Top BigLaw Firms for Private Equity in New York
Every firm in our directory with a New York office that Chambers USA 2026 ranks for private equity in New York, strongest band first. Kirkland & Ellis LLP leads with Band 1, one of 2 firms in Band 1.
- Ranked firms
- 16
- Band 1 firms
- 2
- Median first-year base
- $225,000
16 ranked firms for private equity in New York
| # | Firm | Chambers 2026 | First-year base | 2L summer applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkland & Ellis LLP Vault #6 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 2 | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Vault #10 |
| $225,000+ | Expected fall 2026 |
| 3 | Latham & Watkins LLP Vault #4 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026Deadline Jan 29, 2027 |
| 4 | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Vault #15 |
| $225,000+ | Not announced |
| 5 | Ropes & Gray LLP Vault #20 |
| $225,000+ | Expected fall 2026 |
| 6 | Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Vault #23 |
| $225,000+ | Expected early November 2026 |
| 7 | Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Vault #35 |
| $225,000+ | Expected late November 2026 |
| 8 | Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Vault #7 |
| $225,000+ | Opened Sep 15Deadline Mar 1, 2027 |
| 9 | Sidley Austin LLP Vault #11 |
| $225,000+ | Expected early November 2026 |
| 10 | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Vault #16 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 11 | Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Vault #47 |
| $225,000+ | Expected mid-December 2026 |
| 12 | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Vault #8 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 2, 2026Deadline Feb 5, 2027 |
| 13 | Dechert LLP Vault #51 |
| $225,000 | Expected late October to November 2026 |
| 14 | Vinson & Elkins LLP Vault #53 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 15 | White & Case LLP Vault #18 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 16 | Clifford Chance US LLP Vault #41 |
| $255,000+ | Expected fall 2026 |
Chambers bands from Chambers USA 2026, New York 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
Private Equity in other cities
- Private Equity in Boston13 firms
- Private Equity in Los Angeles12 firms
- Private Equity in Silicon Valley12 firms
- Private Equity in San Francisco11 firms
- Private Equity in Houston8 firms
- Private Equity in Dallas7 firms
- Private Equity in San Diego4 firms
- Private Equity in Orange County4 firms
- Private Equity in Austin4 firms
Other practices in New York
- Commercial Litigation55 firms
- White Collar Defense55 firms
- Restructuring / Bankruptcy49 firms
- Corporate / M&A48 firms
- Tax41 firms
- Banking & Finance34 firms
- Securities Litigation34 firms
- Intellectual Property (Patent)31 firms
- Insurance / Reinsurance28 firms
- Antitrust25 firms
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation24 firms
- Labor & Employment20 firms