In the six years that Vault.com has surveyed the nation’s most prestigious law firms, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz has been the perennial also-ran, ranking second each year to first-place finisher Cravath, Swaine & Moore. This year, that changed, with Wachtell nudging Cravath out of first place.

Based on a survey of nearly 12,000 associates at more than 100 large law firms, Vault.com today released its annual list of the most prestigious law firms in the U.S., along with its lists of the best 20 law firms to work for and the best 20 law firms for diversity.

The top firms, ranked by prestige, are:

1. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

2. Cravath, Swaine & Moore

3. Sullivan & Cromwell

4. Davis Polk & Wardwell

5. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

6. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

7. Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton

8. Covington & Burling

9. Latham & Watkins

10. Weil, Gotshal & Manges

The best to work for are:

1. Winston & Strawn

2. Morrison & Foerster

3. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

4. Ropes & Gray

5. Davis Polk & Wardwell

6. Jenkens & Gilchrist

7. Alston & Bird

8. Haynes and Boone

9. Debevoise & Plimpton

10. Jenner & Block

The top ranking firms for diversity are:

1. Morrison & Foerster

2. Jenner & Block

3. Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn

4. Arnold & Porte

5. Davis Polk & Wardwell

6. Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner

7. Winston & Strawn

8. Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton

9. Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy

10. Preston Gates & Ellis

The complete, 744-page report, Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, 6th Edition, can be purchased for $34.95.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.