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Practice × location ranking

Best Tax Planning & Controversy 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 Tax Planning & Controversy law firms in New York are tiered by Sartori & Partners from public footprint as of July 2026, not from a numeric score: 20 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 Tax Planning & Controversy board

A tier on this New York Tax Planning & Controversy board names relative firm standing in words. Placement speaks to multi-entity structuring, New York State and City tax exposure, IRS controversy and high-stakes tax disputes statewide; order inside each band carries no hierarchy and is not a score.

NEW YORK × TAX PLANNING & CONTROVERSY20 FIRMS · NO SCORESREV. 2026-07
REFFIRMNEW YORK TAX PLANNING & CONTROVERSY BANDSIGNAL
TIER 1 — MARKET LEADERS4 FIRMS

The top editorial band for the best Tax Planning & Controversy law firms in New York: firms that set the tone for tax planning, controversy strategy and statewide fiscal work at scale in New York. Within-tier sequence rotates and is not a ranking.

T1·01 Hodgson Russ25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·02 Withersworldwide25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·03 Baker McKenzie25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T1·04 Bond Schoeneck & King25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 2 — HIGHLY ACTIVE7 FIRMS

Highly active on the New York Tax Planning & Controversy board means consistent tax-advisory and controversy presence and peer recognition short of the leader set. No numeric score is assigned.

T2·01 McLaughlin & Stern25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·02 Akin Gump10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·03 Blank Rome10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·04 Davis Polk & Wardwell50–99 attorneys mapped · major local depth 50–99 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·05 DLA Piper10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·06 Fried Frank10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T2·07 Kirkland & Ellis25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
TIER 3 — ESTABLISHED9 FIRMS

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

T3·01 Harris Beach Murtha10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·02 Mayer Brown10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·03 Milbank10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·04 Proskauer10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·05 Ropes & Gray10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·06 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·07 Barclay Damon10–24 attorneys mapped · major local depth 10–24 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·08 Cleary Gottlieb25–49 attorneys mapped · major local depth 25–49 ATTORNEYS FLAT → EVID ↓
T3·09 Farrell Fritz10–24 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 →

Hodgson Russ

Hodgson Russ is placed in market leaders for Tax Planning & Controversy in New York. Public mapping (banded): 25–49 attorneys, major local depth, ≈30 partners · <5 counsel · 10+ associates. Evidence gates — office (G1) PASS, local practice (G2) PASS, recent signal (G3) PASS. The placement carries no numeric score.

Strongest mapped work

Litigation & DisputesTaxCorporate & 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

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

10–24 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 Locationsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  2. 2 Hodgson Russ LLP | Buffalo, NYfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  3. 3 Locationsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  4. 4 Locationsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  5. 5 Locationsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  6. 6 Hodgson Russ LLP | New York City Law Firmfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  7. 7 Locationsfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  8. 8 Hodgson Russ LLP | Rochester, NYfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  9. 9 Hodgson Russ LLP | Linden Oaks, Rochester, NYfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  10. 10 Safeguarding The Guaranty Building while Continuing Client Service at Hodgson Russ LLPfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  11. 11 Contact us | Withersfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  12. 12 Lawyers in New York | New York Law Firm | Attorneys NYC | Withersfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  13. 13 Lawyers in New York | New York Law Firm | Attorneys NYC | Withersfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  14. 14 Withersworldwide — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  15. 15 United States | Locations | Baker McKenziefirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  16. 16 Baker McKenzie — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  17. 17 Baker McKenzie — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  18. 18 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  19. 19 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  20. 20 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  21. 21 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  22. 22 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  23. 23 Offices | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  24. 24 Law Office in Syracuse, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  25. 25 Law Office in Rochester, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  26. 26 Law Office in Buffalo, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  27. 27 Law Office in New York, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  28. 28 Law Office in Albany, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  29. 29 Law Office in Utica, NY | Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  30. 30 Bond’s Syracuse Office Recognized in 2026 “Best Law Firms”firm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  31. 31 Offices - McLaughlin & Stern, LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  32. 32 McLaughlin & Stern — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  33. 33 McLaughlin & Stern — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
  34. 34 New York | Akinfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  35. 35 New York | Akinfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  36. 36 Private Equity | Akinfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  37. 37 Akin Gump — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  38. 38 Blank Rome — New York office pagesfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  39. 39 Blank Rome — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  40. 40 Blank Rome — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  41. 41 Our offices | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  42. 42 U.S. Summer Program | Davis Polkfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  43. 43 Davis Polk & Wardwell — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  44. 44 Mergers & Acquisitions | Davis Polkfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  45. 45 Locations | Global Law Firm | DLA Piperfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  46. 46 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  47. 47 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  48. 48 Law Firm in New York City, NY | DLA Piperfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  49. 49 Office Locations | Fried Frankfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  50. 50 New York | Office Location | Fried Frankfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  51. 51 Tax | Fried Frankfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  52. 52 Fried Frank — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  53. 53 Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  54. 54 New York | Locations | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  55. 55 Private Equity | Services | Kirkland & Ellis LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  56. 56 Kirkland & Ellis — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  57. 57 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  58. 58 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  59. 59 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  60. 60 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  61. 61 Offices Archive | Harris Beach Murthafirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  62. 62 Harris Beach Murtha — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  63. 63 Harris Beach Murtha — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  64. 64 New York | Locations | Mayer Brownfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  65. 65 New York | Locations | Mayer Brownfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  66. 66 Mayer Brown expands and strengthens New York presence with major office expansion | News | Mayer Brownfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  67. 67 New York Office | Milbank LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  68. 68 Banking and Leveraged Finance | Milbank LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  69. 69 Milbank — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  70. 70 New York - Offices - Proskauer Rose LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  71. 71 Private Equity - Industries - Proskauer Rose LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  72. 72 Proskauer — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  73. 73 Ropes & Gray Expands Presence in New York with New Office Lease | News & Events | Ropes & Gray LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  74. 74 Ropes & Gray — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  75. 75 Ropes & Gray — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  76. 76 New York Office | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-20
  77. 77 New York Office | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-20
  78. 78 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-20
  79. 79 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  80. 80 Find Us | Barclay Damonfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  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. 84 183 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
  85. 85 183 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
  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 Barclay Damon Move to Larger NYC Office Part of Major Markets Growth | 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 · G3 · 2026-07-21
  91. 91 New York | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  92. 92 Where We Work | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-21
  93. 93 Cleary Gottlieb — attorney bios & practice pagesfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-21
  94. 94 Markets Group’s 14th Private Equity New York Forum | Events | Cleary Gottliebfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-21
  95. 95 Contact - Farrell Fritzfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  96. 96 Contact - Farrell Fritzfirm_website · G1 · 2026-07-22
  97. 97 Careers - Farrell Fritzfirm_website · G2 · 2026-07-22
  98. 98 Farrell Fritz — New York news & announcementsfirm_website · G3 · 2026-07-22
22 Jul 2026 Scope-aware market-relative core assembled.
22 Jul 2026 98 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 Tax Planning & Controversy law firms in New York?

Who leads Tax Planning & Controversy work in New York? As of July 2026, Market leaders are Hodgson Russ, Withersworldwide, Baker McKenzie, Bond Schoeneck & King. Sartori does not name a single number-one firm; the gap inside Tier 1 is treated as unmeasurable, and the wider board of 20 firms uses worded tiers only.

Is Hodgson Russ the best Tax Planning & Controversy law firm in New York?

Hodgson Russ sits in Tier 1 — Market leaders — of Sartori's New York Tax Planning & Controversy board as of July 2026, alongside Withersworldwide, Baker McKenzie, Bond Schoeneck & King. 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 Tax Planning & Controversy benches in New York?

By mapped New York bench, the largest firms on this board are Davis Polk & Wardwell (50–99 mapped lawyers each), followed by Hodgson Russ, Withersworldwide, Baker McKenzie, Bond Schoeneck & King, McLaughlin & Stern, Kirkland & Ellis, Cleary Gottlieb (25–49). All counts are bands, never precise headcounts.

Which Tax Planning & Controversy 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 Hodgson Russ, Withersworldwide, Baker McKenzie, Bond Schoeneck & King. 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.