If you’re working in-house and dealing with bet-the-company litigation, you want the very best litigators in the world to be on your side. You want a firm with litigators so strong that it will make opponents gasp in fear at the very mention of its name. You want a firm that is known internationally for “go[ing] for the jugular” and coming out on top.
But how can you ensure that you’ve picked the right firm? BTI Consulting Group just made it a little easier with the release of its annual ranking of the firms “most likely to trigger dread” in opposing counsel, as determined by a poll of about 300 in-house attorneys. After reviewing all responses, BTI named the “Fearsome Foursome,” the most-feared litigation firms in the country.
Which firms returned to this year’s list and which firms dropped off of it? Check out the latest rankings…
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Before we get to the nation’s most-feared firms, here’s some additional information on the methodology behind how they were named, courtesy of Law360 (sub. req.):
The recognitions were based on about 300 one-on-one interviews with litigation heads, general counsel and other law departments leads conducted between March and June, according to BTI. The represented companies had an average annual revenue of $14.3 billion.
This year, the following firms were dubbed the Fearsome Foursome and honored for their ability to strike fear in their opponents’ hearts and minds throughout the course of high-stakes litigation:
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Only one firm, Boies Schiller, slipped off the list of honorees this year, while the rest continue to reign as returning champions. Taking the firm’s place is Quinn Emanuel, a litigation powerhouse that was previously honored on the BTI list in years past. (Don’t worry about this one, Boies Schiller — you’ve earned more than enough recognition as a bad-ass firm thanks to David Boies and his Prop 8 success.)
BTI President Michael Rynowecer had this to say of the 2014 Fearsome Foursome: “They have a take-no-prisoners attitude, and they don’t contemplate not winning. They bring the right people, the right chemistry. It’s all about the level of commitment, and not just in courtroom strategy, but in getting the right resources together.” In other words, these are the firms you want to have in your corner if you want to win big.
The BTI report also named four firms as “Awesome Opponents,” additional firms that corporate counsel would prefer to steer clear of in litigation: Boies Schiller, Cravath, Hogan Lovells, and Jenner & Block. Congratulations to all firms that were honored this year for their cutthroat litigation skills.
Do you think the Fearsome Foursome and Awesome Opponents actually earned their titles this year? Can you think of a law firm that deserves to be recognized but hasn’t been? Please give us your thoughts.
Litigation Outlook 2014 [BTI Consulting Group]
The 4 Firms In-House Counsel Fear The Most [Law360 (sub. req.)]
Earlier: Which Biglaw Firms Are The Most Feared In Litigation?