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Practice × location ranking

Best Commercial Contracts law firms in New York

Grouped into editorial tiers — words, never scores. No paid placement and no numeric rank; within a tier the order rotates monthly and carries no meaning.

Last verified 22 Jul 2026 · Next review by 22 Aug 2026 · Change log

Direct answer & research summary

Best Commercial Contracts law firms in New York are tiered by Sartori & Partners from public footprint as of July 2026, not from a numeric score: 25 firms sit on this board. Sartori & Partners has completed 400+ placements since 2017 (230+ in-house), including 52 general counsel and chief legal officer searches, with a median of 11 weeks from brief to accepted offer. A NASDAQ-listed medtech in Boston accepted its successor general counsel in week 11, from a shortlist of four at day 24.

01 — The ranking

The New York Commercial Contracts board

A tier on this New York Commercial Contracts board names relative firm standing in words. Placement speaks to commercial contracting and complex agreement work across the state; order inside each band carries no hierarchy and is not a score.

NEW YORK × COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS25 FIRMS · NO SCORESREV. 2026-07
REFFIRMNEW YORK COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS BANDSIGNAL
TIER 1 — MARKET LEADERS4 FIRMS

The top editorial band for the best Commercial Contracts law firms in New York: firms that set the tone for commercial contracts counsel at scale in New York. Within-tier sequence rotates and is not a ranking.

T1·01 Rivkin Radler25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·02 Tarter Krinsky & Drogin25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·03 Bond Schoeneck & King50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·04 Nixon Peabody25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 2 — HIGHLY ACTIVE12 FIRMS

Highly active on the New York Commercial Contracts board means consistent contracting presence and peer recognition short of the leader set. No numeric score is assigned.

T2·01 Cahill Gordon & Reindel25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·02 Davis & Gilbert10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·03 Greenberg Traurig25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·04 Harris Beach Murtha10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·05 Hinman Howard & Kattell10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·06 Holland & Knight10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·07 Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·08 Loeb & Loeb10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·09 Wilson Elser10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·10 Woods Oviatt Gilman10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·11 Barclay Damon10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·12 Blank Rome25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 3 — ESTABLISHED9 FIRMS

This band covers firms with solid Commercial Contracts standing and mapped benches in New York, without the intensity of the tiers above. Within-tier order is deliberately flat.

T3·01 Ropes & Gray10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·02 Davis Polk & Wardwell10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·03 Fox Rothschild10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·04 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·05 Goldberg Segalla10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·06 Goodwin Procter10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·07 Harter Secrest & Emery10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·08 Kirkland & Ellis10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·09 Reed Smith10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓

All counts are shown as bands, never precise headcounts. Notable firms sit outside the tiers by design: verified minimal presence, not assessed at full tier depth.

Hiring in New York?

We map this market every day.

The evidence behind these tiers is the same intelligence we use to run retained searches for partners, groups and senior associates.

02 — Evidence, methodology & sources why each firm · how tiers are set · sources · change log · verified 22 Jul 2026 · next review 22 Aug 2026

Firm evidence

Tier 1 — Market leaders Open firm profile →

Rivkin Radler

Rivkin Radler is placed in market leaders for Commercial Contracts in New York. Public mapping (banded): 25–49 attorneys, major local depth, ≈15 partners · 5 counsel · 5+ associates. Evidence gates — office (G1) PASS, local practice (G2) PASS, recent signal (G3) PASS. The placement carries no numeric score.

Strongest mapped work

Litigation & DisputesInsurancePrivate Client & Estate Planning

Public hiring signal

Hiring signal: FLAT — no public hiring change detected in the mapping window.

Limits of this assessment

  • —A tier is Sartori’s editorial opinion, not a fact about the firm or a client-satisfaction measure.
  • —Facts are mapped from public sources and shown as bands; they lag reality by weeks or months.
  • —No third-party legal-directory band is used as an input.

Sources for this entry

Methodology

How tiers are assigned

Deterministic public-footprint core (local depth, practice share, seniority mix, public hiring momentum), computed relative to this market's own distribution. Tier placement is derived from this public mapped data; a per-firm public-source ledger is compiled for firms in the annual research pass and applies to those firms' factual claims, not to tier membership. No third-party legal-directory bands are used as an input.

Market scope

25–49 firms earn a tier in New York within this scope (banded).

Disclosures

Firm names used nominatively (factual). All counts shown as bands, never precise headcounts. No firm logos. Report an error via the site contact form.

Sources & change log

  1. 1 Our Locations | Rivkin Radlerfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  2. 2 Our Locations | Rivkin Radlerfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  3. 3 New York City Office | Rivkin Radler Attorneys | Midtown Eastfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  4. 4 Antonucci Returns to Rivkin Radler Following Nonprofit Leadership Role - Rivkin Radlerfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  5. 5 New York, NY | Tarter Krinsky & Droginfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  6. 6 Contact Us | Tarter Krinsky & Droginfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  7. 7 Real Estate | Tarter Krinsky & Droginfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  8. 8 Tarter Krinsky & Drogin — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  9. 9 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  10. 10 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  11. 11 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  12. 12 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  13. 13 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  14. 14 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  15. 15 Law Office in Syracuse, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  16. 16 Law Office in Rochester, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  17. 17 Law Office in Buffalo, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  18. 18 Law Office in New York, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  19. 19 Law Office in Albany, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  20. 20 Law Office in Utica, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  21. 21 Bond’s Syracuse Office Recognized in 2026 “Best Law Firms”firm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  22. 22 Office Locations | Nixon Peabody LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  23. 23 Office Locations | Nixon Peabody LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  24. 24 Office Locations | Nixon Peabody LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  25. 25 Law Firm in Albany NY | Nixon Peabody LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  26. 26 Nixon Peabody opens future-focused Rochester office with a nod to history | Nixon Peabody LLPfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  27. 27 Offices | Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  28. 28 New York | Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  29. 29 Banking & Finance | Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  30. 30 Cahill Once Again Earns Top Rankings in Bloomberg High Yield Bond and Leveraged Lending League Tables for the First Half of 2026firm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  31. 31 Directions - Davis+Gilbert LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  32. 32 Overview - Davis+Gilbert LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  33. 33 Real Estate - Davis+Gilbert LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  34. 34 Intellectual Property + Media - Davis+Gilbert LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  35. 35 Davis & Gilbert — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  36. 36 New York | Law Firm | Locations | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  37. 37 New York | Law Firm | Locations | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  38. 38 New York State Government | Individual States | Government Law and Policy General Content | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  39. 39 Greenberg Traurig — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  40. 40 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  41. 41 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  42. 42 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  43. 43 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  44. 44 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  45. 45 Harris Beach Murtha — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  46. 46 Harris Beach Murtha — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  47. 47 Binghamton | Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP Attorneysfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  48. 48 Attorney in Albany, NY | Hinman, Howard & Kattell Attorneysfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  49. 49 Attorney in Binghamton, NY - Hinman, Howard, & Kattellfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  50. 50 Albany | Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP Attorneysfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  51. 51 Attorney in Albany, NY | Hinman, Howard & Kattell Attorneysfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  52. 52 Elmira | Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP Attorneysfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  53. 53 EnJoie the Day on HH&K – Ticket Locations | Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP Attorneysfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  54. 54 Weather Update | Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP Attorneysfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  55. 55 Offices | Holland & Knightfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  56. 56 New York | Offices | Holland & Knightfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  57. 57 Holland & Knight — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  58. 58 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  59. 59 Buffalo - Downtown | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  60. 60 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  61. 61 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  62. 62 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  63. 63 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  64. 64 Contact | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  65. 65 New York City | Lippes Mathias LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  66. 66 Lippes Mathias Expands Albany Footprint with Move to 677 Broadwayfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  67. 67 Locations | Loeb & Loeb LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  68. 68 New York | Loeb & Loeb LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  69. 69 Loeb & Loeb — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  70. 70 Wilson Elser — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  71. 71 Wilson Elser — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  72. 72 Wilson Elser — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  73. 73 Rochester Office (Headquarters) | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  74. 74 Get in touch with us. | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  75. 75 About | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  76. 76 Buffalo Office | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  77. 77 Get in touch with us. | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  78. 78 About | Woods Oviatt Gilmanfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  79. 79 Woods Oviatt Gilman — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  80. 80 Woods Oviatt Gilman — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  81. 81 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  82. 82 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  83. 83 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  84. 84 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  85. 85 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  86. 86 183 Barclay Damon Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  87. 87 183 Barclay Damon Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  88. 88 183 Barclay Damon Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  89. 89 183 Barclay Damon Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  90. 90 Barclay Damon Move to Larger NYC Office Part of Major Markets Growth | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  91. 91 183 Barclay Damon Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  92. 92 Barclay Damon Move to Larger NYC Office Part of Major Markets Growth | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  93. 93 Blank Rome — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  94. 94 Blank Rome — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  95. 95 Blank Rome — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  96. 96 Ropes & Gray Expands Presence in New York with New Office Lease | News & Events | Ropes & Gray LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  97. 97 Ropes & Gray — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  98. 98 Ropes & Gray — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  99. 99 Our offices | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  100. 100 U.S. Summer Program | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  101. 101 Davis Polk & Wardwell — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  102. 102 Mergers & Acquisitions | Davis Polkfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  103. 103 Locations | Fox Rothschild LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  104. 104 New York, NY | Fox Rothschild LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  105. 105 New York, NY | Fox Rothschild LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  106. 106 Fox Rothschild Helps Young Aviators Take Flight Through Rhinebeck Aerodrome Programfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  107. 107 New York - Gibson Dunnfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  108. 108 New York - Gibson Dunnfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  109. 109 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  110. 110 23 Offices Nationwide - Find an Attorney Near Youfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  111. 111 23 Offices Nationwide - Find an Attorney Near Youfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  112. 112 Goldberg Segalla — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  113. 113 Goldberg Segalla — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  114. 114 New York Law Firms | Lawyers in New York | Goodwinfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  115. 115 Goodwin Signs Lease for New York Office at Iconic 200 Fifth Avenue in the Heart of Flatiron District on Madison Square Parkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  116. 116 New York Law Firms | Lawyers in New York | Goodwinfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  117. 117 Goodwin Procter — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  118. 118 Buffalo | Harter Secrest & Emery LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  119. 119 Rochester | Harter Secrest & Emery LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  120. 120 Buffalo | Harter Secrest & Emery LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  121. 121 Harter Secrest & Emery — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  122. 122 Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  123. 123 New York | Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  124. 124 Private Equity | Services | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  125. 125 Kirkland & Ellis — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  126. 126 New York | Reed Smithfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  127. 127 Reed Smith — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  128. 128 Reed Smith — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
22 Jul 2026 Scope-aware market-relative core assembled.
22 Jul 2026 128 verified source(s) ingested for the researched firms; tier placement comes from our own market data so unresearched visible firms do not block approval → APPROVED (auto).
Report an error in this ranking →

04 — Questions

About this ranking

Who are the best Commercial Contracts law firms in New York?

Who leads Commercial Contracts in New York? As of July 2026, Market leaders are Rivkin Radler, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Bond Schoeneck & King, Nixon Peabody. Sartori does not name a single number-one firm; the gap inside Tier 1 is treated as unmeasurable, and the wider board of 25 firms uses worded tiers only.

Is Rivkin Radler the best Commercial Contracts law firm in New York?

Rivkin Radler sits in Tier 1 — Market leaders — of Sartori's New York Commercial Contracts board as of July 2026, alongside Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Bond Schoeneck & King, Nixon Peabody. Sartori does not name a single #1: the gap between Tier 1 firms is genuinely unmeasurable, and a numeric score would be false precision.

Which firms have the biggest Commercial Contracts benches in New York?

By mapped New York bench, the largest firms on this board are Bond Schoeneck & King (50–99 mapped lawyers each), followed by Rivkin Radler, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Nixon Peabody, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, Greenberg Traurig, Blank Rome (25–49). All counts are bands, never precise headcounts.

Which Commercial Contracts teams are hiring in New York?

As of July 2026, no firm on this board shows a public hiring signal in the mapping window. Live New York mandates are listed on Sartori's jobs board.

What is a Tier 1 law firm?

In Sartori's rankings, Tier 1 — Market leaders — is an editorial judgement expressed in words, never a score: the firms whose New York bench depth, seniority mix and market standing set the reference point for the market. As of July 2026 that is Rivkin Radler, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Bond Schoeneck & King, Nixon Peabody. Within the tier no firm outranks another.

This ranking is compiled independently by Sartori from public sources. Tiers are Sartori’s editorial opinion, expressed without numeric scores; firms are named for identification only, no logos are reproduced, and no firm has paid for or approved its placement. No third-party legal-directory band is used as an input. Nothing here is legal advice or a recommendation to instruct counsel.