Litigation powerhouse receives 42.25 percent of all votes
HOUSTON (July 9, 2015) — For the fifth consecutive year, Texas law firm Susman Godfrey has been named the nation’s top-ranked litigation boutique in Vault’s annual Practice Area Rankings. The firm has earned this recognition every year since the list’s inception in 2012. Nearly 17,000 law firm associates were surveyed for the annual rankings, which rank “the most prestigious law firms based on the perceptions of currently practicing lawyers at peer firms,” according to Vault, the leading career resource for law, finance, accounting and consulting professions.
Fifteen firms were ranked in Vault’s litigation boutique category this year, with Susman Godfrey receiving a whopping 42.25 percent of votes — 15.32 percent more than the runner-up. Known for its high-caliber associates — the firm only hires attorneys who have clerked for federal judges or U.S. Supreme Court justices — and the substantial amount of responsibility placed among new associates, Susman Godfrey was distinguished by respondents as a firm of “dedicated and high performing individuals.”
In addition to being honored as the nation’s No. 1 litigation boutique, Susman Godfrey was also ranked among the “Top 150 Under 150,” a ranking of the nation’s leading small and midsize firms, as well as being ranked as the third-best law firm in Texas.
According to Vault, “Partner-level responsibility for young associates, sky-high compensation and a supportive culture makes the firm hard to beat.”
Associates touted the firm’s “one lawyer, one vote” policy, which gives the firm’s newest associate an equal voice — and an equal vote — to the most senior partner on a range of issues, including which cases to take and alternative fee arrangements:
“The firm is extremely transparent,” one associate was quoted as saying in the survey. “Associates get an equal vote in case acceptance meetings as every partner, the partners share the finances of the firm monthly and compensation information is available for everyone.”
Other associates who participated in the study praised the firm for giving them substantive work from day one and supporting them as business developers. Some of the responses included:
“I have the freedom to manage my own schedule and work flow, and I have already received important responsibilities within my first year with the firm.”
“I have a healthy expense account for business development even though I’m a first-year associate.”
“I have done doc review, but I have also taken and defended depositions, written complaints to file in court, ran a mediation on my own and written motions and briefs for the court all within my first four months with the firm.”
Considered a “go-to” resource for law school students, associates, partners and law firm recruiters, Vault’s annual rankings are determined by thousands of associates nationwide. While survey respondents may vote for up to three firms in each practice area, they are not permitted to vote for their own firm.
