Corporate/M&A: The Elite | USA

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is an esteemed New York practice with a rich history of advising on complex and high-value transactions. The firm is considered to be a go-to firm for complex domestic and international M&A across multiple industries, including media, energy and finance. The corporate team is sought after by significant public and private companies and their boards. The firm's skilled practitioners handle the full spectrum of deal work, including divestitures, spinoffs and joint ventures.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is a well-known firm with an established reputation in the corporate/M&A field. The firm regularly handles high-profile domestic and cross-border transactions for major clients in the energy, pharmaceutical, finance and defense industries, among others. The corporate team is experienced at handling public and private deals, private equity transactions and joint ventures and works closely with a host of complementary teams, including the firm's nationally recognized banking and finance, antitrust and tax practices.

Kirkland & Ellis is an established practice, held in high regard for its expertise on high-end national and international public M&A work. The corporate group handles matters from a range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, energy and others. The firm provides a comprehensive service, supported by departments such as tax, antitrust, finance and intellectual property.

Latham & Watkins LLP is a strong choice for transactional matters across the US, with an equally extensive footprint around the globe. The corporate team frequently represents preeminent names from a range of industries on high-value and complex corporate matters, with particular strength in M&A, private equity and venture capital. The team is also experienced in advising boards of directors and special committees.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is an excellent practice known for both its strength in private equity and its representation of market-leading public companies. The firm's enviable client roster includes leading names in the financial services, technology and energy industries. The corporate team's experience spans cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates is a preeminent name in the field, handling some of the biggest transactions both nationally and abroad. The firm maintains a bench of high-quality attorneys handling the full spectrum of corporate work. The corporate team is held in high regard for its work with clients from the energy and defense industries. Its extensive nationwide presence is bolstered by offices across Europe and Asia.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is a go-to firm for high-stakes transactional work. It is well-supported by a strong suite of complementary departments. The firm houses strong capabilities in M&A, joint ventures and divestitures and acts for a slew of market-leading clients from a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and technology. It boasts strong capabilities on both the East and West Coasts, in addition to its international footprint.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is a highly esteemed practice that continues to be recognized as a formidable force in the M&A arena. The firm houses a talented bench of attorneys based in New York that regularly leads on high-end and complex transactions, both in the US and internationally. Its client base includes foremost public companies and financial institutions.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a respected New York-based practice advising on a range of M&A and private equity matters for both public and private companies, financial institutions and private equity funds. The corporate group is particularly experienced in handling matters in the technology, media and telecommunications sector, as well as in healthcare and insurance. It acts on both domestic and international transactions.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a distinguished New York-based firm, recognized for its strength in domestic and international corporate matters. The firm's areas of strength include transactions in the technology, media and life sciences sectors. The corporate team's experience spans shareholder activism defense and the representation of boards of directors.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a well-respected practice with a notable reputation for both public and private M&A work and a growing presence in shareholder activist matters. The firm holds a strong presence on both coasts, often working with clients such as insurance and telecommunications companies, as well as leading names in the private equity and healthcare sectors. Its clients include companies, boards of directors and special committees.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a well-respected East Coast-based practice that regularly handles high-value domestic and cross-border deals, with particular expertise in Latin America. The firm's impressive client base includes leading clients from the pharmaceutical, beverage and retail industries. Its expertise also spans proxy contests and shareholder activism. The corporate team works closely with the firm's leading antitrust, tax and employment benefits departments to provide a holistic service.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has a strong presence on both coasts and in Texas, which is often called upon in high-stakes transactional work. The corporate group is able to draw upon the firm's high-level disputes and regulatory expertise during sensitive and contentious deals in a wide range of industries, notably hospitality, insurance, food and beverage, construction, technology and healthcare. The team is experienced in handling matters such as contested mergers, stock and asset purchases and joint ventures. The firm can call upon its extensive international network of offices to handle cross-border deals.

A&O Shearman is a long-standing practice with a presence on both coasts. The corporate team regularly acts on complex domestic and international deals, advising clients from a range of industries, notably financial services, pharmaceutical aerospace and energy. The group is experienced in advising on M&A, divestitures and joint ventures, among other matters.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is a notable East Coast-based firm, experienced in transactional matters such as hostile takeovers, joint ventures and strategic investments. The corporate team regularly works with clients from the healthcare, media, technology and retail sectors. It has strong international capabilities, well placed to handle cross-border transactions.

Hogan Lovells is active in the full spectrum of transactional work, but is notable for clients in the technology sector and regulated industries such as aerospace, healthcare and life sciences. The firm harnesses its global network to provide advice to clients working on cross-border matters. The corporate team is supported by a host of strong complementary practice groups, including tax, CFIUS and REITs. It counts an array of significant companies, private equity sponsors and other financial institutions among its stable of clients.

Morrison Foerster is a high-quality practice capable of handling both domestic and cross-border transactions. The corporate team regularly works with clients from a range of industries, including technology, real estate, energy and life sciences. The group's expertise spans buyouts, asset sales and tender offers.

Ropes & Gray LLP houses strong nationwide capabilities handling private equity, M&A and general corporate matters. The firm acts for clients in a number of sectors, notably healthcare, retail and technology, among others. The corporate team is able to draw upon expertise in a host of complementary disciplines, including tax, antitrust and finance. The group is experienced in the representation of companies, private equity funds and financial advisers.

Sidley Austin LLP is a respected practice with a strong presence both domestically and abroad. The firm's vast industry expertise covers sectors such as technology, insurance, consumer products and healthcare. The team is able to handle all aspects of transactions, including related IP, antitrust and securities issues. Its expertise also spans takeover defense matters.

White & Case LLP is a solid team both domestically and internationally, with a strong reputation for its advice on M&A and private equity matters. The corporate team works with clients from a variety of sectors including healthcare, energy and finance. The firm's strong bench of lawyers is well-supported by a global network of offices. Its varied client base includes companies, financial advisers and private equity sponsors.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a respected New York-based practice with a strong focus on private equity and M&A, particularly strategic alliances and MBOs. The corporate team advises a broad range of clients, including insurance firms, asset managers and pharmaceutical companies. It also offers services in contested takeovers, corporate auctions and cross-border deals, among others.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is a respected firm for transactional work, particularly in the energy space. The corporate group is often called upon to advise on high-profile deals in the media and communications sectors as well. The team offers services in the full spectrum of deal work, including public and private M&A, disposals and debt and equity capital market transactions.

Cooley LLP is routinely engaged in M&A on behalf of public and private companies in the healthcare, technology and life sciences arenas. The firm also counts a number of private equity and venture capital funds among its clients. The corporate team is adept at handling cross-border deals.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer works closely with a stable of prominent public and private companies and financial sponsors operating across a diverse spectrum of industries. The corporate team regularly assists clients with sophisticated cross-border transactions, facilitated via an extensive network of international offices and by a presence on both East and West Coasts.

Goodwin holds significant experience in the full spectrum of corporate work, including M&A, private equity and LBOs. The corporate team is experienced in handling both public and private deals. The firm holds expertise in a range of areas, including the technology, life sciences and real estate industries. Its national coast-to-coast presence complements a network of offices across Europe and Asia.

Jones Day is a well-known corporate practice with a strong presence across the US. The corporate team is adept at handling domestic and cross-border transactions for private equity and corporate clients from a range of industries. The firm's strong global platform allows it to handle international deals with ease.

Vinson & Elkins LLP is a well-known practice with expertise in corporate work related to the energy, real estate, technology and financial sectors. Its broad client base includes public companies, private equity firms and financial advisers. It advises on issues such as M&A, joint ventures, divestitures and strategic alliances.