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 Atlanta
King & Spalding LLP
After almost 140 years in Atlanta, King & Spalding is now a global firm with 23 offices in 10 countries and more than 1,300 attorneys. The firm counsels clients in many industries, including transportation, energy, financial services, food and beverage, higher education, technology, and life sciences and healthcare. Focusing on trial, regulatory, and transactional work, King & Spalding balances BigLaw with a social, congenial, and family-friendly culture.
SCORE 9.195
2024 Ranking
#1
Alston & Bird
Alston & Bird is home to more than 800 attorneys working in eight major practice areas, including in areas for which the firm is recognized, namely, healthcare, privacy & data security, real estate, and tax. The culture is friendly and mentorship is strong across the board. Pro bono work is a source of pride for associates, encouraged by firm leadership, and supported through high billable credit.
SCORE 9.028
2024 Ranking
#2
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 7.723
2024 Ranking
#3
Kilpatrick
With roots in Atlanta dating back to the 1800s and 22 global offices, Kilpatrick is a worldwide force in the legal arena. Specifically, it is a leader in intellectual property and IP litigation, with clients such as Google, Meta, and Amazon.com, and they take pride in helping companies protect their most prized assets. Associates are treated well and enjoy complex but interesting work.
SCORE 7.422
2024 Ranking
#4
Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP
Bondurant Mixson & Elmore is prepared to go to trial for its clients, who range from Fortune 50 corporations to individuals. This small boutique is laser-focused on business litigation and is willing to represent clients on either side of a dispute—plaintiff or defendant. The firm remains local to Atlanta and operates with a lean team of around 30 attorneys. The firm only hires from top law schools, and a judicial clerkship certainly won’t hurt.
SCORE 7.144
2024 Ranking
#5
Troutman Pepper
Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton combined a century’s worth of legal expertise to form Troutman Pepper. The merger allowed the firm to expand its geographic presence and strengthen its focus on the firm’s key practice areas—energy, financial services, health sciences, private equity, and insurance. Attorney development is a priority of the firm, and numerous formal and informal trainings ensure that the firm maintains its innovative and client-valued services.
SCORE 7.104
2024 Ranking
#6
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland is a legal behemoth with thousands of lawyers practicing across areas such as corporate, energy, financial services, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax. Its top practice areas include tax law, in which the firm is active in every respect, from planning the most complex corporate tax transactions to representing taxpayers in administrative and judicial tax controversies. The firm also ranks high for associate quality of life, earning recognition for its training and mentorship programs.
SCORE 6.411
2024 Ranking
#7
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
With more than 150 attorneys across two offices—one in Atlanta, one in Washington, DC—Arnall Golden Gregory boasts an impressive book of clients. The firm’s robust corporate, litigation, and regulatory practices span across multiple industries and operate under the firm’s self-proclaimed “business sensible” approach. Though it only operates out of two offices, the firm has an impressive global presence, with practice groups based in four regions where it offers extensive legal services: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; Israel; Russia & the CIS; and Ireland and Northern Ireland.
SCORE 6.037
2024 Ranking
#10
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
At Greenberg Traurig, attorneys receive cutting-edge work with colleagues they enjoy spending time with. Pro bono is highly emphasized, and the firm strives to hire, retain, and promote diverse attorneys. Many attorneys at Greenberg have an entrepreneurial mindset and take responsibility for sophisticated matters with the support of brilliant mentors. Greenberg Traurig looks outside the traditional legal model to provide enhanced services to clients via innovation.
SCORE 6.000
2024 Ranking
#8
Paul Hastings LLP
Consistently among the top law firms for associate quality of life, Paul Hastings prioritizes mentorship, training, and long-term career development. Lawyers seeking an amiable, collaborative atmosphere where hard work and client service are valued will likely be a good fit at the firm. Attorneys enjoy significant substantive experience early in their careers at Paul Hastings and feel supported and mentored by the firm’s leaders. Commitment to diversity efforts is also among the many perks of working at the firm.
SCORE 5.897
2024 Ranking
#9
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
From an eight-attorney Atlanta real estate outfit, Morris, Manning & Martin has grown to become a reputable regional player in the Southeast with some international flex, particularly in China and Brazil. MMM is known for its strong trade group and has also turned heads with its corporate department, boasting a strong public securities offerings resumé. The firm’s corporate team is strong in venture capital as well, averaging about 50 VC deals annually and playing a constant role in Atlanta's ever-developing tech industry.
SCORE 5.821
2024 Ranking
#11
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Home to over 970 attorneys in over a dozen U.S. offices, Nelson Mullins is a powerhouse full-service firm with deep roots in the South. The firm handles over 100 different practice areas, and while they have some gripes about the compensation model, associates express near-total agreement with the firm’s sterling reputation for quality of work. The firm is also known for its commitment to pro bono work, with over 813,000 pro bono hours logged by firm attorneys since 1990.
SCORE 5.797
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 5.663
2024 Ranking
#17
McDermott Will & Emery
Sitting comfortably among the Vault 100 law firms, McDermott is best known for its work in healthcare and tax law—though its practices extend far beyond these. The firm is forward-thinking when it comes to wellness—it was the first to offer lawyers billable credit for participating in 25 wellness hours—and will appeal to those seeking a collegial, supportive environment.
SCORE 5.587
2024 Ranking
#12
Holland & Knight LLP
Associates at Holland & Knight enjoy their work and appreciate their colleagues. The firm is a true pro bono leader, especially when it comes to its work supporting veterans. For those hoping to make partner, the firm provides a realistic pathway. The firm crosses state and national borders with approximately 2,200 attorneys spread across 34 locations. Holland & Knight has a laid-back culture but takes service to the community seriously.
SCORE 5.568
2024 Ranking
#15
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 5.522
2024 Ranking
#16
McGuireWoods
McGuireWoods, home to over 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices worldwide, is a full-service firm that provides legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual, and nonprofit clients across a range of industries, including the banking and financial services, energy, healthcare, and private equity sectors. The firm is regularly recognized by BTI Consulting for client service and by The Financial Times for innovation. Associates have reported that McGuireWoods offers a welcoming environment where they are treated with respect by partners.
SCORE 5.419
2024 Ranking
#14
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Baker Donelson has a strong footprint in the southeastern U.S., with 22 offices spanning 11 states and Washington, DC. Over 600 attorneys provide representation to clients in over 30 practice areas, including public policy. Baker Donelson is business focused, with an emphasis on creating and implementing innovative solutions that reduce client cost, build on its Centers of Excellence practice areas, and promote business development opportunities for the firm and its attorneys.
SCORE 5.291
2024 Ranking
#18
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 5.171
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Seyfarth
Known best for its extensive experience in labor and employment, Seyfarth Shaw is a big firm that offers its lawyers tremendous opportunities to take the reins. Friendly colleagues and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge matters create a team-oriented atmosphere and a supportive environment for attorneys to develop their careers. Attorneys seeking a firm that offers a unique combination of autonomy and collaboration will fit in well here.
SCORE 4.993
2024 Ranking
#19
