Key Takeaways
- • Cleary Gottlieb secured 34 lawyers across five practice groups recognized in Benchmark Litigation USA 2026, including 16 "National Practice Area Stars" and 25 "Litigation Stars," reinforcing top-tier positioning in U.S. dispute resolution.
- • The firm's Bankruptcy, Competition/Antitrust, Commercial, International Arbitration, and White-Collar Crime practices earned rankings, with New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. offices cited as "Highly Recommended."
- • Cleary Gottlieb won eight awards at the Benchmark Litigation Europe 2025 ceremony, including European Firm of the Year (Special Honour) and France Firm recognition, demonstrating sustained excellence across transatlantic litigation markets.
- • Four lawyers were named to the "40 & Under List" and "Top 250 Women in Litigation," with five additional lawyers recognized as "Future Stars," signaling strength in emerging talent pipeline.
- • The firm ranks #1 in Global Competition Review's 2025 Global Elite rankings and holds consistent recognition across Chambers and Partners, IFLR Europe Awards, and European Innovative Lawyers reports.
Summary
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has secured elite recognition across both major transatlantic litigation benchmarks, consolidating its position as a leading global disputes practice. In the 2026 Benchmark Litigation USA rankings, the firm placed 34 lawyers, five practice groups, and three offices among the guide's most distinguished categories. The recognition spans specialized litigation sectors: Bankruptcy, Competition/Antitrust, Commercial, International Arbitration, and White-Collar Crime practices all earned top-tier rankings, with the firm's New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. offices again designated "Highly Recommended."
The distribution of individual lawyer accolades reflects depth across seniority levels. Cleary identified 16 lawyers as "National Practice Area Stars"—the highest individual designation—while 25 additional lawyers earned "Litigation Stars" status. The firm also placed four lawyers on the "40 & Under List," four on the "Top 250 Women in Litigation" roster, and five in the "Future Stars" category, demonstrating competitive strength in emerging and underrepresented talent segments.
In Europe, Cleary Gottlieb's momentum proved even more pronounced. The firm exited the 2025 Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards as the ceremony's principal winner, capturing eight total prizes including the special honour designation of European Firm of the Year and France Firm recognition. This achievement aligns with broader market recognition: the firm ranks #1 in Global Competition Review's 2025 Global Elite for competition law and holds consistent top rankings across Chambers and Partners European legal directories, IFLR Europe Awards, and the European Innovative Lawyers report, where 14 Cleary lawyers appeared among 50 recognized practitioners.
Benchmark Litigation's methodology emphasizes direct market intelligence. Rankings derive from extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists, and their institutional clients, with research weighted toward recent case evidence and demonstrated litigation outcomes. The dual recognition across USA and Europe rankings indicates sustained client confidence in Cleary Gottlieb's ability to execute high-stakes, cross-border disputes across multiple practice areas and jurisdictions.
The distribution of individual lawyer accolades reflects depth across seniority levels. Cleary identified 16 lawyers as "National Practice Area Stars"—the highest individual designation—while 25 additional lawyers earned "Litigation Stars" status. The firm also placed four lawyers on the "40 & Under List," four on the "Top 250 Women in Litigation" roster, and five in the "Future Stars" category, demonstrating competitive strength in emerging and underrepresented talent segments.
In Europe, Cleary Gottlieb's momentum proved even more pronounced. The firm exited the 2025 Benchmark Litigation Europe Awards as the ceremony's principal winner, capturing eight total prizes including the special honour designation of European Firm of the Year and France Firm recognition. This achievement aligns with broader market recognition: the firm ranks #1 in Global Competition Review's 2025 Global Elite for competition law and holds consistent top rankings across Chambers and Partners European legal directories, IFLR Europe Awards, and the European Innovative Lawyers report, where 14 Cleary lawyers appeared among 50 recognized practitioners.
Benchmark Litigation's methodology emphasizes direct market intelligence. Rankings derive from extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists, and their institutional clients, with research weighted toward recent case evidence and demonstrated litigation outcomes. The dual recognition across USA and Europe rankings indicates sustained client confidence in Cleary Gottlieb's ability to execute high-stakes, cross-border disputes across multiple practice areas and jurisdictions.
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