Top BigLaw Firms for Capital Markets / Securities in Chicago
Every firm in our directory with a Chicago office that Chambers USA 2026 ranks for capital markets in Illinois, strongest band first. Latham & Watkins LLP leads with Band 1.
- Ranked firms
- 4
- Band 1 firms
- 1
- Median first-year base
- $225,000
4 ranked firms for capital markets in Chicago
| # | Firm | Chambers 2026 | First-year base | 2L summer applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latham & Watkins LLP Vault #4 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026Deadline Jan 29, 2027 |
| 2 | Kirkland & Ellis LLP Vault #6 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 3 | Cooley LLP Vault #22 |
| $255,000+ | Expected November 2026 |
| 4 | Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Vault #35 |
| $225,000+ | Expected late November 2026 |
Chambers bands from Chambers USA 2026, Illinois tables; Band 1 is the strongest, and a “Highly Regarded” band sits below every “Elite” band. Pay is each firm’s first-year base; summer dates come from each firm’s own page via the BigLaw job board. How rankings work
Capital Markets / Securities in other cities
- Capital Markets / Securities in Silicon Valley15 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Los Angeles13 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in San Francisco13 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Houston12 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Dallas10 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Austin6 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Boston6 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in San Diego5 firms
- Capital Markets / Securities in Orange County5 firms
Other practices in Chicago
- Commercial Litigation25 firms
- Intellectual Property (General / Trademark)23 firms
- Restructuring / Bankruptcy22 firms
- Corporate / M&A21 firms
- White Collar Defense21 firms
- Labor & Employment20 firms
- Real Estate18 firms
- Banking & Finance16 firms
- Healthcare13 firms
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation13 firms
- Environmental12 firms
- Insurance / Reinsurance12 firms