Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting have released the latest edition of their annual survey of the top corporate law departments, as voted by 300 directors surveyed.
Skadden is #1 for the ninth year in a row. Wachtell’s rank and some observations, after the jump.
Jones Day, which I don’t recall doing anything of note on the corporate governance front this year (although three years ago they did help a board fight off pirates – literally), jumped from #7 to #2, bumping Cravath and Wachtell one spot each. Sullivan & Cromwell held steady at #5.
Cravath is Cravath, so whatever, but Wachtell is out there writing letters to the Wall Street Journal to help management remain entrenched, and all they get is a lousy fourth? What color ribbon does that even get?
Another odd result is Wilson Sonsini‘s coming in at #14 for the second year, so apparently they’ve been forgiven for the HP debacle.
Sidley (#15) and Fried Frank (#20) came onto the list, bumping Simpson Thacher and Akin Gump. Last I checked, Simpson’s John Finley was alive and kicking, writing and speaking frequently on matters of interest to boards, so I don’t know how he doesn’t singlehandedly merit the firm taking a top spot on the list.
Thoughts on the other honorees and omissions?
Related posts:
