Chambers USA 2026: 133 Kirkland Practice Areas and 316 Attorneys Ranked
In the 2026 edition of Chambers USA, 133 Kirkland practice areas and 316 Kirkland lawyers are listed among the best in the country. The Firm is ranked Band 1 in 65 categories and is recognized as a leading firm in 68 additional categories. Kirkland had 13 practice groups added to the rankings, 17 with improved rankings and 10 newly ranked Band 1. Additionally, Kirkland was honored among “The Elite” for Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate Crime & Investigations, Corporate/M&A, Litigation: General Commercial, and Product Liability & Mass Torts.
Chambers & Partners annually conducts extensive research and analysis — drawing on feedback from thousands of clients and peers worldwide — to compile an independent and objective list of the top legal talent. Ranked firms and individuals demonstrate technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and commitment.
Clients noted Kirkland provides “legal mastery" and "incredible client service, legal precision, commercial instinct and cross-functional capabilities."
Band 1 rankings include:
Nationwide
Antitrust
Asset Management M&A
Banking & Finance
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite
Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt
Capital Markets: Securitization: Whole Business
Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite
Corporate/M&A: The Elite
Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
Environment: Mainly Transactional
Government Relations: Congressional Investigations
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property: Appellate
Intellectual Property: Trade Secrets
Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright
International Trade: CFIUS Experts
International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337)
Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance
Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite
Oil & Gas Litigation
Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability
Private Equity: Fund Formation
Private Equity: Secondaries
Product Liability & Mass Torts: The Elite
Real Estate
Tax: Corporate & Finance
Regional
California
Banking & Finance
Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation
Private Equity: Buyouts
District of Columbia
Antitrust
Environment: Mainly Transactional
Intellectual Property: Litigation
Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite
Illinois
Antitrust
Banking & Finance
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Intellectual Property
Litigation: General Commercial
Litigation: Product Liability
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Real Estate
Tax
Technology & Outsourcing
Massachusetts
Banking & Finance
Corporate/M&A
Private Equity: Buyouts
Private Equity: Fund Formation
New York
Banking & Finance
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite
Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense
Corporate/M&A: The Elite
Intellectual Property: Patent
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets
Labor & Employment: Transactional
Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite
Private Equity: Buyouts
Real Estate: Mainly Corporate & Finance
Tax
Texas
Banking & Finance
Corporate/M&A: The Elite
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Houston & Surrounds)
Environment: Mainly Transactional
Private Equity: Buyouts
Tax
The Firm is also recognized in:
Advertising: Litigation
Antitrust: Cartel
Artificial Intelligence
Capital Markets: Debt & Equity
Capital Markets: Equity: Issuer Counsel
Capital Markets: Investment Grade Debt: Issuer Counsel
Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS
Climate Change
Derivatives
E-Discovery & Information Governance
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)
Energy: Electricity (Transactional)
Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation)
Energy Transition
FCPA
Healthcare
Impact Investing
Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
Life Sciences
Litigation: Securities
Media & Entertainment: Litigation
Media & Entertainment: Transactional
Offshore Energy
Outsourcing
Privacy & Data Security
Projects: Power
Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy
Registered Funds
REITs
Retail: Corporate & Transactional
Securities: Regulation: Enforcement
Sports Law
Tax: Controversy
Tax: Litigation
Technology
Transportation: Aviation: Litigation
Venture Capital: Fund Formation