WilmerHale Earns Extensive Recognition in The Legal 500 United States 2026 Across 42 Practice Areas

The Legal 500 United States 2026 edition has recognized WilmerHale for its outstanding performance across 42 practice areas, underscoring the firm’s comprehensive legal expertise and market presence.

This year’s guide also spotlighted individual lawyer achievements within WilmerHale. Five attorneys were inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, reflecting their sustained excellence and leadership in their respective fields. Additionally, 26 lawyers earned the designation of Leading Partners, one was named a Leading Associate, and six were recognized as Next Generation Partners, signaling rising stars within the firm.

Rankings in The Legal 500 are determined through a rigorous process that includes feedback from clients, peer reviews, and evaluations of market visibility and overall reputation.

WilmerHale’s recognized practice areas span a wide spectrum of legal disciplines, including but not limited to:

- Dispute Resolution: Appellate Courts of Appeal and Supreme Courts (state and federal), Corporate Investigations, White-Collar Criminal Defense, Financial Services Litigation, General Commercial Disputes, International Arbitration, and Securities Litigation Defense

- Finance: Capital Markets (Debt and Equity Offerings), Commercial Lending, Financial Services Regulation (Banking and Consumer Finance), Fintech, and Restructuring including Bankruptcy

- Intellectual Property: Patents Litigation (including International Trade Commission) and Trade Secrets

- International Trade and National Security: CFIUS, Customs, Export Controls, Economic Sanctions, Trade Remedies, and Trade Policy

- Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, and Retirement Plans (Transactional)

- M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Corporate Governance, Middle-Market M&A ($500 million to $999 million), and Venture Capital/Emerging Companies

- Media, Technology and Telecoms: Cyber Law (including Data Privacy and Protection), Media and Entertainment Litigation, Outsourcing, and Technology Transactions

- Ronald Meltzer for International Trade and National Security: Customs, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions

- Seth Waxman for Dispute Resolution: Appellate Courts of Appeal and Supreme Courts (state and federal)

- Benjamin Powell (International Trade and National Security: CFIUS; Media, Technology and Telecoms: Cyber Law including Data Privacy and Data Protection)

- David Ross (International Trade and National Security: Trade Remedies and Trade Policy)

- Felicia Ellsworth and Hallie Levin (Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes - premium tier $500 million plus)