Best Law Firms by Region
Associates rate the reputations of peer firms in their own regions. These rankings reveal the most prestigious law firms by region across the U.S. Vault's 2025 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from January 2024 through March 2024.
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2025 Best Law Firms in the Midwest
Kirkland & Ellis
A legal giant—both in size and reputation—Kirkland is known for its private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory, and internal investigations work, with lawyers working across more than 60 practice areas for high-profile clients. With over 3,500 attorneys across 20 offices and a commitment to ‘innovative and comprehensive legal education and development,’ Kirkland is the perfect firm for driven individuals who are ready to take control of their legal careers.
SCORE 8.245
2024 Ranking
#1
Jones Day
With a Midwestern culture of collegiality and teamwork, Jones Day is among the best of the best in the legal industry. Home to more than 2,400 attorneys in dozens of worldwide offices, clients can call upon its vast resources and exceptional legal talent across jurisdictions and practice areas. Associates love the interesting work, friendly culture, and commitment to pro bono service.
SCORE 7.820
2024 Ranking
#2
Skadden
With practices from M&A to tax, Skadden is a legal powerhouse and mainstay among the most prestigious firms in Vault’s Top 100 ranking. Skadden lawyers are a social bunch who value teamwork and mentorship, and they dive headfirst into complex matters. From New York to Hong Kong, the Skadden name is known worldwide, with nearly 1,700 attorneys across eight U.S. offices and 13 international offices. Exit opportunities are endless for Skadden attorneys due to the firm’s strong alumni network and prestigious name. Attorneys are committed to pro bono work and are encouraged from day one to find a pro bono matter that sparks their interest to benefit the community.
SCORE 7.469
2024 Ranking
#3
Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused firm with over 20 offices in the United States, including a virtual office, The Link. The firm represents clients worldwide in major industries including energy and natural resources; financial services and capital markets; food systems; healthcare, life sciences, and education; real estate, development, and construction; and technology, manufacturing, and transportation.
SCORE 6.028
2024 Ranking
#11
Faegre Drinker
Faegre Drinker, established only recently, in 2020, has roots in law firms founded in the mid-1800s. The firm has undergone a series of combinations, and is now an international firm with 1,200 attorneys and consulting professionals licensed in nearly every state in the United States and offices in London and Shanghai. It provides a full range of transactional, litigation, and regulatory services. Associates are taught extensively by partners, and they appreciate the firm's commitment to pro bono work.
SCORE 5.932
2024 Ranking
#4
BCLP
Following a “One Firm” model through which lawyers frequently work across offices and borders, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is a friendly, collegial firm where associates and partners get along famously. Lawyers take their work seriously but are also happy to socialize with colleagues both during and after work hours.
SCORE 5.689
2024 Ranking
#12
Polsinelli
As a rare law firm not founded in one of the nation’s largest cities, Polsinelli has impressively grown and includes 23 offices coast to coast and is home to more than 1,000 attorneys. The firm excels in both client services and client relationships. Associates appreciate the firm’s laid-back culture and their relationships with partners.
SCORE 5.689
2024 Ranking
#13
Dentons
As a global giant, Dentons provides a plethora of opportunities for associates to develop their legal careers. Meaningful mentorship complements early responsibility, and many associates envision long-term careers at the firm. The Dentons culture is supportive and social, and associates work hard but feel that their life outside the firm is respected.
SCORE 5.673
2024 Ranking
#7
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
With 625 attorneys spread across 12 offices, no issue is impossible for Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP to handle. The firm handles a variety of legal issues, including transactional, employment and labor relations, litigation, and real estate. But Taft does not stay in the boardroom, its attorneys give back to the communities they call home by volunteering and supporting various public services that help improve lives. A firm that cares about more than results is rare to find but it exists in the form of Taft.
SCORE 5.594
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Foley & Lardner LLP
Talk about history—Foley & Lardner was founded in Wisconsin when it was still a territory and not yet a state. From humble beginnings in Milwaukee in 1842 to substantial growth in the past 50 years, Foley has become a 26-office , 1,100-attorney force in the legal world. The firm is known for work in intellectual property, corporate law, and litigation—especially as these matters relate to the energy, healthcare, life science, innovative technology, and manufacturing sectors.
SCORE 5.570
2024 Ranking
#8
Stinson LLP
Stinson LLP is a force in the Midwest, with offices throughout Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota. It has expanded beyond its roots over the years, with additional offices in Arizona, DC, New York, and Texas. The firm is home to nearly 500 attorneys who work across dozens of practice areas and industries. Stinson is a full-service firm, with practices ranging from business litigation and corporate finance to energy and environmental to IP and employment to real estate and securities—plus many more.
SCORE 5.541
2024 Ranking
#10
Lathrop GPM LLP
Lathrop GPM is a full-service firm that was formed in January 2020 when Kansas City firm Lathrop Gage and Minneapolis firm Gray Plant Mooty joined forces to become one. The newly combined firm boasts a count of more than 400 attorneys in 13 offices throughout the Midwest and beyond, and it offers its clients a broad range of legal services.
SCORE 5.423
2024 Ranking
#16
Fox Rothschild
With an eye toward continuous growth, Fox Rothschild has been steadily expanding over the years. With nearly 1,000 attorneys across 30 U.S.-based offices, the firm has established niche areas, including cannabis and media and entertainment. The firm gives its attorneys independence and flexibility, creating a top-notch work-life balance and respectful atmosphere. Associates looking for a firm with which to grow long term should look no further than Fox Rothschild.
SCORE 5.255
2024 Ranking
#14
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg spans the country, with 20 offices from LA to DC. But it still remains true to its Midwestern roots and boasts an “uncommon” culture promoting diversity, inclusion, and work-life balance. The firm counsels across numerous industries, including agriculture and food, education, energy, entertainment, financial services, government and public finance, health care, life sciences, and manufacturing.
SCORE 5.233
2024 Ranking
#17
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
With more than 1,500 lawyers worldwide, Squire Patton Boggs is a global force. The firm takes pride in its efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, and it serves clients across the world with a “business has no borders” mindset.
SCORE 5.191
2024 Ranking
#5
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Dorsey & Whitney was founded more than 100 years ago and has expanded from its original office in Minneapolis to 20 U.S. and international offices, including ones in Canada, Europe, and Asia. Beyond providing a full range of legal services, Dorsey has a strong pro bono presence and has been recognized for diversity efforts. Many notable judicial and political figures have passed through the firm’s doors.
SCORE 5.117
2024 Ranking
#15
BakerHostetler
BakerHostetler’s culture reflects its Midwest roots—professional yet warm and welcoming. Associates are also treated to strong mentorship and transparent leadership. The cutting-edge IncuBaker team is representative of the firm’s commitment to innovation, especially in helping clients navigate the intersection of digital business, emerging technologies, and the law.
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SCORE 5.020
2024 Ranking
#9
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
With offices in 16 locations throughout the U.S. and one in London, Shook, Hardy & Bacon has built a reputation as a top firm in a number of practices, but it is especially regarded for its expertise in complex litigation and products liability. Shook is a strong supporter of associate development, offering in-house training that covers topics including writing, negotiations, and trial skills. The firm is particularly well known in the product liability area, especially for its work on behalf of pharmaceutical, medical device, technology, and automotive companies.
SCORE 4.976
2024 Ranking
#18
Fredrikson & Byron P.A.
Fredrikson & Byron is a Midwestern law firm that prides itself on being “where law and business meet.” The firm has eight offices across the Midwest, including Minneapolis, Ames, Bismark, Des Moines, Fargo, Madison, Mankato, and St. Paul, along with two international offices in Mexico and China. Fredrikson attorneys function as business advisors and strategic partners in conjunction with serving as legal counselors in areas from real estate and intellectual property to trusts and estates and tax law, with a particular focus in business litigation. The firm adheres to four main tenets in cultivating its culture: democratic management, entrepreneurial approach, stability, and balance.
SCORE 4.863
2024 Ranking
#19
Thompson Coburn LLP
Thompson Coburn is headquartered in St. Louis but has a coast-to-coast wingspan. No matter what type of law you want to practice, you’ll find it here—the firm has groups from admiralty and maritime law to mass tort litigation to white collar defense. The firm’s robust litigation practice covers such areas as banking and financial services litigation, business litigation, appellate, insurance litigation, IP litigation, securities and investment litigation, trust and estate litigation, white collar defense, and more.
SCORE 4.750
2024 Ranking
#27
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Armstrong Teasdale is a full-service firm focused on providing excellent client service—which it refers to as “Client CultivATion.” The firm boasts more than 340 attorneys in 13 locations who represent Fortune 100 and 500 companies as well as mid-sized and individual clients.
SCORE 4.673
2024 Ranking
#25
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Labor and employment law is Littler Mendelson’s forte, and it dominates on an international scale. The firm has a massive footprint, with more than 1,500 attorneys across 58 offices nationwide and 36 abroad. Littler exclusively represents management, but its clients come in all sizes and industries, from Fortune 500 corporations to small, single-office businesses. The firm has also received a number of awards for its diversity initiatives and is known for offering its clients innovative solutions.
SCORE 4.659
2024 Ranking
#20
Lewis Rice LLC
Lewis Rice is a full-service Midwest firm with more than 150 attorneys across six offices—five in Missouri and one just beyond the border in Kansas. Though the firm’s presence is concentrated in Missouri, Lewis Rice serves clients with local, regional, and nationwide reach. As a full-service firm, Lewis Rice handles almost any dispute or transaction, making it a firm that clients choose for the long haul.
SCORE 4.587
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Quarles & Brady LLP
Born of a Badger State merger, Quarles and Brady has grown from its Midwest roots to ten offices nationwide. Among the firm’s strengths include corporate matters, intellectual property, health care, labor and employment, and real estate, and the firm navigates legal issues on behalf of Midwest heavyweights such as Molson Coors and Harley Davidson. The firm has also been widely recognized for its efforts to support women in the legal industry.
SCORE 4.552
2024 Ranking
#29
Ice Miller LLP
Ice Miller is a full-service law firm with more than 300 lawyers and more than 50 paraprofessionals in its offices in Illinois; Ohio; Indiana; New York; Pennsylvania; and Washington, DC. The firm has a loyal client base that includes many top businesses in the Midwest and nationwide. Some names you probably recognize include Baxter Healthcare, DaimlerChrysler Motors, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and The Coca-Cola Company.
SCORE 4.477
2024 Ranking
#23
Robins Kaplan LLP
Robins Kaplan is a litigation powerhouse, with a resume full of victories across industries and practices. The firm is especially known for its strengths in antitrust, intellectual property & technology litigation, insurance, mass torts, and plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. Founded in Minneapolis, the firm has broadened its reach beyond the Midwest with offices across California, Massachusetts, New York, and the Dakotas. Beyond on-the-job training, professional development is a priority that the firm bolsters through its six-year trial academy program.
SCORE 4.400
2024 Ranking
#28
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
With more than 650 attorneys in 27 cities throughout the country, Dinsmore & Shohl serves both local interests in areas like Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, as well as national business clients in corporate, transactional, finance, mass torts, and other matters. Dinsmore's midwestern base hasn't limited the broad range of corporate clients and individuals it represents, in industries including construction, energy, financial services, health care, manufacturing, natural resources, real estate, and technology.
SCORE 4.338
2024 Ranking
#26
Tucker Ellis
Tucker Ellis has a national reputation for its trial work, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutical, mass torts, product liability, class action, and other commercial litigation. The firm also has a sophisticated nationwide intellectual property and insurance capabilities, as well as strong real estate and corporate practices. Tucker Ellis launched in 2003 with a group of 65 lawyers. Since then, the firm has grown to more than 200 lawyers, who practice across the firm's seven offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and St. Louis.
SCORE 4.257
2024 Ranking
#22
Honigman LLP
Honigman is the largest law firm in metro Detroit and one of the largest law firms headquartered in Michigan, with more than 300 lawyers operating out of six offices in the Wolverine State, as well as offices in Chicago and Washington, DC. The firm attorneys work in more than 60 practice areas, from advertising to zoning, and serve clients locally, nationally, and internationally.
SCORE 4.248
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Thompson Hine
Thompson Hine has a long history in Ohio, but it serves big-name clients state- and nationwide. The firm boasts strengths is such discrete area as transportation and emerging companies, and it takes pride in being an innovator in the legal industry. Thompson Hine has national strength in numerous practice areas, including construction, transportation, environmental law, real estate, banking and finance, bankruptcy, corporate law, intellectual property, and litigation.
SCORE 4.217
2024 Ranking
#21
