking: 10) and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (General Counsel ranking: 14) jumped considerably from prior years’ rankings and several previously unranked firms made new appearances to this year’s lists.
“FTI Consulting salutes each of the law firms recognized for the outstanding service they deliver and the reputations they have established,” said Neal Hochberg, Global Leader of the Forensic & Litigation Consulting segment of FTI Consulting. “These rankings are particularly noteworthy because they come from corporate directors and general counsel, and join them in congratulating the honorees on their exceptional achievements.”
"Boards and general counsel have increasingly stressed the advisory role of corporate law firms as invaluable legal resources to public companies,” said Stacey Cunningham, President, NYSE Governance Services. “As a reputable source of information in the GRC space, we are proud to offer the most trusted survey of the industry leaders.”
America’s Best Corporate Law Firms reflects the views of more than 500 participating directors and general counsel of publicly traded companies. Conducted from February to April 2015, the survey was a part of NYSE Governance Services’ Annual Law in the Boardroom Study, which asks directors and general counsel of U.S. publicly traded companies to weigh in on current governance and legal matters.
2015 National Law Firm – Directors’ Rankings (with 2014 rankings in parentheses)
| 1. | SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP (1) | |
| 2. | JONES DAY (3) | |
| 3. | WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ (2) | |
| 4. | SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP (4) | |
| 5. | CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP (6) | |
| 6. | LATHAM & WATKINS LLP (5) | |
| 7. | DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP (7) | |
| 8. | GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP (9) | |
| 9. | BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP (8) | |
| 10. | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP (17) | |
| 11. | WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI (10) | |
| 12. | KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP (13) | |
| 13. | WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP (16) | |
| 14. | SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP (12) | |
| 15. | BAKER BOTTS LLP (-) | |
| 16. | GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP (-) | |
| 17. | PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP (14) | |
| 18. | SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP (11) | |
| 19. | WHITE & CASE LLP (19) | |
| 20. | SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP (18) | |
| 21. | VINSON & ELKINS LLP (25) | |
| 22. | DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP (-) | |
| 23. | FOLEY & LARDNER LLP (25) | |
| 24. | FOLEY HOAG LLP (-) | |
|
25. |
KING & SPALDING LLP (15) |
Source: NYSE Governance Services/FTI Consulting, America’s Best Corporate Law Firms, 2015
2015 National Law Firms – General Counsel Rankings (with 2014 rankings in parentheses)
| 1. | WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ (1) | |
| 2. | LATHAM & WATKINS LLP (4) | |
| 3. | JONES DAY (3) | |
| 4. | SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP (6) | |
| 5. | SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP (2) | |
| 6. | SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP (7) | |
| 7. | DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP (8) | |
| 8. | GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP (5) | |
| 9. | BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP (9) | |
| 10. | DLA PIPER LLP (11) | |
| 11. | COVINGTON & BURLING LLP (-) | |
| 12. | CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP (17) | |
| 13. | KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP (14) | |
| 14. | WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI (22) | |
| 15. | SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP (15) | |
| 16. | MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP (12) | |
| 17. | MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP (16) | |
| 18. | WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP (25) | |
| 19. | PERKINS COIE LLP (-) | |
| 20. | NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT LLP (18) | |
| 21. | FOLEY HOAG LLP (-) | |
| 22. | KING & SPALDING LLP (20) | |
| 23. | LITTLER MENDELSON P.C. (24) | |
| 24. | HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP (-) | |
| 25. | (tie) GOODWIN PROCTER LLP (21) | |
| (tie) O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP (-) | ||
| (tie) REED SMITH LLP (10) |
Source: NYSE Governance Services/FTI Consulting, America’s Best Corporate Law Firms, 2015
NYSE Governance Service and FTI Consulting hosted the eighth annual Legal Recognition Dinner at the New York Stock Exchange on May 12, 2015. The event, sponsored by Georgeson, Computershare and Second City Works, honored distinguished general counsel and the top 25 national corporate law firms as identified by board members and general counsel in the 2015 survey.
