Chicago is brimming with business opportunities for Biglaw firms, and it’s proving to be quite attractive for lateral moves and office openings alike. Unlike the majority of its sports teams’ records, it’s a winning city for the legal profession. But which firm is right for you?
Thanks to Vault’s recently released regional rankings, we now know which Biglaw firms are dominating the legal scene in the Windy City. This ranking is based on votes tabulated from associates who were asked to rate firms on a 1 to 10 scale based on their prestige within the region.
Here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Chicago (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking here):
Kirkland & Ellis
Sidley Austin
Latham & Watkins
Skadden
Mayer Brown
Winston & Strawn
McDermott Will & Emery
Jenner & Block
Jones Day
Ropes & Gray
Congrats to all of the Biglaw firms that made the latest edition of Vault’s Chicago rankings. How did your firm do this time? Email us, text us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us @atlblog to let us know how you feel.
2026 Best Law Firms in Chicago [Vault]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
