NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NYSE Governance Services (NYSE:ICE), a leading provider of corporate governance, risk, ethics and compliance services for public and privately held companies along with FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced the results of the 15th Annual America’s Best Corporate Law Firms Study, a comprehensive ranking by U.S. corporate directors and general counsel of the top 25 corporate law firms.
New York’s Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP received the top ranking among corporate directors, a position it has held since the first survey in 2001. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz also maintained its top ranking among general counsel, a position it’s held since 2013. Both Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Director ranking: 10) and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (General Counsel ranking: 14) jumped considerably from prior years’ rankings and several previously unranked firms made new appearances to this year’s lists.
“FTI Consulting salutes each of the law firms recognized for the outstanding service they deliver and the reputations they have established,” said Neal Hochberg, Global Leader of the Forensic & Litigation Consulting segment of FTI Consulting. “These rankings are particularly noteworthy because they come from corporate directors and general counsel, and join them in congratulating the honorees on their exceptional achievements.”
"Boards and general counsel have increasingly stressed the advisory role of corporate law firms as invaluable legal resources to public companies,” said Stacey Cunningham, President, NYSE Governance Services. “As a reputable source of information in the GRC space, we are proud to offer the most trusted survey of the industry leaders.”
America’s Best Corporate Law Firms reflects the views of more than 500 participating directors and general counsel of publicly traded companies. Conducted from February to April 2015, the survey was a part of NYSE Governance Services’ Annual Law in the Boardroom Study, which asks directors and general counsel of U.S. publicly traded companies to weigh in on current governance and legal matters.
2015 National Law Firm – Directors’ Rankings (with 2014 rankings in parentheses)
| 1. | SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP (1) | |
| 2. | JONES DAY (3) | |
| 3. | WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ (2) | |
| 4. | SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP (4) | |
| 5. | CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP (6) | |
| 6. | LATHAM & WATKINS LLP (5) | |
| 7. | DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP (7) | |
| 8. | GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP (9) | |
| 9. | BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP (8) | |
| 10. | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP (17) | |
| 11. | WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI (10) | |
| 12. | KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP (13) | |
| 13. | WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP (16) | |
| 14. | SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP (12) | |
| 15. | BAKER BOTTS LLP (-) | |
| 16. | GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP (-) | |
| 17. | PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP (14) | |
| 18. | SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP (11) | |
| 19. | WHITE & CASE LLP (19) | |
| 20. | SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP (18) | |
| 21. | VINSON & ELKINS LLP (25) | |
| 22. | DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP (-) | |
| 23. | FOLEY & LARDNER LLP (25) | |
| 24. | FOLEY HOAG LLP (-) | |
|
25. |
KING & SPALDING LLP (15) |
Source: NYSE Governance Services/FTI Consulting, America’s Best Corporate Law Firms, 2015
2015 National Law Firms – General Counsel Rankings (with 2014 rankings in parentheses)
| 1. | WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ (1) | |
| 2. | LATHAM & WATKINS LLP (4) | |
| 3. | JONES DAY (3) | |
| 4. | SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP (6) | |
| 5. | SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP (2) | |
| 6. | SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP (7) | |
| 7. | DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP (8) | |
| 8. | GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP (5) | |
| 9. | BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP (9) | |
| 10. | DLA PIPER LLP (11) | |
| 11. | COVINGTON & BURLING LLP (-) | |
| 12. | CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE LLP (17) | |
| 13. | KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP (14) | |
| 14. | WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI (22) | |
| 15. | SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP (15) | |
| 16. | MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP (12) | |
| 17. | MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP (16) | |
| 18. | WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP (25) | |
| 19. | PERKINS COIE LLP (-) | |
| 20. | NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT LLP (18) | |
| 21. | FOLEY HOAG LLP (-) | |
| 22. | KING & SPALDING LLP (20) | |
| 23. | LITTLER MENDELSON P.C. (24) | |
| 24. | HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP (-) | |
| 25. | (tie) GOODWIN PROCTER LLP (21) | |
| (tie) O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP (-) | ||
| (tie) REED SMITH LLP (10) |
Source: NYSE Governance Services/FTI Consulting, America’s Best Corporate Law Firms, 2015
NYSE Governance Service and FTI Consulting hosted the eighth annual Legal Recognition Dinner at the New York Stock Exchange on May 12, 2015. The event, sponsored by Georgeson, Computershare and Second City Works, honored distinguished general counsel and the top 25 national corporate law firms as identified by board members and general counsel in the 2015 survey.
About NYSE Governance Services
NYSE Governance Services is an integrated suite of resources for public and privately held companies worldwide seeking to create a leadership advantage through corporate governance, risk, ethics, and compliance practices. NYSE Governance Services leverages the expertise of Corpedia®, a leader in risk assessment and e-learning for ethics and compliance, and Corporate Board Member®, a trusted source on governance matters for company directors and C-level executives-both NYSE companies. NYSE Governance Services offers a range of training programs, advisory services, benchmarking analysis and scorecards, exclusive access to peer-to-peer events, and thought leadership on key governance topics for company directors and C-level executives. http://www.nyse.com/governance
Join our NYSE Governance Services group on LinkedIn and follow @nysegov on Twitter for news, trends and events about corporate governance, risk, ethics and compliance from NYSE Governance Services.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,400 employees located in 26 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The Company generated $1.76 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2014. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Intercontinental Exchange
Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE) operates the leading network of regulated exchanges and clearing houses. ICE’s futures exchanges and clearing houses serve global commodity and financial markets, providing risk management and capital efficiency. The New York Stock Exchange is the world leader in capital raising and equities trading.
Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located at www.intercontinentalexchange.com/terms-of-use
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC on February 5, 2015.
SOURCE: Intercontinental Exchange
ICE-EQ
