Biglaw, In-House Counsel

The Biglaw Firms That Strike Fear In The Hearts Of Opposing Counsel (2022)

These firms are home to the most cutthroat litigators out there.

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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 opponents gasp in fear at the very mention of its name. You want a firm that is known internationally for going 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 in-house counsel. After reviewing all responses, BTI named the “Fearsome Foursome,” the most-feared litigation firms in the country. These are the firms you do not want to see on the other side.

So, which firms are being honored this year for their ability to strike fear in their opponents’ hearts and minds?

  • Jones Day
  • Kirkland & Ellis
  • Quinn Emanuel
  • Skadden

Per BTI President Michael Rynowecer, this is why these firms give GCs nightmares:

Fearless Nature
These firms are bold. They feel the fear and uncertainty created by the unsteady reopening and instinctively dive in to sort things out — and move forward.

Uber Urgent
Like the best Electric Vehicles, they start with the power on at full force and accelerate into a case at breakneck speed.

Relentless
Giving up is not an option. The fearsome start out fully resourced and don’t stop until they reach their goal.

Strategically Aggressive
Clients report settlements are harder to come by. This means more strategy, more defense, and an aggressive posture to prove your point. The Fearsome Foursome embrace the aggressive approach — making it more difficult for the other side.

The BTI report also named 12 firms as “Awesome Opponents” — firms with lawyers corporate counsel would prefer to steer clear of in litigation (in alphabetical order):

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  • Arnold & Porter
  • Covington
  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore
  • Dechert
  • Dentons
  • Gibson Dunn
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Littler
  • Mintz
  • Paul Hastings
  • Pillsbury
  • Weil

BTI has also introduced an additional 23 law firms are “Intimindating Opponents” (i.e., firms clients would “rather not see” in litigation). Click here to see the list.

Congrats to these hard-working firms, and good luck to those who oppose them.

The 39 Firms Most Feared in Litigation [Mad Clientist / BTI Consulting Group]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci 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 Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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