Top BigLaw Firms for Corporate / M&A in Los Angeles

Every firm in our directory with a Los Angeles office that Chambers USA 2026 ranks for corporate and M&A in California: Los Angeles & Surrounds, strongest band first. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP leads with Band 1 (The Elite), one of 2 firms in Band 1.

Ranked firms: 10
Band 1 firms: 2
Median first-year base: $225,000

Open in the directory Compare the top 3

10 ranked firms for corporate and M&A in Los Angeles

#	Firm	Chambers 2026	First-year base	2L summer applications
1	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Vault #3	Band 1 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Nov 2, 2026
2	Latham & Watkins LLP Vault #4	Band 1 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Nov 1, 2026Deadline Jan 29, 2027
3	Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Vault #5	Band 2 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$235,000+	Not announced (last cycle Nov 1, 2025)
4	Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Vault #8	Band 2 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Nov 2, 2026Deadline Feb 5, 2027
5	Sidley Austin LLP Vault #11	Band 3 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Expected early November 2026
6	Paul Hastings LLP Vault #21	Band 3 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Expected mid-December 2026
7	Cooley LLP Vault #22	Band 3 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$255,000+	Expected November 2026
8	Baker McKenzie LLP Vault #45	Band 3 (The Elite) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Nov 1, 2026Deadline Mar 1, 2027
9	Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Vault #60	Band 1 (Highly Regarded) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Oct 15, 2026
10	Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Vault #66	Band 1 (Highly Regarded) · Corporate/M&A · California: Los Angeles & Surrounds	$225,000+	Not announced

Chambers bands from Chambers USA 2026, California: Los Angeles & Surrounds 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

Corporate / M&A in other cities

Corporate / M&A in New York48 firms
Corporate / M&A in Houston30 firms
Corporate / M&A in Dallas26 firms
Corporate / M&A in Silicon Valley24 firms
Corporate / M&A in San Francisco22 firms
Corporate / M&A in Chicago21 firms
Corporate / M&A in Austin17 firms
Corporate / M&A in Washington, DC15 firms
Corporate / M&A in Atlanta14 firms
Corporate / M&A in Philadelphia13 firms
Corporate / M&A in Boston13 firms
Corporate / M&A in Miami10 firms

Other practices in Los Angeles

Top corporate and M&A firms nationwide Every BigLaw firm in Los Angeles Summer program dates