Top BigLaw Firms for Private Equity in San Francisco
Every firm in our directory with a San Francisco office that Chambers USA 2026 ranks for private equity in California, strongest band first. Kirkland & Ellis LLP leads with Band 1.
- Ranked firms
- 11
- Band 1 firms
- 1
- Median first-year base
- $225,000
11 ranked firms for private equity in San Francisco
| # | 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 | Ropes & Gray LLP Vault #20 |
| $225,000+ | Expected fall 2026 |
| 4 | Latham & Watkins LLP Vault #4 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 1, 2026Deadline Jan 29, 2027 |
| 5 | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Vault #8 |
| $225,000+ | Nov 2, 2026Deadline Feb 5, 2027 |
| 6 | Sidley Austin LLP Vault #11 |
| $225,000+ | Expected early November 2026 |
| 7 | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Vault #15 |
| $225,000+ | Not announced |
| 8 | Paul Hastings LLP Vault #21 |
| $225,000+ | Expected mid-December 2026 |
| 9 | Goodwin Procter LLP Vault #31 |
| $255,000+ | Not announced |
| 10 | Winston Taylor LLP Vault #39 |
| $225,000+ | Expected late October to early November 2026 |
| 11 | Greenberg Traurig, LLP Vault #55 |
| Varies by office | Not announced |
Chambers bands from Chambers USA 2026, California 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 New York16 firms
- Private Equity in Boston13 firms
- Private Equity in Los Angeles12 firms
- Private Equity in Silicon Valley12 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 San Francisco
- Labor & Employment35 firms
- Intellectual Property (Patent)31 firms
- Commercial Litigation30 firms
- Corporate / M&A22 firms
- White Collar Defense20 firms
- Healthcare18 firms
- Technology Transactions18 firms
- Environmental17 firms
- Insurance / Reinsurance17 firms
- Tax17 firms
- Antitrust16 firms
- Entertainment / Media / Sports16 firms