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Location ranking

Best law firms in Pennsylvania

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 23 Jul 2026 · Next review by 23 Aug 2026 · Change log

›Direct answer & research summary

Sartori applies a weighted methodology combining the opinions of practising lawyers — more than 10,000 lawyers interviewed — with monthly market surveys. The Pennsylvania board as of July 2026 comprises: Morgan Lewis, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey, Fox Rothschild, Reed Smith, Troutman Pepper, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Duane Morris, McNees Wallace & Nurick, Ballard Spahr, Barley Snyder, Cipriani & Werner, Motley Rice, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Stark & Stark, Wiggin and Dana, Zelle, Bowman and Brooke, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Epstein Becker & Green, FordHarrison, Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy, Hall Booth Smith, Husch Blackwell.

01 — The ranking

The Pennsylvania board

The Pennsylvania board is a statewide map of legal market standing expressed in worded tiers, never scores. Within a tier no firm outranks another — monthly order is a locator only. Each row links to the firm profile and the evidence behind its place.

PENNSYLVANIA / LOCATION RANKING25 FIRMS · NO SCORESREV. 2026-07
REFFIRMFOCUSSIGNAL
TIER 1 — MARKET LEADERS4 FIRMS

Market leaders are the firms peers and clients treat as the Pennsylvania benchmark. Placement is a worded judgement reviewed against survey and mapping evidence.

T1·01 Morgan Lewis200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 13 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·02 Blank Rome350+ attorneys mapped · major local depth · 14 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / CORPORATE & M&A FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·03 Cozen O'Connor350+ attorneys mapped · major local depth · 17 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·04 Marshall Dennehey350+ attorneys mapped · major local depth · 8 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 2 — HIGHLY ACTIVE5 FIRMS

Firms here maintain a clear, busy Pennsylvania practice profile. The label is editorial; within-tier order rotates and carries no hierarchy.

T2·01 Fox Rothschild200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 14 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / CORPORATE & M&A FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·02 Reed Smith200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 15 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / CORPORATE & M&A FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·03 Troutman Pepper200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 13 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / CORPORATE & M&A FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·04 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 12 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·05 Duane Morris200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 11 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / CORPORATE & M&A FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 3 — ESTABLISHED4 FIRMS

Established firms have a verified, durable Pennsylvania footprint assessed at full tier depth. They sit below the more active bands by editorial judgement, not by score.

T3·01 McNees Wallace & Nurick100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 15 practices with bench EMPLOYMENT & LABOR / LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·02 Ballard Spahr100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 12 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / REAL ESTATE FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·03 Barley Snyder100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 11 practices with bench REAL ESTATE / PRIVATE CLIENT & ESTATE PLANNING FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·04 Cipriani & Werner200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth · 7 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES / EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
NOTABLE — NOTABLE IN THIS FIELD12 FIRMS · OUTSIDE THE TIERS

Use this band for boutiques and focused practices with a mapped Pennsylvania signal. Editorial words only — no scores, no within-band hierarchy.

N·01 Motley Rice1–4 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·02 Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney10–24 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·03 Stark & Stark1–4 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·04 Wiggin and Dana1–4 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·05 Zelle1–4 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench INSURANCE FLAT → EVID ↓
N·06 Bowman and Brooke5–9 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·07 Chamberlain Hrdlicka5–9 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench TAX FLAT → EVID ↓
N·08 Epstein Becker & Green5–9 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
N·09 FordHarrison5–9 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FLAT → EVID ↓
N·10 Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy10–24 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench IMMIGRATION FLAT → EVID ↓
N·11 Hall Booth Smith1–4 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES FLAT → EVID ↓
N·12 Husch Blackwell10–24 attorneys mapped · thin local depth · 1 practices with bench LITIGATION & DISPUTES 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 Pennsylvania?

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 23 Jul 2026 · next review 23 Aug 2026

Firm evidence

Tier 1 — Market leaders Open firm profile →

Morgan Lewis

Morgan Lewis is placed in market leaders for Pennsylvania. Public mapping (banded): 200–349 attorneys, major local depth, ≈125 partners · 20 counsel · 175+ associates. Evidence gates — office (G1) PENDING, local practice (G2) PENDING, recent signal (G3) PENDING. The placement carries no numeric score.

Strongest mapped work

Litigation & DisputesEmployment & LaborCorporate & M&A

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

Per-firm public sources are listed once the annual research pass ingests this firm.

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 Pennsylvania 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 Cozen O'Connor: Officesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  2. 2 Cozen O'Connor: Officesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  3. 3 Cozen O'Connor — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  4. 4 Cozen O'Connor — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  5. 5 Offices | Marshall Denneheyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  6. 6 Offices | Philadelphiafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  7. 7 Offices | Marshall Denneheyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  8. 8 Offices | Marshall Denneheyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  9. 9 Offices | Marshall Denneheyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  10. 10 Offices | Pittsburghfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  11. 11 Offices | Scrantonfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  12. 12 Offices | Harrisburgfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  13. 13 Offices | Scrantonfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  14. 14 Locations | Fox Rothschild LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  15. 15 Fox Rothschild — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  16. 16 Fox Rothschild — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  17. 17 Pittsburgh | Reed Smithfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  18. 18 Philadelphia | Reed Smithfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  19. 19 Pittsburgh | Reed Smithfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  20. 20 Philadelphia | Reed Smithfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  21. 21 Reed Smith — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  22. 22 Philadelphia - Troutman Pepper Lockefirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  23. 23 Philadelphia - Troutman Pepper Lockefirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  24. 24 Troutman Pepper — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  25. 25 Buchanan Law Firm Locations | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  26. 26 Buchanan Law Firm Locations | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  27. 27 Buchanan Law Firm Locations | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  28. 28 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  29. 29 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  30. 30 Duane Morris LLP - Officesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  31. 31 Duane Morris LLP - Offices - Philadelphiafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  32. 32 Duane Morris LLP - Offices - Philadelphiafirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  33. 33 Duane Morris — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  34. 34 Contact Us - McNees Wallace & Nurick LLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  35. 35 Contact Us - McNees Wallace & Nurick LLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  36. 36 Contact Us - McNees Wallace & Nurick LLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  37. 37 Contact Us - McNees Wallace & Nurick LLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  38. 38 McNees Wallace & Nurick — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  39. 39 McNees Wallace & Nurick — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  40. 40 Offices | Ballard Spahrfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  41. 41 Philadelphia Law Firm | Offices | Ballard Spahrfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  42. 42 Ballard Spahr — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  43. 43 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  44. 44 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  45. 45 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  46. 46 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  47. 47 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  48. 48 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  49. 49 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  50. 50 Main Offices & Community Offices - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  51. 51 Barley Snyder — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  52. 52 Barley Snyder Relocates Harrisburg Office to Camp Hill, Enhancing Client Accessibility and Supporting Future Growth - Barley Snyderfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  53. 53 Offices | Cipriani & Wernerfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  54. 54 Cipriani & Werner — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  55. 55 Bill Pentecost Receives Citation for Service on the Pennsylvania Military Community Affairs Commission | Cipriani & Wernerfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  56. 56 Understanding the Significance of the Jackiw Decision in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law | Cipriani & Wernerfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  57. 57 Dan Lieberman - Managing Partner | Cipriani & Wernerfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  58. 58 Congratulations to our C&W Attorneys Listed in 2026 PA Super Lawyers/Rising Stars | Cipriani & Wernerfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  59. 59 Offices | Our Locations | Motley Ricefirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  60. 60 Motley Rice — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  61. 61 Motley Rice — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  62. 62 Offices - Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoneyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  63. 63 Offices - Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoneyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  64. 64 Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  65. 65 Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  66. 66 Contact Us | Stark & Starkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  67. 67 Stark & Stark — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  68. 68 Carin A. O'Donnell, Esq. Inducted as 2026-2027 President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice - Stark & Stark PCfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  69. 69 Philadelphia - Wiggin and Dana LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  70. 70 Wiggin and Dana — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  71. 71 Wiggin and Dana — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  72. 72 Zelle — Pennsylvania office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  73. 73 Zelle — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  74. 74 Zelle — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  75. 75 Attorneys Lawyers Offices Atlanta Houston Philadelphia San Antonio | Chamberlain Hrdlickafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  76. 76 Chamberlain Hrdlicka — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  77. 77 Chamberlain Hrdlicka — Pennsylvania news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
23 Jul 2026 Scope-aware market-relative core assembled.
23 Jul 2026 77 verified source(s) ingested for the researched firms; tier placement is Titan-derived 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 law firms in Pennsylvania?

As of July 2026, Morgan Lewis, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey occupy Tier 1 — Market leaders — on Sartori's Pennsylvania board. That band is an editorial judgement of bench depth, seniority mix and market standing; full placement of all 25 visible firms is on this page.

Is Morgan Lewis the best law firm in Pennsylvania?

Morgan Lewis sits in Tier 1 — Market leaders — of Sartori's Pennsylvania board as of July 2026, alongside Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey. 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 are the biggest law firms in Pennsylvania?

By mapped Pennsylvania bench, the largest firms on this board are Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey (350+ mapped lawyers each). All counts are bands, never precise headcounts.

Which law firms are hiring in Pennsylvania right now?

As of July 2026, no firm on this board shows a public hiring signal in the mapping window. Live Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania bench depth, seniority mix and market standing set the reference point for the market. As of July 2026 that is Morgan Lewis, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey. Within the tier no firm outranks another.

Which are the best law firms for litigation & disputes in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Litigation & Disputes board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey. See the full ranking at /firms/litigation/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

Which are the best law firms for commercial litigation in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Commercial Litigation board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Reed Smith, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Connor, Duane Morris. See the full ranking at /firms/commercial-litigation/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

Which are the best law firms for civil litigation in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Civil Litigation board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Burns White, Cozen O'Connor, Marshall Dennehey, Reed Smith. See the full ranking at /firms/civil-litigation/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

Which are the best law firms for employment & labor in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Employment & Labor board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Morgan Lewis, Littler Mendelson. See the full ranking at /firms/employment-labor/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

Which are the best law firms for class actions in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Class Actions board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Dechert, Reed Smith, Berger Montague, Blank Rome. See the full ranking at /firms/class-actions/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

Which are the best law firms for commercial contracts in Pennsylvania?

Sartori publishes a dedicated Commercial Contracts board for Pennsylvania: as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Cozen O'Connor, McNees Wallace & Nurick. See the full ranking at /firms/commercial-contracts/in/pennsylvania/.

See the ranking →

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.