Williams & Connolly LLP

Williams & Connolly is a Washington, D.C. law firm with approximately 420 attorneys operating from a single office. Founded in 1967 by legendary trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, the firm is one of the most selective in the country and has maintained its identity as an elite trial and appellate litigation practice for over five decades. The firm generates profits per partner of approximately $3.8 million and was named Law Firm of the Year and Litigation Department of the Year by The American Lawyer.

Williams & Connolly holds Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA for Appellate, White-Collar Crime, and Litigation. The firm's trial practice is widely considered among the finest in the country, it handles high-stakes government investigations, congressional inquiries, media law disputes, and bet-the-company commercial litigation. Its white-collar defense team has represented presidents, cabinet members, and Fortune 500 executives in the most consequential investigations of recent decades. The appellate practice regularly argues before the Supreme Court and federal circuit courts.

Williams & Connolly's nearly one-to-one partner-to-associate ratio means that matters are leanly staffed and associates gain hands-on experience from day one. The firm uses a free-market system with minimal formal training, learning is primarily on the job, with strong informal mentorship from partners. Vault ranks the firm as one of the best for partner-associate relations, career outlook, and quality of work. Pro bono is integral to the firm's practice, with no cap on pro bono hours. The summer class is approximately 40 associates, reflecting the firm's small size and extreme selectivity.

Founder Edward Bennett Williams was one of the most famous trial lawyers in American history, representing figures ranging from Senator Joseph McCarthy to Frank Sinatra. Other notable alumni include former White House Counsel Greg Craig, former Obama lawyer Robert Bauer, and Brendan Sullivan (famous for declaring "I'm not a potted plant" during the Iran-Contra hearings). Williams & Connolly's single-office, litigation-focused model makes it one of the most distinctive firms in BigLaw.