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Blank Rome LLP

Unverified

Philadelphia, PA

About

If you want the number-one maritime law firm in the United States, Blank Rome is the clear leader. Named Law Firm of the Year for Admiralty and Maritime Law by Best Lawyers, ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA for shipping litigation and regulatory work, and recognized as the Transport Shipping Firm of the Year by the Lexology Index Awards, Blank Rome's dominance in maritime law is unmatched. With approximately 690 attorneys headquartered in Philadelphia and offices in major U.S. markets, the firm combines this niche dominance with broad full-service capabilities.

Blank Rome's maritime practice covers the full waterfront, shipping litigation, maritime regulatory compliance, environmental matters, government relations, and international trade. The firm represents vessel owners, operators, charterers, insurers, and government agencies in matters ranging from Jones Act litigation to environmental enforcement. Beyond maritime, Blank Rome has strong practices in corporate transactions, white-collar defense, real estate, finance, and insurance recovery, earning Tier 1 national rankings in 28 practice areas.

The firm's culture is collegial and practice-focused, with a genuine sense of pride in its maritime heritage. Blank Rome uses a free-market system, and summer associates can explore maritime alongside the firm's broader litigation and transactional practices. The Philadelphia headquarters and regional offices offer a more balanced lifestyle than many similarly ranked firms.

In recruiting, any maritime, admiralty, or transportation interest is a strong signal, but the firm also welcomes generalists who want a well-rounded experience. Show appreciation for a firm that has maintained niche dominance while building a broad national platform.

Recruiting & Summer Program

Summer Class Size

25 associates

Billable Hours

No formal requirement

Practice Areas & Rankings

Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings

Practice AreaBandJurisdictions
Banking & FinanceBand 1Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Commercial LitigationBand 1Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Insurance / ReinsuranceBand 1Nationwide, District of Columbia, New York
Real EstateBand 1Pennsylvania
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 1Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
TaxBand 1New York
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York)Band 1Nationwide
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York)Band 1Nationwide
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: RegulatoryBand 1Nationwide
White Collar DefenseBand 1New York
Commercial LitigationBand 2Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
Energy / InfrastructureBand 2Nationwide
Government Regulatory / Public PolicyBand 2Nationwide
HealthcareBand 2Illinois
Insurance / ReinsuranceBand 2California
Labor & EmploymentBand 2Pennsylvania
Real EstateBand 2Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 2Nationwide, New York
TaxBand 2Pennsylvania
Corporate / M&ABand 3Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds
Gaming & LicensingBand 3Nationwide
Insurance / ReinsuranceBand 3Illinois
Restructuring / BankruptcyBand 3Delaware
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: FinanceBand 3Nationwide
Capital Markets / SecuritiesBand 4Nationwide
Commercial LitigationBand 4New Jersey
Banking & FinanceBand 5Nationwide
Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)Band 5Texas

Firm Profile

Vault Rank (2026)

#91

AmLaw Rank (FY2025)

#73

Founded

1946

Chair / Managing Partner

Grant S. Palmer

Partners

173

Attorneys

~690

Partnership Track

8 years

Billable Hours Target

No formal requirement

Summer Class Size (2025)

~30

Revenue (FY2025)

$852.3M

Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)

$1.2M

1st-Year Total Comp (2026)

$210,000

PPP (FY2025)

$2M

Offices (12 locations)

Philadelphia, PA(HQ)
Houston, TX
Tampa, FL
Cincinnati, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Princeton, NJ
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Washington DC, DC
Visit firm website

Data sources: Financial data from AmLaw 200, FY2025. Practice area rankings from Chambers USA 2026. Summer program data from Chambers Associate 2026. Office locations from firm websites. Last verified: March 27, 2026. View our data methodology