Ranking tables
Tax | USA
California: Northern
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Band 4
Goodwin 7 Years Ranked
Greenberg Traurig, LLP 7 Years Ranked
Kirkland & Ellis LLP 1 Years Ranked
Mayer Brown LLP 7 Years Ranked
McDermott Will & Emery LLP 2 Years Ranked
Morrison Foerster 2 Years Ranked
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 6 Years Ranked
Paul Hastings LLP 7 Years Ranked
Pillsbury 7 Years Ranked
Sidley Austin LLP 2 Years Ranked
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
Christopher Murphy Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates2 Years Ranked
Emily M Lam Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates12 Years Ranked
Jonathan Zhu Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati15 Years Ranked
Kelsey Lemaster Goodwin6 Years Ranked
Kirt Switzer Latham & Watkins LLP5 Years Ranked
Stewart R Lipeles Baker McKenzie12 Years Ranked
Thomas S Wisialowski Paul Hastings LLP19 Years Ranked- William Skinner Fenwick3 Years Ranked
Band 4
Bernie Pistillo Morrison Foerster2 Years Ranked
David Kung Kirkland & Ellis LLP2 Years Ranked
Grace Lee Latham & Watkins LLP4 Years Ranked
Jason R Vollbracht Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP2 Years Ranked- Joseph Myszka DLA Piper LLP (US)1 Years Ranked
Julia Ushakova-Stein Baker McKenzie3 Years Ranked
Lucas Rachuba Paul Hastings LLP2 Years Ranked
Maureen Linch Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP1 Years Ranked
Michelle Ferreira Greenberg Traurig, LLP10 Years Ranked
Myra Sutanto Shen Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati1 Years Ranked
Rod Donnelly Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP7 Years Ranked
Sarah-Jane Morin Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP4 Years Ranked- Scott H Frewing Baker McKenzie10 Years Ranked
Up and Coming
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Baker McKenzieTax2025 | Band 1 | 7 Years RankedBaker McKenzie is an esteemed practice held in high regard for its adept handling of international tax work, such as transfer pricing and tax planning. The team is also noted for its expertise in tax controversy matters, including litigation and administrative appeals. It works with a host of market-leading clients, including high-profile names from the social media, money transfer and travel booking sectors.
1 FenwickTax2025 | Band 1 | 7 Years RankedFenwick has a strong presence in the Bay Area, acting for an enviable client list ranging from Fortune 100 giants to early-stage Silicon Valley companies. The team has a high profile in both domestic and international tax matters, with broad expertise across M&A, transfer pricing, joint ventures and tax litigation. It is a highly credible source of legal advice on issues relating to the technology, media and telecommunications sector.
1 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & AffiliatesTax2025 | Band 1 | 7 Years RankedSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is particularly noted for its work in the transactional space, for which it draws on the firm's long track record of handling the most cutting-edge M&A matters. It offers full-service capabilities, with strengths in tax planning, transfer pricing, partnership and controversy matters. The team cultivates a strong client base among household names in the technology sector.
Band 2
2 DLA Piper LLP (US)Tax2025 | Band 2 | 7 Years RankedDLA Piper advises a raft of technology and manufacturing clients on cross-border transactional work, international tax structuring and transfer pricing arrangements, leveraging its extensive global network of offices. The team also has tax controversy capabilities, including criminal tax and civil litigation. Its client base includes those in the beverages, IT and chemical sectors.
2 Latham & Watkins LLPTax2025 | Band 2 | 6 Years RankedLatham & Watkins is an acclaimed practice noted for its capabilities in the tax structuring of corporate deals, with considerable cross-border capabilities. The team is well known for its superior capabilities in complex REIT tax matters. Its enviable client base also includes retail and pharmaceutical companies, as well as financial institutions. Wider areas of excellence include partnership tax matters and tax-free spinoffs.
2 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPTax2025 | Band 2 | 7 Years RankedMorgan, Lewis & Bockius offers notable strengths in tax controversy in addition to expertise in tax planning. It calls upon a pool of talented tax litigators with in-depth experience in prior governmental roles, including within the DOJ and IRS. The team acts for an enviable client base consisting of high net worth individuals as well as corporations in the technology and life sciences sectors, among others.
Band 3
3 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & RosatiTax2025 | Band 3 | 7 Years RankedWilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is well regarded for its wealth of experience in state, federal and international transactional and planning matters. It offers particular strength in the technology and life sciences sectors, regularly advising Silicon Valley heavyweights and investors on high-value M&A and structuring work.
Band 4
4 GoodwinTax2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedGoodwin is a respected practice handling tax aspects of M&A and other transactions. The team's expertise covers joint ventures and cross-border deals. It is particularly adept at representing those in the investment funds and life sciences sectors.4 Greenberg Traurig, LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedGreenberg Traurig, LLP advises on SALT and tax controversy matters, among others. Its client base includes corporations, individuals and partnerships. The team is particularly experienced in working with REITs.4 Kirkland & Ellis LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedKirkland & Ellis is a popular choice of counsel for high-level expertise in tax issues across an impressive range of transactions. It fields experience in M&A, capital markets and private equity transactions, among others.4 Mayer Brown LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedMayer Brown acts on a range of tax matters, including international transfer pricing and planning issues. The team is experienced in handling tax controversy cases. It is well supported by its network of national and international offices.4 McDermott Will & Emery LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedMcDermott Will & Emery is a respected team with notable expertise in federal tax and SALT matters. It advises on M&A and tax planning as well as controversy issues. The team acts for a varied client base, including private equity firms and technology companies.
4 Morrison FoersterTax2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedMorrison Foerster is known for their impressive transactional expertise. Their client-base varies from real estate, energy, fintech and more.
4 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 6 Years RankedOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe handles tax issues arising from corporate transactions. The team is experienced in working with those in the technology and renewable sectors, among others.
4 Paul Hastings LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedPaul Hastings calls on notable strengths in transactional tax structuring. The team offers particular expertise in real estate and funds tax matters, alongside wider strengths in tax credits. Its enviable client base includes household-name financial institutions, technology companies and private equity firms.
4 PillsburyTax2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is a strong tax practice based in San Francisco and Sacramento. The team is particularly active in tax controversy matters, with unrivaled strength in handling SALT matters in California and nationally. Areas of expertise include income, franchising, sales and use tax issues. It also offers know-how in transactional tax planning.4 Sidley Austin LLPTax2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedSidley Austin is a widely respected tax team known for advising clients on tax aspects of corporate transactions. The team is strong in cross-border deals such as M&A. It has a broad client base which includes those in the media, technology and real estate industries.