Ballard Spahr LLP

If you care about the First Amendment and want a firm with a nationally elite public finance practice, Ballard Spahr is a rare find. The firm has been named Law Firm of the Year for First Amendment Litigation four of the past six years, and its public finance practice has earned Band 1 national rankings from Chambers USA with a track record spanning more than $1 trillion in tax-exempt obligations across every U.S. state and territory. With approximately 700 attorneys and headquarters in Philadelphia, Ballard Spahr punches well above its weight in these marquee practices.

Ballard Spahr's First Amendment and media law practice became a national force after acquiring the boutique Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz in 2017, and the firm now represents major media companies, journalists, and advocacy organizations in landmark press freedom cases. The public finance team has been nationally recognized by The Bond Buyer since 1958. The firm also maintains strong practices in litigation, real estate, intellectual property, and financial services. In January 2025, Ballard Spahr completed its merger with Lane Powell, expanding its West Coast presence.

The firm's culture is collegial, civic-minded, and intellectually engaged. Ballard Spahr uses a free-market system and summer associates benefit from exposure to an unusually diverse range of practice areas for a firm of this size. Associates highlight the firm's genuine commitment to public interest work and pro bono engagement.

In recruiting, express genuine interest in the firm's distinctive strengths. First Amendment work and public finance are conversation starters that few other firms can offer. Show that you appreciate a firm with deep civic roots and a national platform that continues to grow through strategic combinations.