Meet the 2015 A-List, our 13th annual ranking of the best of the best in the already exclusive world of Am Law 200 law firms. The 20 firms that made this list are best in show, excelling not just in a single area, but in four separate categories integral to a well-rounded, successful brand: finances, pro bono, associate satisfaction and diversity. It’s an uncommon firm that can pull this off, and as a result, the composition of this year’s A-List changed little from a year ago. Seventeen of the 20 firms on this year’s list were on 2014′s. Two others, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, are veterans of the list, having appeared on it as recently as 2011 and 2013, respectively. Just one firm, Williams & Connolly, is entirely new to the A-List.
And yet: Just two of this year’s firms, Debevoise & Plimpton and Latham & Watkins, have appeared on the list every year since its inauguration in 2003. Most of this year’s top 20 had humble showings 12 years ago and rose slowly thereafter. This year’s No. 1, Paul Hastings, was No. 52 in 2003. No. 10, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, was 67.
Williams & Connolly, which tied for No. 13 this year, was No. 84 the first time around.
