The Legal 500 U.S. 2026: 69 Kirkland Practice Areas and 302 Attorneys Recognized

In the 2026 edition of The Legal 500 U.S., Kirkland is ranked as a leading firm in 69 categories, including 35 Tier 1 ratings. Additionally, 22 attorneys are featured in the “Hall of Fame,” 80 attorneys are named “Leading Lawyers” and 27 attorneys are recognized as “Next Generation Lawyers.”

The Legal 500 provides an objective analysis on law firms in the U.S. market in various areas of law. Rankings are based on in-depth research, including feedback from clients and peers, to highlight firms with a national presence and the capability to handle sophisticated and complex work. Ranked firms and individuals demonstrate qualities most valued by clients, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and commitment. Kirkland’s practices and individual attorneys have continually been recognized by The Legal 500.

Clients noted that “Kirkland boasts top-end legal talent, creative and hard-working attorneys, and the ability to handle even the most complex and sensitive matters. But what sets Kirkland apart from other top-tier firms is its deep bench – from top to bottom. Kirkland is far above its peers in both ability and breadth of experience and expertise of its attorneys.”

Tier 1 rankings include:

Antitrust – Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense
Dispute Resolution – Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates
Dispute Resolution – General Commercial Disputes
Dispute Resolution – M&A Litigation: Defense
Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Automotive/Transport
Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices – Defense
Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Toxic Tort - Defense
Dispute Resolution – Securities Litigation: Defense
Energy – Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas
Energy – Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power
Energy – Energy Regulation: Electric Power
Energy – Energy Regulation: Oil & Gas
Energy – Energy Transactions: Electric Power
Energy – Energy Transactions: Oil & Gas
Environment – Environment: Transactional
Finance – Capital Markets: High-yield Debt Offerings: Advice to Issuers
Finance – Commercial Lending: Advice to Borrowers
Finance – Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Corporate
Finance – Structured Finance: Securitization
Intellectual Property – Copyright
Intellctual Property – Patent Litigation: Full Coverage
Intellectual Property – Patent Litigation: International Trade Commission
Intellectual Property – Trade Secrets (Litigation and Non-contentious Matters)
Intellectual Property – Trademarks: Litigation
International Trade – CFIUS
Investment Funds – Private Equity Funds (Including Venture Capital)
Labor and Employment – Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional
M&A/Corporate and Commercial – M&A: Large Deals ($1BN+)
M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Private Equity Buyouts
M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Shareholder Activism: Advice to Boards
Media, Technology and Telecoms – Advertising and Marketing: Litigation
Media, Technology and Telecoms – Technology Transactions
Real Estate: Large cap ($500M+)
Tax – International Tax
Tax – US Taxes: Non-contentious

The Firm is also recognized in: