Chicago firm hierarchy Forum

[Anonymous User]

Corporate
1. Kirkland
**big gap**
2. Sidley/Latham
4. Skadden/Winston
**gap**
6. McDermott/Katten/Greenberg
9. Mayer Brown/Jones Day

Litigation
1.Bartlit Beck
**big gap**
2. Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner
5. Winston/Mayer Brown/Jones Day
8. Eimer Stahl/Riley Safer

I work at one of these firms and this seems right to me.

Would love to see such a clear hierarchy with NYC and LA firms

[Anonymous User]

Corporate
1. Kirkland
**big gap**
2. Sidley/Latham
4. Skadden/Winston
**gap**
6. McDermott/Katten/Greenberg
9. Mayer Brown/Jones Day

Litigation
1.Bartlit Beck
**big gap**
2. Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner
5. Winston/Mayer Brown/Jones Day
8. Eimer Stahl/Riley Safer

I work at one of these firms and this seems right to me.

Would love to see such a clear hierarchy with NYC and LA firms

At least for NYC corporate, there is just too much variance across the different practice groups to say any sort of concrete hierarchy

[Anonymous User]

Anon because of small hiring pool — would love to hear thoughts on Goldman Ismail.

[Anonymous User]

Corporate
1. Kirkland
**big gap**
2. Sidley/Latham
4. Skadden/Winston
**gap**
6. McDermott/Katten/Greenberg
9. Mayer Brown/Jones Day

Litigation
1.Bartlit Beck
**big gap**
2. Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner
5. Winston/Mayer Brown/Jones Day
8. Eimer Stahl/Riley Safer

I work at one of these firms and this seems right to me.

Would love to see such a clear hierarchy with NYC and LA firms

At least for NYC corporate, there is just too much variance across the different practice groups to say any sort of concrete hierarchy

Yeah this list is laughably bad—definitely from a law student or junior with no real sense. A better list would be practice group specific but even if you were to do a general list this is way off.

[Anonymous User]

Corporate
1. Kirkland
**big gap**
2. Sidley/Latham
4. Skadden/Winston
**gap**
6. McDermott/Katten/Greenberg
9. Mayer Brown/Jones Day

Litigation
1.Bartlit Beck
**big gap**
2. Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner
5. Winston/Mayer Brown/Jones Day
8. Eimer Stahl/Riley Safer

I work at one of these firms and this seems right to me.

Would love to see such a clear hierarchy with NYC and LA firms

At least for NYC corporate, there is just too much variance across the different practice groups to say any sort of concrete hierarchy

Yeah this list is laughably bad—definitely from a law student or junior with no real sense. A better list would be practice group specific but even if you were to do a general list this is way off.

Wdym? This is an accurate Chicago list (obviously, it makes no sense for NY offices of these firms).

Sure, there's practice area strengths/weaknesses - for instance, Sidley & Mayer Brown clearly have better securities litigation teams in Chicago than Kirkland does, and Mayer Brown has very specific corporate groups that are competitive at the top of the market, but those specifics aside the list is solid.

I guess the list leaves out strong lit & wc boutiques and places like Barack F. but at that point you're nitpicking.

[Anonymous User]

Corporate
1. Kirkland
**big gap**
2. Sidley/Latham
4. Skadden/Winston
**gap**
6. McDermott/Katten/Greenberg
9. Mayer Brown/Jones Day

Litigation
1.Bartlit Beck
**big gap**
2. Kirkland/Sidley/Jenner
5. Winston/Mayer Brown/Jones Day
8. Eimer Stahl/Riley Safer

I work at one of these firms and this seems right to me.

Would love to see such a clear hierarchy with NYC and LA firms

At least for NYC corporate, there is just too much variance across the different practice groups to say any sort of concrete hierarchy

Yeah this list is laughably bad—definitely from a law student or junior with no real sense. A better list would be practice group specific but even if you were to do a general list this is way off.

Wdym? This is an accurate Chicago list (obviously, it makes no sense for NY offices of these firms).

Sure, there's practice area strengths/weaknesses - for instance, Sidley & Mayer Brown clearly have better securities litigation teams in Chicago than Kirkland does, and Mayer Brown has very specific corporate groups that are competitive at the top of the market, but those specifics aside the list is solid.

I guess the list leaves out strong lit & wc boutiques and places like Barack F. but at that point you're nitpicking.

Agree. Solid list. I'd put Mayer above Katten/Jones Day/McDermott for corporate though. Their finance practice is one of the largest and one of the more well-respected in-industry, particularly in Chicago, where they have like 200+ finance attorneys.