Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
General Information
Year founded:
1948
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
With more than 1,700 attorneys in 22 offices on four continents, Skadden serves clients in every major financial center. Our strategically positioned U.S. and international locations allow us proximity to our clients and their operations and ensure a seamless and unified approach at all times.
For more than 70 years, Skadden has provided legal services to the business, financial and governmental communities around the world in a wide range of high-profile transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation and controversy issues. Our clients range from a variety of small, entrepreneurial companies to a substantial number of the 500 largest U.S. corporations and many of the leading global companies. We have represented numerous governments, many of the largest banks — including virtually all of the leading investment banks — and major insurance and financial services companies. The firm has more than 50 practice areas and advises clients in matters involving, among others, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and arbitration, corporate finance, corporate restructuring, securities law, banking, project finance, energy, antitrust, tax and intellectual property.
Rankings in Surveys
Skadden frequently is identified as one of the world’s leading law firms. For example:
- Skadden has been named the top corporate law firm in the United States in Corporate Board Member magazine’s annual survey of "America’s Best Corporate Law Firms" more than any other law firm.
- The survey asked directors of publicly traded companies to select "a firm they would most likely turn to for corporate legal matters."
- In 2019, for the ninth consecutive time, Skadden was named to the BTI Consulting Group’s list of top litigation law firms — The BTI Fearsome Foursome — and named as a Powerhouse for Securities and Finance Litigation in the BTI Litigation Outlook 2020. Skadden is the only firm named to both of these lists in every edition of the report.
- In the U.S. News — Best Lawyers Best Law Firms 2019 survey, Skadden was recognized as a leading firm in 176 separate practices and regions, receiving 145 Tier 1 rankings. We also were named Law Firm of the Year for Corporate Law and Tax Law.
- In Chambers USA 2019, we earned 76 practice and attorney Band 1 rankings. Additionally, in Chambers Global 2019, Skadden garnered 42 Band 1 practice and attorney rankings.
- Corporate counsel rank Skadden as the No. 1 firm to turn to in bet-the-company situations, according to the report "BTI Brand Elite 2019: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms."
Skadden emphasizes a dedication to excellent client service and the highest ethical standards across a platform that fosters collaboration, creativity and effciency in all that we do. Our effort on behalf of clients is matched by our commitment to diversity and public service, both of which are core elements of life at the firm.
Diversity and Inclusion
- Named among the top 25 firms for minorities in the Vault 2019 Law Firm Diversity Rankings.
- For the ninth consecutive year, Skadden has received the Women in Law Empowerment Forum’s Gold Standard Certification. Gold Standard Firms are those that are committed to advancing the role of women in their U.S. leadership positions. Skadden is one of only 14 firms that have received the award every year since its inception.
- The firm received a perfect score for the 10th time in 11 years in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index of the "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality," which evaluated LGBTQ-related policies and practices, including nondiscrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community.
- Skadden was recognized as both a 2018 Top Performer and a 2018 Compass Award winner at the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Pro Bono and Public Service
- In 2018, 77 percent of Skadden’s U.S. attorneys dedicated more than 20 hours to pro bono work. We have spent more than 1.8 million hours performing pro bono legal services firmwide in the last 10 years.
- The Skadden Fellowship Program offers a minimum of 25 two-year paid legal fellowships in the public interest sector each year. To date, 849 fellowships have been awarded.
- Skadden was recognized by The National Law Journal on its 2018 "Pro Bono Hot List" as one of the firms that "have taken on some of the biggest issues of our time." - We are a Charter Signatory to the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge.
Rankings
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is nationally ranked in 38 practice areas and metro ranked in 45 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms"Law Firm of the Year" Awards
2024 "Law Firm of the Year" in Securities / Capital Markets Law
National Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Antitrust Law
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Metro Rankings
Boston, MA
Tier 1 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Highlighted Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Strong from top to bottom.
Rolin Bissell
– Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Insurance Law
Bob Sullivan of Skadden Arps is the most prepared, engaged, and solution-focused lawyer we use. He is an exceptional negotiator who understands how to get a deal done. Skadden has strong bench and exceptional turnaround time.
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Skadden Arps is one of the best in mergers & Acquisitions law.
Antitrust Law
Skadden has unparalleled expertise and counseling in Antitrust Law.
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Ken Ziman and Mark McDermott of Skadden Arps make a great team, and are very effective at guiding a company through a restructuring. Their ability to navigate complex business issues while diplomatically achieving the best result for the company is very impressive. I would highly recommend them.
Tax Law
The Skadden Arps law firm is quite knowledgeable in the REIT area.
Commercial Litigation
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is the go-to firm for bet-the-company commercial litigation. Their level of expertise, client commitment, and attention to detail is without equal.
David Hickey
– American Discovery
Litigation - Securities
The securities litigators at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom have literally written the playbook on handling challenges to mergers and acquisitions. They are the team to see to get a deal over the line after a challenge.
David Hickey
– American Discovery
Rankings
"Law Firm of the Year" Awards
2024 "Law Firm of the Year" in Securities / Capital Markets Law
National Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Antitrust Law
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 1 for Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier 1 for Information Technology Law
Tier 1 for International Arbitration - Commercial
Tier 1 for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Antitrust
Tier 1 for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier 1 for Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Tier 1 for Litigation - Real Estate
Tier 1 for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Project Finance Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Securities Regulation
Tier 1 for Sports Law
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 1 for Trusts and Estates
Tier 2
Tier 2 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier 2 for Employment Law - Management
Tier 2 for Equipment Finance Law
Tier 2 for Health Care Law
Tier 2 for Insurance Law
Tier 2 for Litigation - Patent
Tier 2 for Mutual Funds Law
Tier 2 for Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier 2 for Real Estate Law
Tier 2 for Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Tier 3
Tier 3 for FDA Law
Metro Rankings
Boston, MA
Tier 1 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 2 for Litigation - Antitrust
Tier 3 for Insurance Law
Tier 3 for Mutual Funds Law
Chicago, IL
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Equipment Finance Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 2 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Delaware, DE
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 2 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Houston, TX
Tier 1 for Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 2 for Corporate Law
Los Angeles, CA
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Compliance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Sports Law
Tier 3 for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
New York City, NY
Tier 1 for Antitrust Law
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 1 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Compliance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 1 for Employment Law - Management
Tier 1 for Information Technology Law
Tier 1 for Insurance Law
Tier 1 for International Arbitration - Commercial
Tier 1 for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Antitrust
Tier 1 for Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier 1 for Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier 1 for Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
Tier 1 for Litigation - Real Estate
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Securities Regulation
Tier 1 for Sports Law
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 1 for Trusts and Estates
Tier 2 for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier 2 for Litigation - Patent
Tier 2 for Mutual Funds Law
Tier 2 for Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier 2 for Securitization and Structured Finance Law
San Jose, CA
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Corporate Law
Tier 1 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 1 for Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier 1 for Litigation - Securities
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Securities Regulation
Tier 2 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 3 for Employment Law - Management
Washington, D.C., DC
Tier 1 for Antitrust Law
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Compliance Law
Tier 1 for Corporate Governance Law
Tier 1 for FDA Law
Tier 1 for Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier 1 for Health Care Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Antitrust
Tier 1 for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Tier 1 for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier 1 for Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier 1 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier 1 for Project Finance Law
Tier 1 for Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier 1 for Securities Regulation
Tier 1 for Tax Law
Tier 2 for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier 3 for Administrative / Regulatory Law
Tier 3 for Appellate Practice
Tier 3 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier 3 for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Advertising Law
- Antitrust Law
- Appellate Practice
- Arbitration
- Banking and Finance Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Communications Law
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Derivatives and Futures Law
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Employment Law - Management
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Equipment Finance Law
- FDA Law
- Financial Services Regulation Law
- Government Relations Practice
- Health Care Law
- Information Technology Law
- Insurance Law
- International Arbitration - Commercial
- International Arbitration - Governmental
- International Trade and Finance Law
- Labor Law - Management
- Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
- Litigation - Antitrust
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Litigation - Environmental
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
- Litigation - Patent
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation - Securities
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Litigation and Controversy - Tax
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Mutual Funds Law
- Natural Resources Law
- Oil and Gas Law
- Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Project Finance Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Securities Regulation
- Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Sports Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Awards
Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
- All Awards and Rankings may be found here: https://www.skadden.com/the-firm/rankings/
Main Location
New York,
NY
One Manhattan West
New York, NY 10001-8602
United States
212-735-3000
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Office Locations
Los Angeles,
CA
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
United States
213-687-5000
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Palo Alto,
CA
525 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
United States
650-470-4500
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Washington,
DC
1440 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
United States
202-371-7000
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Wilmington,
DE
One Rodney Square
920 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
United States
302-651-3000
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Chicago,
IL
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
United States
312-407-0700
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Boston,
MA
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
United States
617-573-4800
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Houston,
TX
1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 6800
Houston, TX 77002
United States
713-655-5100
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Brussels,
BE
Avenue Louise 480
Brussels 1050
Belgium
322 639 0300
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São Paulo,
BR
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3311 - 7º andar
São Paulo 04538-133
Brazil
55 11 3708 1820
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Toronto,
ON
222 Bay Street, Suite 1750
P.O. Box 258
Toronto, ON M5K 1J5
Canada
416-777-4700
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Beijing,
CN
30/F, China World Office 2
No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004
China: Global Firms
86 10 6535 5500
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Shanghai,
CN
JingAn Kerry Centre, Tower II
46th Floor
1539 Nanjing West Road
Shanghai 200040
China: Global Firms
86 21 6193 8200
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Frankfurt/Main,
DE
TaunusTurm
Taunustor 1
Frankfurt/Main 60310
Germany
49 69 742 20 0
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Munich,
DE
Maximilianstrasse 2
Munich 80539
Germany
49 89 244 495 0
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Paris,
FR
68, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Paris 75008
France
33 1 55 27 11 00
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London,
GB
22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ
United Kingdom
44 20 7519 7000
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Hong Kong,
HK
42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen's Road Central
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
852 3740 4700
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Tokyo,
JP
Izumi Garden Tower, 37th Floor
1-6-1 Roppongi
Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-6037
Japan
81 3 3568 2600
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Seoul,
Gangnam-gu
26F, Gangam Finance Center
152 Teheran-ro, Gangam-gu
Seoul, Gangnam-gu 135-984
South Korea
82 2 6177 3000
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Singapore,
SG
6 Battery Road
Suite 23-02
Singapore 049909
Singapore
65 6434 2900
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