Firm Highlights

In the 2024 Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, Williams & Connolly received the following regional, quality of life, and practice area rankings:

• #1 Business Outlook
• #1 Selectivity
• #1 Appellate Litigation
• #2 White Collar Defense & Internal Investigations
• #3 Washington, D.C. Law Firm 
• #3 Associate/Partner Relations
• #4 Integration of Laterals & Clerks
• #5 Career Outlook
• #7 Firm Culture
• #7 Satisfaction
• #7 General Commercial Litigation

Associates quoted in earlier Vault surveys had this to say:

• "I can't imagine being happier at another firm."
• "The work is incredible--high-stakes cases, interesting clients, fascinating legal problems."
• "The partners here are simply fantastic. Not only are they brilliant, they are accessible and treat associates with respect."
• "I can imagine few law firms that would allow me to have so much responsibility as a relatively junior associate. The work is topnotch, the environment is pleasant, and the people are both brilliant and friendly. It's hard to imagine a better place to litigate.
• "The work is consistently engaging and intellectually rewarding, the people are friendly and interesting, and the firm's commitment to excellence inspires you to do your best work."
• "The culture here is diverse and friendly."
• "The best place to practice law, period."

Williams & Connolly also has been:

• Selected as "DC Firm of the Year" by Benchmark Litigation (2020-2023).
• Recognized as a top tier firm in several practice areas in Benchmark Litigation (2020-2023).
• Selected as a "Top 20 Trial Firm" by Benchmark Litigation (2020-2023).
• Recognized as a top tier firm for several practice areas by Chambers USA (2020-2023).
• Recognized as a top tier firm for several practice areas by The Legal 500 (2020-2023).
• Selected as the Washington, D.C. Litigation Department of the Year by The National Law Journal (Products Liability - 2021).
• Listed on the The National Law Journal's "Appellate Hot List" (2020-2021).
• Selected as one of the leading litigation firms in the nation by The American Lawyer (2021).
• Selected as a top-ranked firm in General Patent Litigation, Hatch Waxman Branded Litigation, and Products Liability by LMG Life Sciences (2020-2022).
• Selected as Hatch-Waxman Litigation Firm of the Year (2021, 2023) and Products Liability Firm of the Year (2023) by LMG Life Sciences.
• Selected as Life Sciences IP Litigation Firm of the Year and Patent Disputes (Northeast) Firm of the Year by Managing IP (2023).
• Recognized as a top tier Patent Litigation Firm both nationally and locally by IAM Patent (2020-2023).
• 28 Williams & Connolly lawyers have taught law school courses, including at Georgetown, Harvard, Yale, Virginia, Michigan, Cornell, Columbia, Duke, George Washington, American, Catholic, George Mason, Brigham Young, Cambridge, the University of London (King's College), and the Kennedy School of Government.
• More than 190 Williams & Connolly lawyers have served as law clerks to federal or state judges.

Williams & Connolly partners have served on the boards of trustees or executive committees of Yale Law School, Georgetown University, University of Chicago Law School, Duke University, Duke Law School, Haverford College, Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, Holy Cross College, Beloit College, Pitzer College, Marymount University, St. Alban's School, National Cathedral School, Sidwell Friends School, Georgetown Day School, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Beauvoir School, Gerald R. Ford Foundation, Air Force Academy Foundation, Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, The George Washington University Cancer Center, Corcoran Gallery of Art, District of Columbia Control Board, District of Columbia Sports Commission, American Friends of Cambridge University, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, Center for National Policy, Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, D.C. Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, Sanford Institute (Duke University), Washington Convention Center Authority, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, Washington Council of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Center for Applied Research in Apostolate, and Cleveland Park Historical Society, and have been among the founders of the Thurgood Marshall Academy Charter School in Anacostia.