Best Law Firms in Boston: Top 10 Picks for 2023
Tom Borman* Boston has always been a hot property city for lawyers, including the famed television shows Boston Legal, Ally McBeal and others. And I wrote recently about the largest law firms in Boston, but many requested that there also be a list of the best law firms in Boston. That is a challenge, because Boston is also a city that has some of the best law firms in the United States.
These law firms have a reputation for providing top-notch legal services to their clients. They have a team of experienced lawyers who specialize in various areas of the law, including corporate law, intellectual property law, litigation, and more.
One of the most respected ranking systems for law firms, despite their less-than-stellar rep for listing the top law schools, is the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms list. The USN&WR list ranks law firms based on their expertise, reputation, and client feedback, which includes several Boston firms.
That said, there are also boutiques and other practices in Boston that provide specialist services at the highest level and choosing the ‘best firm’ is always based upon exactly what you require in terms of specialty, service, fee level and all the other factors that go into selecting a top law firm.
Lets look at 10 of the top firms based on the current state of play regarding surveys, reports, lists and all the other factors that go into making a list of this sort.
Top 5 Law Firms in Boston
Boston is home to some of the best law firms in the country, and choosing the right one for your legal needs can be a daunting task. Here are the top 5 law firms in Boston:
1. Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray is consistently ranked as one of the best law firms in Boston, and for good reason. With over 1,400 lawyers and professionals, the firm provides a wide range of legal services to clients around the world with a strong reputation for excellence in the areas of private equity, M&A, and life sciences, among others.
The firm is also known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and has been recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ employees.
2. Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter is another top law firm in Boston, with a focus on technology, life sciences, and private equity. The firm has over 1,000 lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and is known for its innovative approach to legal services.
Goodwin Procter has been recognized as one of the best places to work for women and for LGBTQ+ employees, and is committed to diversity and inclusion.
3. WilmerHale
WilmerHale is a global law firm with offices in Boston, New York, Washington DC, and other cities around the world. It shares its headquarters between Boston and Washington DC.
Formed in 2004 through the merger of the Boston-based firm Hale and Dorr and the Washington-based, firm Wilmer Cutler & Pickering it continues to grow and now has over 1,000 lawyers and professionals, and provides a wide range of legal services to clients in a variety of industries.
The firm is known for its expertise in litigation, regulatory and government affairs, and intellectual property, among others.
4. Choate Hall & Stewart
Choate Hall & Stewart is a Boston-based law firm with a focus on litigation, corporate, and private equity. This is a real Boston-based firm that is home grown and has over 200 lawyers and professionals, and has been recognized as one of the best law firms in Boston for its work in these areas.
Choate Hall & Stewart is also committed to diversity and inclusion, and has been recognized as one of the best places to work for women and for LGBTQ+ employees.
The firm’s attorneys are alsodeeply involved in the Bosto n business community, serving on boards and committees for numerous organizations.
5. Mintz Levin
Mintz Levin is a full-service law firm with offices in Boston, New York, Washington DC, and other cities around the world. The firm has over 500 lawyers and professionals, and provides a wide range of legal services to clients in a variety of industries. Mintz Levin is known for its expertise in healthcare, technology, and intellectual property, among others.
6. Kirkland & Ellis
It’s a heavyweight biglaw leader in revenue terms and in sheer size, but Kirkland & Ellis also has a strong Bostonian presence with 50 partners in the city, covering all its usual transactional, tax, property and litigation offerings.
According to recent reports in the Financial Times, Kirkland & Ellis globally has defied a slump in transactional work with revenues approaching $6.5bn last year, up 8 per cent.
The firm, which is a prolific corporate adviser, reported the information on its 2022 calendar year results to The American Lawyer. Its 505 equity partners, who share in the profits, took home $7.5mn on average, up from $7.4mn the previous year. A great year for one of the major firms in the world and a leader in Boston law too.
7. Foley Hoag
Here is a Boston firm, founded in the city in 1947 and with over 220 lawyers in the city. The firm is strong in life sciences, technology and energy but provides a full range of services, as you might imagine with a major firm of this kind.
The firm recently announced its first office in the northeast with a Denver branch being announced.
8. Nutter McClennen & Fish
With 140 lawyers Nutter McClennen & Fish also has a long history, extending back to 1879. Soundly rooted in Boston life the firm provides services across the board including in corporate law, litigation and IP law, including technology issues and general commercial and real estate legal work.
9. Skadden
It is hard to ever go past Skadden Arps as one of the leading global law firms, which also has a strong Boston presence. The New York-based legal powerhouse has one of the largest transactional and M&A practices anywhere, but it provides a full range of legal services and has developed a top reputation among the Boston legal and business community.
Skadden’s forte may remain M&A with deals such as DuPont-Conoco, U.S. Steel-Marathon Oil, and the 1989 takeover of RJR Nabisco, which propelled the firm into the highest echelon of US law firms. However it is truly a fully-equipped law firm, including some of the nation’s top litigators and top tax lawyers. Never underestimate Skadden Arps.
10. Sullivan & Worcester
Another Boston ‘native’, Sullivan & Worcester was founded in the city in 1941 and has developed into a full service firm of around 180 lawyers with offices also in New York, Washington DC and London.
The firm has specialist interests in technology, energy, finance and is also fully involved with the Boston business community and other organizations.
Boston’s Growth and Areas of Specialization
Boston continues to grow as one of the US’s most significant and historic cities. It is home to a diverse range of businesses and activities, but some of the fastest-growing industries in the city, which has lead to the development of some highly specialized legal departments in major law firms and some specialist boutique law firms, including those focused upon:
- Technology: Boston is known for its thriving tech scene, with many startups and established companies in the industry. The city is home to a number of incubators and accelerators, as well as major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
- Healthcare: Boston is also a hub for healthcare and life sciences, with many hospitals, research institutions, and biotech companies located in the city. The Longwood Medical and Academic Area is home to some of the world’s leading medical facilities and research centers.
- Education: The city is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Harvard, MIT, and Boston University. The city is also home to many other colleges and universities, as well as a thriving education technology industry.
- Hospitality and tourism: Boston attracts millions of visitors each year, and the hospitality and tourism industry is a significant contributor to the city’s economy. The city is home to many hotels, restaurants, and attractions, and hosts major events like the Boston Marathon and the Boston Wine Festival.
- Creative industries: Boston is also known for its thriving arts and culture scene, with many museums, galleries, and theaters located in the city. The city is home to many creative professionals, including writers, artists, and designers, who have helped develop intellectual property legal expertise among the legal fraternity.
Specializations of Boston Law Firms
Although Boston is home to some of the best law firms in the country it should not mean that a choice for the ‘best law firm in Boston’ should avoid some of the players that are emerging. The Boston legal scene is dynamic with changes occurring regularly.
The recent move by two senior lawyers from Testa to Bond Schoeneck & King has seen the sort of changes that continue with new expertise and speciality practises developing.
Similarly, three Boston-based attorneys left Hogan Lovells to open up a new law firm focused on white-collar criminal matters and complex civil litigation, a key areas of legal specialisation. Their new firm is Silva, Kettlewell and Pignatelli.
And one of the recent major changes also has been the move by Biglaw firm Clyde & Co, which is in the top 20 UK law firms, which recently took over 14-lawyer Boston-based firm Hermes Netburn O’Connor & Spearing.
Major law firm Saul Ewing, with a major office in Boston, has also beefed up its litigation work with senior hires.
1. Litigation
Boston law firms have a strong reputation for their litigation practices and all the above firms have strong department in this area.
These firms specialize in representing clients in a variety of legal disputes, including commercial litigation, employment disputes, and personal injury cases. Among the top practices are –
- Ropes & Gray
- WilmerHale
- Goodwin Procter
2. Corporate Law
Boston is also known for its strong corporate law practices as a major commercial center with its long history as a major port, manufacturing center and also a center for education and cultural activities. More recently there has also been a strong growth in technology businesses in Boston.
A 2019 survey by KPMG ranked Boston in the top 10 cities in the world to become the “leading technology innovation hub outside of Silicon Valley over the next four years”. Certainly since then the wider Boston area has continued to expand its tech business operations. Law firms have developed expertise in these areas too, with some of the major commercial law firms including –
- Choate Hall & Stewart
- Goodwin Procter
- WilmerHale
3. Intellectual Property
Boston is home to many of the top intellectual property law firms in the country and with its strong tech and education operations there have also been a strong growth in both biglaw IP law practises and also boutique IP law firms that specialize in these areas.
The large law firms specialize in protecting and enforcing clients’ intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Some of the top intellectual property law firms in Boston include:
- Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
- Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks
- Nutter McClennen & Fish
4. Real Estate Law
Real estate is a major industry in Boston as it is in any major city, and as such, there are many law firms that specialize in real estate law. These firms advise clients on a range of real estate matters, including acquisitions, leasing, and financing. Some of the top real estate law firms in Boston include:
- Goulston & Storrs
- Nixon Peabody
- Sullivan & Worcester
5. Tax Law
Boston is also home to many top tax law firms, which specialize in advising clients on a range of tax matters, including tax planning, compliance, and controversy.
Some of the top tax law firms in Boston include:
- Sullivan & Worcester
- Choate Hall & Stewart
- Foley Hoag
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Law Firm
Choosing the right law firm can be challenging with the range of law firms in Boston which include the largest law firms in the world, as noted in our earlier article on the largest law firms in Boston.
Here are some of the key actors to consider when choosing a law firm:
1. Expertise and Experience
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a law firm is its expertise and experience in the area of law that you require assistance with. For example, if you are seeking help with a patent issue, you will want to find a law firm with a strong background in patent law. Similarly, if you are dealing with a personal injury case, you will want to find a law firm with experience in that area of law.
It is also important to consider the level of experience of the individual attorneys who will be working on your case. You may want to ask about the attorney’s track record in similar cases, as well as their success rate.
2. Reputation and Track Record
The reputation and track record of a law firm can also be an important factor to consider. You may want to research the law firm’s reputation online, including reviews from previous clients and ratings from legal directories such as Chambers and Partners.
It is also important to consider the law firm’s track record in similar cases. You may want to ask for references from previous clients, or research the law firm’s success rate in cases similar to yours.
3. Client Service and Communication
Client service and communication are also important factors to consider when choosing a law firm. You will want to find a law firm that is responsive to your needs and questions, and that keeps you informed about the progress of your case.
You may want to ask about the law firm’s communication policies, including how often you can expect to hear from your attorney and how quickly they will respond to your emails and phone calls.
4. Cost and Billing Practices
Finally, you will want to consider the cost and billing practices of the law firm. You may want to ask about the law firm’s hourly rates and whether they offer alternative fee arrangements, such as contingency fees or flat fees.
You may also want to ask about the law firm’s billing practices, including how often you can expect to receive invoices and whether they offer detailed billing statements.
The Boston Law Conclusion
It is clear that Boston is home to some of the most prestigious law firms in the United States, with a reputation for excellence across a wide range of legal practice areas and it continues to grow its legal expertise. Whether one is seeking legal representation for a complex corporate matter, a high-stakes litigation case, or a personal legal issue, there are any number of options among Boston law firms.
Ultimately, the best law firm for a particular individual or business will depend on their unique needs and circumstances. We will keep an eye on developments in the Boston law scene and update with new developments as they arise.
Author –
Tom Borman writes on legal and marketing matters and has been involved in podcasts and online reporting around marketing and legal matters for the past eight years. He may be contacted at publish@bow-press.com.
