{"id":125124,"date":"2025-07-01T23:19:55","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/07\/01\/the-top-biglaw-firms-in-california-2026\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T23:19:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:19:55","slug":"the-top-biglaw-firms-in-california-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/07\/01\/the-top-biglaw-firms-in-california-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Biglaw Firms In California (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>California has a certain kind of easy-going vibe that\u2019ll make you appreciate that business casual lifestyle. Depending on where your office is located, you may even be able to see the beach from your window. In fact, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if your firm handed out flip-flops emblazoned with their logo (we see you, Quinn Emanuel). Whether you\u2019re into tech, litigation, or representing celebrities, there really is something for everyone. California really is top notch \u2014 but which firms are considered the best in the Golden State?<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Vault\u2019s recently released\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/vaults-top-law-firms-by-practice-area-and-region-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">regional rankings<\/a>, we now know which Biglaw firms are dominating the legal scene in California. This ranking is based on votes tabulated from associates who were asked to rate firms on a 1 to 10 scale based on their prestige within the region.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Northern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/northern-california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p>1. Cooley<br \/>1. Latham &amp; Watkins<br \/>3. Morrison Foerster<br \/>4. Wilson Sonsini<br \/>5. Kirkland &amp; Ellis<br \/>6. Skadden<br \/>7. Gibson Dunn<br \/>8. Orrick<br \/>9. Fenwick<br \/>10. Davis Polk<\/p>\n<p>And here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Southern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/southern-california#rankings-group-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p>1. Latham &amp; Watkins<br \/>2. Gibson Dunn<br \/>3. Kirkland &amp; Ellis<br \/>4. O\u2019Melveny &amp; Myers<br \/>5. Skadden<br \/>6. Munger Tolles &amp; Olson<br \/>7. Paul Hastings<br \/>8. Sidley Austin<br \/>9. Quinn Emanuel<br \/>10. Milbank<\/p>\n<p>Congrats to all of the Biglaw firms that made the latest edition of Vault\u2019s California rankings. How did your firm do this time around?\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:tips@abovethelaw.com?subject=%5BLaw%20Firm%5D%20Vault%20Rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Email us<\/a>, text us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/atlblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">@atlblog<\/a>\u00a0to let us know how you feel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/northern-california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">2026 Best Law Firms in Northern California<\/a>\u00a0[Vault]<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/southern-california#rankings-group-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">2026 Best Law Firms in Southern California<\/a>\u00a0[Vault]<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?w=1080&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Staci Zaretsky\" class=\"wp-image-441281\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to <a href=\"mailto:staci@abovethelaw.com\">email<\/a> her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/the-top-biglaw-firms-in-california-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Top Biglaw Firms In California (2026)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>California has a certain kind of easy-going vibe that\u2019ll make you appreciate that business casual lifestyle. Depending on where your office is located, you may even be able to see the beach from your window. In fact, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if your firm handed out flip-flops emblazoned with their logo (we see you, Quinn Emanuel). Whether you\u2019re into tech, litigation, or representing celebrities, there really is something for everyone. California really is top notch \u2014 but which firms are considered the best in the Golden State?<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Vault\u2019s recently released\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/vaults-top-law-firms-by-practice-area-and-region-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">regional rankings<\/a>, we now know which Biglaw firms are dominating the legal scene in California. This ranking is based on votes tabulated from associates who were asked to rate firms on a 1 to 10 scale based on their prestige within the region.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Northern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/northern-california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p>1. Cooley<br \/>1. Latham &amp; Watkins<br \/>3. Morrison Foerster<br \/>4. Wilson Sonsini<br \/>5. Kirkland &amp; Ellis<br \/>6. Skadden<br \/>7. Gibson Dunn<br \/>8. Orrick<br \/>9. Fenwick<br \/>10. Davis Polk<\/p>\n<p>And here are the top 10 most prestigious firms in Southern California (you can see the full list from Vault by clicking\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/southern-california#rankings-group-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p>1. Latham &amp; Watkins<br \/>2. Gibson Dunn<br \/>3. Kirkland &amp; Ellis<br \/>4. O\u2019Melveny &amp; Myers<br \/>5. Skadden<br \/>6. Munger Tolles &amp; Olson<br \/>7. Paul Hastings<br \/>8. Sidley Austin<br \/>9. Quinn Emanuel<br \/>10. Milbank<\/p>\n<p>Congrats to all of the Biglaw firms that made the latest edition of Vault\u2019s California rankings. How did your firm do this time around?\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:tips@abovethelaw.com?subject=%5BLaw%20Firm%5D%20Vault%20Rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Email us<\/a>, text us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/atlblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">@atlblog<\/a>\u00a0to let us know how you feel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/northern-california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">2026 Best Law Firms in Northern California<\/a>\u00a0[Vault]<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/best-companies-to-work-for\/law\/best-law-firms-in-each-us-region\/southern-california#rankings-group-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">2026 Best Law Firms in Southern California<\/a>\u00a0[Vault]<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?w=1080&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Staci Zaretsky\" class=\"wp-image-441281\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to <a href=\"mailto:staci@abovethelaw.com\">email<\/a> her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/the-top-biglaw-firms-in-california-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Top Biglaw Firms In California (2026)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California has a certain kind of easy-going vibe that\u2019ll make you appreciate that business casual lifestyle. Depending on where your office is located, you may even be able to see the beach from your window. In fact, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if your firm handed out flip-flops emblazoned with their logo (we see you, Quinn [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":125089,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Staci-Zaretsky-wmfPwB.jpeg?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}