California has a certain kind of easy-going vibe that’ll make you appreciate that business casual lifestyle. Depending on where your office is located, you may even be able to see the beach from your window. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if your firm handed out flip-flops emblazoned with their logo (we see you, Quinn Emanuel). Whether you’re into tech, litigation, or representing celebrities, there really is something for everyone. California really is top notch — but which firms are considered the best in the Golden State?
Thanks to Vault’s recently released regional rankings, we now know which Biglaw firms are dominating the legal scene in California. 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 Northern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking here):
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1. Cooley
1. Latham & Watkins
3. Morrison Foerster
4. Wilson Sonsini
5. Kirkland & Ellis
6. Skadden
7. Gibson Dunn
8. Orrick
9. Fenwick
10. Davis Polk
And here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Southern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking here):
1. Latham & Watkins
2. Gibson Dunn
3. Kirkland & Ellis
4. O’Melveny & Myers
5. Skadden
6. Munger Tolles & Olson
7. Paul Hastings
8. Sidley Austin
9. Quinn Emanuel
10. Milbank
Congrats to all of the Biglaw firms that made the latest edition of Vault’s California rankings. How did your firm do this time around? Email us, text us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us @atlblog to let us know how you feel.
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2026 Best Law Firms in Northern California [Vault]
2026 Best Law Firms in Southern California [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.