Ranking tables
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite | USA
USA - Nationwide
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
- Brown Rudnick LLP 4 Years Ranked
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 4 Years Ranked
Jones Day 4 Years Ranked
Morrison Foerster 4 Years Ranked
Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP 4 Years Ranked
Proskauer Rose LLP 4 Years Ranked
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP 4 Years Ranked
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates 4 Years Ranked
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 4 Years Ranked
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 4 Years Ranked
Band 4
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 AkinBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedAkin is an impressive performer in key jurisdictions across the USA and around the globe, with distinguished attorneys handling the full array of bankruptcy and restructuring matters. The team has extensive strength in acting for creditors, as well as increasing debtor-side capabilities, and is well reputed for its representation of key parties in energy sector insolvencies. The group is further experienced in negotiations related to the pharmaceutical and technology industries.
1 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedDavis Polk offers exceptional strength in its preeminent group of bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys. The team is prominent on a wide range of insolvency cases, with considerable experience advising on DIP and exit financings, as well as the facilitation of distressed M&A. The firm's broad client list includes financial institutions, ad hoc creditor groups, municipalities and both US-based and international corporations, who turn to its experienced counsel in matters pertaining to the energy and natural resources sector, while also noted for its handling of sovereign debt matters.
1 Kirkland & EllisBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedKirkland & Ellis offers an outstanding practice with a deep bench that remains a popular choice for distressed companies seeking top quality representation on high profile bankruptcy and restructuring cases. It is also regularly engaged by major creditors, including private equity and hedge funds, and regarded as a dominant presence in Chapter 11 cases involving distressed energy sector clients. A strong presence across the firm's European and Asian offices enables the restructuring group to handle the most complex of cross-border cases.
1 Milbank LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedMilbank boasts an esteemed coast-to-coast practice with a comprehensive offering in insolvency and workout transactions. It is particularly highly rated for its creditor-side work on behalf of committees, lenders and equity security holders, among other clients, while also acting on behalf of debtors and the acquirers of distressed assets. The firm demonstrates impressive expertise in domestic and international Chapter 11 cases.
1 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedPaul, Weiss, fields a standout team of dedicated bankruptcy and restructuring experts commended for its handling of creditor and debtor-side engagements as well as representations of private equity sponsors and distressed companies. The team draws on firm-wide expertise in areas such as M&A, commercial litigation and tax to provide an impressive full-service practice in domestic and cross-border work, and has handled major cases in the energy, mining, retail and technology sectors, among others.
1 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 1 | 4 Years RankedWeil Gotshal offers a versatile team with significant expertise on major debtor workouts as well as the representation of creditors and asset purchasers. The group regularly handles complex restructurings with a contentious component, while its strong cross-border capabilities see it attract a broad client base, including hedge funds, financial institutions and blue-chip multinationals.
Band 2
2 Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years RankedKramer Levin has an excellent reputation for its representation of creditors and debtors in complex Chapter 9 and 11 engagements, and is particularly identified by market observers for the primacy of its creditors' committee practice. It is also widely praised for its strong bankruptcy litigation offering and ability to draw on additional strength in real estate and energy. The firm boasts an enviable client list of national and multinational corporates, hedge funds and distressed municipalities and has been active in a number of the largest and most complex matters of late, including major domestic and cross-border bankruptcies in the retail and energy sectors.
2 Latham & Watkins LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years RankedLatham & Watkins boasts a strong bench of bankruptcy attorneys advising stakeholders in restructurings on both the creditor and company sides. The team offers notable expertise in cross-border assignments spanning sectors such as retail and energy, where its enviable nationwide presence leads to an impressive skillset in international bankruptcies. Other areas of strength include prepackaged reorganizations, distressed M&A and bankruptcy litigation.
2 Paul Hastings LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 2 | 3 Years RankedPaul Hastings boasts highly rated practice groups with a proven track record in high-stakes, complicated bankruptcy proceedings, including those with cross-border elements involving Latin America. Clients benefit from a deep pool of industry experts across the United States, with expertise in committee, debtor and lender-side engagements.
2 White & Case LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 2 | 4 Years RankedWhite & Case is an established name in bankruptcy and restructuring law, particularly in relation to significant Chapter 11 and 15 filings. The firm's diverse client base spans creditor-side parties and debtors involved in both domestic and international proceedings. Additionally, its established contentious practice makes frequent appearances in high-stakes bankruptcy litigation, including those with mass tort aspects.
Band 3
3 Brown Rudnick LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedBrown Rudnick is considered a premier player in the area of bankruptcy litigation, frequently engaged by creditors and debtors on complex Chapter 11 cases. The team is often called upon by distressed investors to provide guidance in bankruptcy filings and is active across a range of sectors, including energy, hospitality, real estate and pharmaceuticals.3 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedCleary Gottlieb is widely recognized for its expert work on behalf of significant creditors, debtors and government agencies. The team is regularly called upon for its formidable expertise in cross-border restructurings, as well as demonstrating significant strength in bankruptcy litigation and sovereign debt restructurings, particularly those involving Latin American parties.3 Jones DayBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedJones Day is recognized as a global powerhouse with formidable capabilities in reorganizations, workouts and creditor claims. It is experienced in handling both debtor- and creditor-side mandates, advising across areas such as distressed M&A, mass tort-related restructurings and CDO issues. The firm counts leading hedge funds and multinational companies among its regular client roster.3 Morrison FoersterBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedMorrison Foerster offers a highly commended practice that assists a wide range of clients on the lender and company sides, but is particularly noted for its work with creditors' committees. It maintains a sterling reputation in US-based and multijurisdictional Chapter 11 proceedings, and also brings to bear extensive firmwide strength in tax, litigation and employee benefits when handling complex restructuring mandates.3 Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedPachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones boasts a comprehensive Los Angeles-headquartered bankruptcy and restructuring team with a broad clientele encompassing debtors, creditors, trustees and asset purchasers. The group offers notable strength in complex cross-border insolvencies and multijurisdictional Chapter 11 filings, while other areas of significant expertise include insolvency litigation, distressed M&A and out-of-court workouts.3 Proskauer Rose LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedProskauer advises across the full spectrum of bankruptcy and restructuring law for creditors, debtors and senior lenders, as well as private equity funds. It offers impressive strength in bankruptcy litigation, complemented by notable corporate governance capabilities, as well as additional capabilities in handling liquidations for entities such as offshore and onshore hedge funds and boards of directors.3 Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedQuinn Emanuel is home to a high-caliber bankruptcy litigation team often sought after by stakeholders in precedent-setting Chapter 11 filings. The firm houses recognized experts in the area of DIP financing and asset acquisition in contentious case and is also able to draw on notable cross-border experience, particularly in oil and gas bankruptcies.3 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & AffiliatesBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedSkadden is known for regularly acting on engagements covering multiple jurisdictions. The group is well equipped to undertake complex bankruptcy litigation on behalf of high profile clients, with an impressive track record in debtor-side representations. It provides expert counsel to distressed companies on pre-bankruptcy concerns, including planning for market illiquidity, as well as appearing in high profile Chapter 11 cases.3 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & KatzBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedWachtell houses significant transactional capabilities, acting on distressed M&A and leveraged deals for an impressive range of acquirers and creditors, including financial institutions and private equity funds. It frequently advises on out-of-court restructurings while bringing its litigation strength to bear on contentious cases.3 Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedWillkie Farr offers a talented group of restructuring attorneys with extensive experience in handling debtor-side engagements. It undertakes a broad range of Chapter 11 representations, and is a popular choice for parties to distressed investments. It is also noted for its creditor-side expertise, acting for financial institutions and private equity funds in courtroom and out-of-court proceedings.
Band 4
4 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedGibson Dunn has established itself as a high quality national team, garnering particular recognition for its creditor-side practice, often representing ad hoc lender groups. The group also offers experience acting on Chapter 11 proceedings across a range of industries, including manufacturing, media and entertainment, and pharmaceuticals.
4 Greenberg Traurig, LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedGreenberg Traurig leverages strength across the USA to advise on restructurings arising from the energy, healthcare and telecommunications sectors, among others. It also offers clients notable cross-border capabilities, showcasing particular expertise in cases involving Latin America. The firm's broad practice sees it advising debtors, sponsors and creditors' committees on Chapter 11 proceedings, insolvency-related litigation and distressed M&A.
4 KTBS Law LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedKTBS Law is an agile West Coast firm focusing on corporate restructurings, workouts and distressed asset acquisitions. It regularly brings its bankruptcy litigation strength to bear on headline matters, as well as offering additional capabilities in ancillary areas such as commercial litigation, appellate litigation and corporate finance.
4 Sidley Austin LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedSidley Austin undertakes representations on behalf of stakeholders on both the creditor and debtor sides across a broad range of complex reorganization and insolvency matters, as well as distressed M&A. The group demonstrates particular strength in oil and gas, real estate and mining matters and is also noted for its expert handling of cross-border mandates.
4 Sullivan & Cromwell LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedSullivan & Cromwell is a strong firm with a growing bankruptcy presence, with experience acting for clients including debtors, lenders and government organizations. It provides strength domestically in Chapter 11 cases and litigation across industries such as oil and gas and retail. The firm is experienced across international bankruptcy matters in Chapter 15 proceedings.
Band 5
5 McDermott Will & Emery LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 5 | 1 Years RankedMcDermott Will & Emery is a destination practice for high stakes restructuring matters. Its lawyers are capable across a broad swathe of industries, and excel in particular in the life sciences and healthcare spaces.
5 O'Melveny & Myers LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 5 | 4 Years RankedO'Melveny & Myers has a solid bankruptcy and restructuring group that handles a broad range of matters, including Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings and complex debt recapitalizations. It draws on extensive tax, finance and commercial litigation expertise when advising its strong debtor- and creditor-side client base.
5 Ropes & Gray LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 5 | 4 Years RankedRopes & Gray is highly regarded for its handling of distressed M&A and complex bankruptcy litigation. It houses noteworthy expertise in lender-side engagements and offers significant experience in matters pertaining to the energy, media and healthcare industries, among others.
5 Schulte Roth & Zabel LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 5 | 4 Years RankedSchulte offers a reputable bankruptcy and restructuring team noted for its expertise in private equity and hedge fund representations. The team is adept in handling both courtroom and out-of-court restructuring proceedings. Also noted for its handling of distressed M&A.
5 Vinson & Elkins LLPBankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite2024 | Band 5 | 4 Years RankedVinson & Elkins enjoys an excellent reputation in the energy sector, acting on in-court and out-of-court restructuring as well as distressed M&A. It often represents companies and affiliated debtors, as well as lenders and noteholder, and is noted for advising financial institutions, including banks and private equity firms.