#29

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

New York, NY · Led by David Gruenstein

Revenue

$1.6B

Lawyers

300+

Offices

Founded

1965

About Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is legendary — widely considered the most profitable law firm in the world on a per-lawyer basis. With just one office in New York and roughly 300 attorneys, the firm generates revenue that rivals firms five times its size. Wachtell invented the poison pill takeover defense and remains the undisputed king of high-stakes M&A and corporate governance, handling the largest and most consequential transactions on the planet.

Practice Areas

Mergers & Acquisitions

Corporate Governance

Takeover Defense

Litigation

Restructuring

Notable Clients

Major Fortune 500 corporations

Leading investment banks

Boards of directors in contested transactions

Notable Alumni

Martin Lipton

Herbert Wachtell

Edward Herlihy

Jeanette Boot

Fun Fact

Co-founder Martin Lipton invented the shareholder rights plan, commonly known as the 'poison pill,' in 1982 — one of the most consequential innovations in corporate law history. Wachtell consistently has the highest profits per partner of any law firm in the world, often exceeding $7 million per partner.

Visit Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

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