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Practice × location ranking

Best Litigation & Disputes 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 23 Jul 2026 · Next review by 23 Aug 2026 · Change log

›Direct answer & research summary

Under Sartori & Partners' weighted methodology, peer opinion from more than 10,000 lawyers interviewed is combined with monthly market surveys. As of July 2026, the best Litigation & Disputes law firms in New York map to: Kirkland & Ellis, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Wilmer Hale, Wilson Elser, Arnold & Porter, Baker & Hostetler, Blank Rome, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Debevoise & Plimpton, DLA Piper, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, Kasowitz Benson Torres, Latham & Watkins, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, Patterson Belknap, Quinn Emanuel, Rivkin Radler, Sullivan & Cromwell, Cleary Gottlieb, Covington & Burling, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Greenberg Traurig, Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Marshall Dennehey.

01 — The ranking

The New York Litigation & Disputes board

Sartori's view of the best Litigation & Disputes law firms in New York groups 25 firms by relative Litigation & Disputes market position in New York. Tiers are plain-language labels only — never scores — and within-tier sequence rotates without implying rank.

NEW YORK × LITIGATION & DISPUTES25 FIRMS · NO SCORESREV. 2026-07
REFFIRMNEW YORK LITIGATION & DISPUTES BANDSIGNAL
TIER 1 — MARKET LEADERS4 FIRMS

This band holds the firms whose Litigation & Disputes presence defines the New York standard. Labels are editorial words, not scores; monthly order inside the tier carries no meaning.

T1·01 Kirkland & Ellis100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·02 Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·03 Wilmer Hale100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·04 Wilson Elser200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth 200–349 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 2 — HIGHLY ACTIVE15 FIRMS

Highly active firms show sustained Litigation & Disputes mandate flow and visible trial-side bench strength in New York, just below the market-leader band. Order inside the tier is non-hierarchical.

T2·01 Arnold & Porter100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·02 Baker & Hostetler50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·03 Blank Rome50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·04 Davis Polk & Wardwell200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth 200–349 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·05 Debevoise & Plimpton200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth 200–349 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·06 DLA Piper50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·07 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·08 Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·09 Kasowitz Benson Torres50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·10 Latham & Watkins100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·11 Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·12 Patterson Belknap100–199 attorneys mapped · major local depth 100–199 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·13 Quinn Emanuel200–349 attorneys mapped · major local depth 200–349 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·14 Rivkin Radler50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·15 Sullivan & Cromwell50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 3 — ESTABLISHED6 FIRMS

Firms in this tier are part of the core New York Litigation & Disputes map — known, staffed and active on contentious matters — with relative standing expressed only in plain language.

T3·01 Cleary Gottlieb50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·02 Covington & Burling50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·03 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·04 Greenberg Traurig50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·05 Hughes Hubbard & Reed50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·06 Marshall Dennehey50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 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 23 Jul 2026 · next review 23 Aug 2026

Firm evidence

Tier 1 — Market leaders Open firm profile →

Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is placed in market leaders for Litigation & Disputes in New York. Public mapping (banded): 100–199 attorneys, major local depth, ≈70 partners · <5 counsel · 100+ associates. Evidence gates — office (G1) PASS, local practice (G2) PASS, recent signal (G3) PASS. The placement carries no numeric score.

Strongest mapped work

Finance & BankingCorporate & M&ALitigation & Disputes

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

50–99 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 Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  2. 2 New York | Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  3. 3 Private Equity | Services | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  4. 4 Kirkland & Ellis — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  5. 5 New York | Paul, Weissfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  6. 6 New York | Paul, Weissfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  7. 7 Private Equity | Paul, Weissfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  8. 8 Private Equity M&A | Paul, Weissfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  9. 9 Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  10. 10 Contact WilmerHalefirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  11. 11 New Yorkfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  12. 12 Wilmer Hale — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  13. 13 Wilson Elser — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  14. 14 Wilson Elser — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  15. 15 Wilson Elser — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  16. 16 Offices | Arnold & Porterfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  17. 17 New York | Offices | Arnold & Porterfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  18. 18 Arnold & Porter — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  19. 19 Offices | BakerHostetlerfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  20. 20 Baker & Hostetler — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  21. 21 Baker & Hostetler — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  22. 22 Blank Rome — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  23. 23 Blank Rome — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  24. 24 Blank Rome — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  25. 25 Our offices | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  26. 26 U.S. Summer Program | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  27. 27 Davis Polk & Wardwell — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  28. 28 Mergers & Acquisitions | Davis Polkfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  29. 29 Locations | About Us | Debevoise & Plimpton LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  30. 30 New York | Locations | About Us | Debevoise & Plimpton LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  31. 31 New York | Locations | About Us | Debevoise & Plimpton LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  32. 32 Debevoise & Plimpton — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  33. 33 Locations | Global Law Firm | DLA Piperfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  34. 34 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  35. 35 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  36. 36 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  37. 37 New York - Gibson Dunnfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  38. 38 New York - Gibson Dunnfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  39. 39 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  40. 40 Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  41. 41 New York | Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhanifirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  42. 42 Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  43. 43 Find Us | Kasowitz LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  44. 44 Find Us | Kasowitz LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  45. 45 Kasowitz Benson Torres — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  46. 46 New York - Latham & Watkinsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  47. 47 New York - Latham & Watkinsfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  48. 48 Latham & Watkins — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  49. 49 Lewis Brisbois | New York, NYfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  50. 50 Lewis Brisbois | New York, NYfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  51. 51 Lewis Brisbois | Lewis Brisbois Opens New Manhattan Office Space in…firm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  52. 52 Careers : Attorneysfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  53. 53 Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP – Law Firmfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  54. 54 About Our Firmfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  55. 55 Overview | Corporate | Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  56. 56 About Our Firmfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  57. 57 Overview | Litigation | Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  58. 58 Patterson Belknap — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  59. 59 Our Locations | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  60. 60 Quinn Emanuel — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  61. 61 Our New York office, designed by STUDIOS Architecture, has won the CoreNet Global NYC Design Excellence Award for Project of the Yearfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  62. 62 Our Locations | Rivkin Radlerfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  63. 63 New York City Office | Rivkin Radler Attorneys | Midtown Eastfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  64. 64 Rivkin Radler — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  65. 65 Offices | Sullivan & Cromwell LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  66. 66 New York | Sullivan & Cromwell LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  67. 67 New York | Sullivan & Cromwell LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  68. 68 Sullivan & Cromwell — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  69. 69 New York | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  70. 70 Where We Work | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  71. 71 Cleary Gottlieb — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  72. 72 Markets Group’s 14th Private Equity New York Forum | Events | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  73. 73 Offices | Covington & Burling LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  74. 74 New York | Covington & Burling LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  75. 75 Covington & Burling — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  76. 76 New York | Freshfieldsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  77. 77 United States Law Careers | Freshfieldsfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  78. 78 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  79. 79 New York | Law Firm | Locations | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  80. 80 New York | Law Firm | Locations | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  81. 81 New York State Government | Individual States | Government Law and Policy General Content | Greenberg Traurig LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  82. 82 Greenberg Traurig — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  83. 83 Locations | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  84. 84 New York City | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  85. 85 Locations | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  86. 86 New York City | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  87. 87 New York City | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  88. 88 New York City | Hughes Hubbardfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  89. 89 Hughes Hubbard & Reed — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  90. 90 Offices | Marshall Denneheyfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  91. 91 Offices | New Yorkfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  92. 92 Marshall Dennehey — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
23 Jul 2026 Scope-aware market-relative core assembled.
23 Jul 2026 92 verified source(s) ingested for the researched firms; tier placement is Titan-derived so unresearched visible firms do not block approval → APPROVED (auto).
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04 — Questions

About this ranking

Who are the best Litigation & Disputes law firms in New York?

As of July 2026, the Tier 1 — Market leaders — among the best Litigation & Disputes law firms in New York are Kirkland & Ellis, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Wilmer Hale, Wilson Elser. The full board groups 25 firms into editorial Litigation & Disputes tiers expressed in words rather than scores; within a tier order rotates monthly and carries no meaning.

Is Kirkland & Ellis the best Litigation & Disputes law firm in New York?

Kirkland & Ellis sits in Tier 1 — Market leaders — of Sartori's New York Litigation & Disputes board as of July 2026, alongside Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Wilmer Hale, Wilson Elser. 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 Litigation & Disputes benches in New York?

By mapped New York bench, the largest firms on this board are Wilson Elser, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Debevoise & Plimpton, Quinn Emanuel (200–349 mapped lawyers each). All counts are bands, never precise headcounts.

Which Litigation & Disputes 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 Kirkland & Ellis, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Wilmer Hale, Wilson Elser. Within the tier no firm outranks another.

Which are the best law firms in New York overall?

Sartori's overall New York board groups 25 firms into editorial tiers; as of July 2026 its Tier 1 is Sidley Austin, Weil Gotshal & Manges, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Fried Frank, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins. See /firms/in/new-york/.

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.