Gibson Dunn
UnverifiedLos Angeles, CA
About
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a law firm with approximately 2,060 attorneys and offices in major cities across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Founded in 1890 in Los Angeles, Gibson Dunn operates with a bicoastal identity anchored by its LA and New York offices, with a significant presence in Washington, D.C. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $8.9 million and earned 130 top-tier rankings in Chambers USA 2025, one of the highest totals among any firm.
Gibson Dunn holds Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, Appellate, White-Collar Crime, Litigation, and Antitrust. The firm's appellate practice is considered the strongest in private practice, regularly arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts. Its litigation department handles the most complex commercial, securities, and government enforcement matters, and the white-collar practice defends corporations and individuals in high-profile investigations. Gibson Dunn's labor and employment group ranks at the top of the market nationally.
Gibson Dunn uses a free-market assignment system. Chambers Associate rates the firm as The Elite for Pro Bono, and the firm earns strong marks for quality of life and culture. The billable target is achievable, especially since all pro bono hours count equally. The firm hosts around 15 affinity groups and invests in associate social events and team-building. Working hours vary by practice, weekends are generally protected, though closings may require extended hours. The summer class is approximately 201 associates.
Notable alumni include Theodore Olson (former U.S. Solicitor General who argued the landmark Obergefell same-sex marriage case), Miguel Estrada, and numerous federal appellate judges. Gibson Dunn's strength in appellate litigation gives it a unique role among large full-service firms, it is one of very few firms where the appellate practice is a signature capability rather than a secondary offering.
Recruiting & Summer Program
Assignment System
Free Market
Summer Class Size
201 associates
Summer Offer Rate
99.4%
Billable Hours
1,950 hours
Practice Areas & Rankings
Source: Chambers USA 2026 Rankings
| Practice Area | Band | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust | Band 1 | Nationwide, California |
| Appellate Litigation | Band 1 | Nationwide, California |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 1 | Nationwide, California, District of Columbia |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 1 | Nationwide, California, District of Columbia, New York, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 1 | District of Columbia |
| Energy / Infrastructure | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 1 | California |
| Insurance / Reinsurance | Band 1 | California |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (Patent) | Band 1 | New York |
| Labor & Employment | Band 1 | California, District of Columbia |
| Law Firm Defense | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Privacy / Data Security | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Project Finance | Band 1 | Nationwide |
| Real Estate | Band 1 | Nationwide, California, California: Northern, California: Southern, New York |
| Technology Transactions | Band 1 | Nationwide, California, New York |
| White Collar Defense | Band 1 | Nationwide, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, New York |
| Antitrust | Band 2 | District of Columbia, Texas |
| Banking & Finance | Band 2 | California |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 2 | Texas |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 2 | Colorado |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 2 | Nationwide, California: Los Angeles & Surrounds, Colorado, Texas |
| Energy / Infrastructure | Band 2 | Colorado |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 2 | New York |
| Environmental | Band 2 | District of Columbia |
| Labor & Employment | Band 2 | Nationwide, California: Los Angeles & Surrounds, California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds |
| Private Equity | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Retail: Corporate & Transactional | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Tax | Band 2 | Nationwide, California: Southern, New York |
| Transportation: Rail (for Railroads) | Band 2 | Nationwide |
| Appellate Litigation | Band 3 | Texas |
| Banking & Finance | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Capital Markets / Securities | Band 3 | New York |
| Commercial Litigation | Band 3 | Texas: Houston & Surrounds |
| Entertainment / Media / Sports | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Environmental | Band 3 | California |
| Government Regulatory / Public Policy | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Higher Education | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 3 | District of Columbia |
| Intellectual Property (Patent) | Band 3 | California |
| Leisure & Hospitality | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Life Sciences / FDA | Band 3 | Nationwide, California |
| Private Equity | Band 3 | California, Texas |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 3 | California, New York |
| Retail | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| Tax | Band 3 | Texas |
| Transportation: Road (Automotive) | Band 3 | Nationwide |
| White Collar Defense | Band 3 | Texas |
| Antitrust | Band 4 | New York |
| Banking & Finance | Band 4 | New York |
| Corporate / M&A | Band 4 | California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou, New York |
| Environmental | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Government Regulatory / Public Policy | Band 4 | District of Columbia |
| Intellectual Property (General / Trademark) | Band 4 | Texas |
| International Arbitration | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Labor & Employment | Band 4 | New York |
| Private Equity | Band 4 | New York |
| Restructuring / Bankruptcy | Band 4 | Nationwide |
| Banking & Finance | Band 5 | Texas |
| Healthcare | Band 5 | District of Columbia |
| Tax | Band 5 | District of Columbia |
Firm Profile
Vault Rank (2026)
#11
AmLaw Rank (FY2025)
#4
Founded
1890
Chair / Managing Partner
Barbara Becker
Partners
273
Attorneys
~2,060
Partnership Track
9 years
Billable Hours Target
1,950 hours
Summer Class Size (2025)
~200
Revenue (FY2025)
$4.2B
Revenue per Lawyer (FY2025)
$2M
1st-Year Total Comp (2026)
$245,000+
PPP (FY2025)
$8.9M
Offices (16 locations)
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