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The Biglaw Firms That Strike Fear In The Hearts Of Opposing Counsel (2026) – Above the Law

If
you’re
working
in-house
and
dealing
with
bet-the-company
litigation,
you
want
the
very
best
litigators
in
the
world
to
be
on
your
side.
You
want
a
firm
with
litigators
so
strong
that
opponents
gasp
in
fear
at
the
very
mention
of
its
name.
You
want
a
firm
that
is
known
internationally
for
going
for
the
jugular
and
coming
out
on
top.

But
how
can
you
ensure
that
you’ve
picked
the
right
firm?
BTI
Consulting
Group
just
made
it
a
little
easier
with
the
release
of
its
annual
ranking
of
the
firms
most
likely
to
trigger
dread
in
opposing
counsel,
as
determined
by
a
poll
of
in-house
counsel.
Per
BTI’s
Michael
Rynowecer,
“These
firms
strike
the
utmost
fear
into
the
hearts
of
seasoned
general
counsel
and
legal
decision-makers
alike.
They
are
unflinching.
Strategically
unpredictable.
Ready
for
every
scenario.
And
are
quick
to
remind
everyone
they
don’t
litigate

they
win.”
The
“Fearsome
Foursome”
are
the
most-feared
litigation
firms
in
the
country.
These
are
the
firms
you
do
not
want
to
see
on
the
other
side,
the
firms
that
give
GCs
nightmares.

So,
which
firms
are
being
honored
this
year
for
their
ability
to
strike
fear
in
their
opponents’
hearts
and
minds?

  • Quinn
    Emanuel
    (this
    is
    the
    firm’s
    fourth
    year
    in
    the
    top
    spot)
  • Kirkland
    &
    Ellis
  • Skadden
  • Gibson
    Dunn

The
BTI
report
also
named
12
firms
as
“Feared
Opponents”

firms
with
lawyers
corporate
counsel
would
prefer
to
steer
clear
of
in
litigation
(in
alphabetical
order):

  • Boies
    Schiller
    Flexner
  • Cravath
  • Greenberg
    Traurig
  • Husch
    Blackwell
  • Latham
    &
    Watkins
  • Susman
    Godfrey
  • Troutman
    Pepper
    Locke
  • Wachtell
    Lipton
  • Weil
  • Williams
    &
    Connolly
  • WilmerHale

BTI
has
also
introduced
an
additional
45
law
firms
as
“Awesome
Opponents”
and
37
firms
as
“Intimidating
Opponents”
(i.e.,
firms
clients
would
“rather
not
see”
in
litigation).
Click here to
see
the
full
lists.

Congratulations
to
all
of
these
hardworking
firms,
and
good
luck
to
those
who
oppose
them
in
court

it
certainly
sounds
like
you’ll
need
it.


Clients
Single
Out
the
98
Most
Feared
Law
Firms

[Mad
Clientist
/
BTI
Consulting
Group]


Staci Zaretsky




Staci
Zaretsky
 is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to

email

her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
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