Top 9 law firms in New York: A data-driven guide

Ramp processes billions of dollars in business expenses across thousands of companies every month. Our unique position in the payments ecosystem provides visibility into actual spending patterns, including legal services expenditures across diverse industries and business sizes.

New York's 182,296 active lawyers form the nation's largest legal market, generating $83.25 billion in revenue. This data-driven analysis leverages transaction patterns from 2.3 million small businesses to identify firms delivering measurable value across practice areas, from startup formation to complex financial regulation within the state's $1.8 trillion economy.

Understanding New York legal landscape

New York's legal ecosystem operates at unprecedented scale, with the finance and insurance sectors alone contributing $326.4 billion to state GDP. The Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court generates $200-$400 million annually in legal fees through high-stakes commercial disputes. International firms recognize this opportunity - UK-based Freshfields expanded NYC partner headcount by 36% to capture market share. Regulatory complexity in financial services, cross-border transactions, and data privacy compliance drives consistent demand for specialized expertise. The state's position as the global financial center amplifies legal service requirements, with firms representing 28.51% of national legal services GDP.

Top 9 firms in New York

Based on transaction data and market analysis, these firms demonstrate exceptional service delivery across New York's diverse legal needs. Jackson Lewis leads in workplace law with 1,057 attorneys across 61 offices, while American Arbitration Association manages over 200,000 dispute resolution cases annually. Epstein Becker & Green specializes in healthcare regulatory compliance for 40% of Fortune 100 healthcare companies. Each firm below has established distinct market positions through measurable client outcomes and specialized expertise.

Jackson Lewis

Jackson Lewis, founded in 1958, maintains headquarters in New York City with 61 offices nationwide including Albany, Long Island, and White Plains. The firm employs 1,057 attorneys (438 principals, 487 associates, 100 counsel, and 32 other lawyers) specializing exclusively in workplace law. Jackson Lewis pioneered the "preventive approach" to employment law and represents employers across healthcare, financial services, retail, and manufacturing sectors, maintaining Band 1 ranking in Labor & Employment by Chambers USA.

Notable facts

Jackson Lewis established the first U.S. law firm AI partnership with ROSS Intelligence in 2018 and received the Legal Innovation Award from the Financial Times for its proprietary compliance analytics platform. The firm maintains a 65-year legacy as a founding member of L&E Global Employers' Counsel Worldwide and is currently chaired by Kevin G. Lauri.

Key practice areas

• Labor and employment litigation
• Immigration compliance
• Workplace safety (OSHA)
• Employee benefits and ERISA
• Non-compete and trade secret protection

Best for

Companies requiring comprehensive workplace law expertise, particularly those in healthcare, financial services, retail, and manufacturing industries facing complex employment litigation, compliance challenges, or requiring preventive strategies for labor relations and workplace safety matters.

American Arbitration Association

American Arbitration Association (AAA), established in 1926, operates international headquarters in New York City with 28 regional offices across the United States. As a non-profit organization maintaining a roster of over 7,000 neutral arbitrators and mediators, AAA specializes in alternative dispute resolution services including commercial arbitration, labor arbitration, construction dispute resolution, and international mediation.

Notable facts

AAA administers over 200,000 cases annually and developed the ICDR International Centre for Dispute Resolution. The organization received the Global Arbitration Review's "Innovation Award" for its digital dispute resolution platform and maintains partnerships with 65 arbitral institutions worldwide. Its New York operations handle approximately 35% of all international commercial arbitrations involving U.S. parties.

Key practice areas

• Commercial arbitration
• International dispute resolution
• Construction mediation
• Labor arbitration
• Consumer dispute resolution

Best for

Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, construction firms, and technology companies engaged in complex cross-border disputes requiring neutral arbitration or mediation services, particularly those seeking cost-effective alternatives to traditional litigation.

Epstein Becker & Green

Epstein Becker & Green, founded in 1973, maintains its flagship office in New York City with 17 additional offices across the United States. The firm employs approximately 300 attorneys focused on highly regulated industries, representing hospital systems, health insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, financial institutions, and retail corporations facing complex regulatory challenges.

Notable facts

Epstein Becker represents 40% of Fortune 100 healthcare companies and established the first dedicated Telehealth practice among AmLaw 200 firms. The firm received U.S. News "Best Law Firm" rankings in 12 practice areas and was named "Health Law Firm of the Year" by Chambers USA. Their New York office handles over 200 healthcare regulatory matters monthly and pioneered the industry's first AI-powered compliance monitoring system for HIPAA violations.

Key practice areas

• Healthcare regulatory compliance
• Labor and employment
• Corporate transactions
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Workforce management solutions

Best for

Healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and financial institutions navigating complex regulatory environments, particularly those requiring specialized expertise in healthcare compliance, telehealth regulations, or facing HIPAA-related challenges.

Lawfty

Lawfty, established in 2015, operates as a boutique New York City-based firm with a single office in Manhattan. The firm employs 8 attorneys specializing in technology-driven legal services for startups and small businesses, serving technology startups, SaaS companies, mobile app developers, and digital content creators.

Notable facts

Lawfty developed the "Legal Checkup" AI diagnostic tool for early-stage companies and created the first blockchain-based smart contract repository for recurring service agreements. The firm received the LegalTech "Startup Innovation Award" in 2023 and maintains partnerships with 12 NYC-based startup incubators. Since inception, Lawfty has handled over 500 seed funding rounds for tech startups with an 80% client retention rate beyond initial engagement.

Key practice areas

• Startup business formation
• Intellectual property strategy
• Technology contracts
• Regulatory compliance
• Seed financing documentation

Best for

Early-stage technology startups, SaaS companies, mobile app developers, and digital content creators seeking cost-effective legal solutions with technology-driven efficiencies, particularly those preparing for seed funding or requiring intellectual property protection strategies.

Schulte Roth & Zabel

Schulte Roth & Zabel, founded in 1969, maintains global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in Washington D.C. and London. The firm employs 350 attorneys specializing in financial services regulation and transactions, representing hedge funds, private equity firms, financial institutions, and cryptocurrency exchanges, with 85% of the top 50 hedge funds as clients.

Notable facts

Schulte Roth has handled over $1 trillion in alternative asset transactions and established the industry's first dedicated cryptocurrency regulatory practice. The firm received Chambers Global "Band 1" rankings for Financial Services Regulation and Private Funds, and was named "Law Firm of the Year" for Hedge Funds by U.S. News six times consecutively. Their New York office manages regulatory compliance for 30% of SEC-registered investment advisors in Manhattan.

Key practice areas

• Investment management
• Financial services regulation
• White-collar defense
• Complex litigation
• Cryptocurrency and blockchain

Best for

Hedge funds, private equity firms, cryptocurrency exchanges, and financial institutions requiring sophisticated regulatory guidance, particularly those managing alternative assets, facing SEC compliance challenges, or entering the cryptocurrency market.

Amazon Sellers Lawyer

Amazon Sellers Lawyer, established in 2017, operates its primary office in New York City with satellite locations in Los Angeles and Miami. The firm employs 15 attorneys exclusively focused on e-commerce platform disputes, representing over 5,000 Amazon third-party sellers, wholesale distributors, and FBA merchants facing platform enforcement actions.

Notable facts

Amazon Sellers Lawyer secured $28 million in recovered inventory for clients and established the first algorithmic monitoring system for ASIN violations. The firm developed the proprietary "Reinstatement Success Protocol" with 92% effectiveness rate and handles approximately 300 suspension appeals monthly. They received the Global E-Commerce "Legal Innovator Award" in 2024 for their AI-driven appeal documentation system.

Key practice areas

• Amazon account reinstatement
• Intellectual property disputes
• Suspension appeals
• Counterfeit claims resolution
• Platform policy compliance

Best for

Amazon third-party sellers, FBA merchants, and wholesale distributors facing account suspensions, intellectual property disputes, or counterfeit claims, particularly those requiring rapid response to platform enforcement actions or seeking to recover frozen inventory.

Rupp Pfalzgraf

Rupp Pfalzgraf, founded in 1995, maintains four New York offices in Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, and Long Island with 40 attorneys. The firm specializes in business litigation and transactional services for mid-market companies, representing manufacturing firms, real estate developers, healthcare providers, and technology companies across Upstate and Western New York.

Notable facts

Rupp Pfalzgraf secured $120 million in economic development incentives for clients and handles over 500 commercial real estate transactions annually. The firm received the Business First "Legal Excellence Award" for seven consecutive years and was named "Top Corporate Law Firm" by Buffalo Law Journal. They have argued before the New York Court of Appeals in 12 precedent-setting cases involving commercial lease disputes.

Key practice areas

• Commercial litigation
• Real estate development
• Corporate transactions
• Employment law
• Intellectual property

Best for

Mid-market manufacturing companies, real estate developers, and healthcare providers in Upstate and Western New York requiring comprehensive business legal services, particularly those seeking economic development incentives or involved in commercial real estate transactions.

The Murray Law Firm

The Murray Law Firm, established in 2008, operates a single office in New York City with 6 attorneys specializing in personal injury litigation. The firm represents injured construction workers, medical negligence victims, and families in wrongful death actions throughout the five boroughs.

Notable facts

The Murray Law Firm secured a $32 million verdict in a construction scaffold collapse case and a $24 million settlement for birth injury malpractice. The firm received the "Top Verdict Award" from New York Law Journal three times and maintains a 98% success rate in premises liability cases. They established the "Safety First" initiative providing free OSHA compliance consultations to construction sites, reducing worksite injuries by 43% among participating contractors.

Key practice areas

• Construction accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Premises liability
• Wrongful death
• Workers' compensation

Best for

Construction workers injured on job sites, victims of medical malpractice, and families pursuing wrongful death claims in the five boroughs, particularly those seeking representation with proven high-value verdict history and specialized construction accident expertise.

Hamburger Law Firm

Hamburger Law Firm, founded in 2003, maintains its principal office in New York City with 8 attorneys focused on personal injury and disability law. The firm represents injured commuters, disabled workers, and accident victims throughout New York's five boroughs and Long Island.

Notable facts

Hamburger Law Firm secured over $100 million in client compensation and won 12 consecutive seven-figure verdicts in Queens County Supreme Court. The firm received the "Client Champion Award" from Martindale-Hubbell for five consecutive years and maintains a 99% case success rate. They established the "Commuter Safety Initiative" with MTA, distributing 50,000 safety kits to subway riders annually and reducing platform accidents by 27% in participating stations.

Key practice areas

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slip and fall injuries
• Social Security disability
• Workers' compensation
• Construction accidents

Best for

Injured commuters, disabled workers, and motor vehicle accident victims in the five boroughs and Long Island, especially those requiring representation for Social Security disability claims or seeking firms with consistent seven-figure verdict track records.

What to consider when choosing a firm in New York

New York's competitive legal market demands strategic firm selection based on measurable criteria. Start by evaluating practice area alignment - generalist firms may lack the specialized expertise required for complex regulatory matters in finance or healthcare. Geographic coverage matters significantly; Manhattan-based firms command premium rates but offer proximity to courts and regulatory agencies, while Upstate firms provide cost advantages for businesses outside NYC.

Consider firm size relative to your needs. Boutique firms like Lawfty offer personalized service and technology-driven efficiencies for startups, while established firms like Jackson Lewis provide nationwide resources for multi-state employment matters. Request specific case outcomes data - firms handling similar matters should demonstrate quantifiable success rates, average settlement values, or regulatory approval percentages.

Evaluate fee structures beyond hourly rates. Alternative fee arrangements, contingency options for litigation, or subscription models for ongoing compliance work may better align with business cash flow. Request references from clients in similar industries facing comparable challenges. Verify state bar standing and disciplinary history through the New York State Unified Court System attorney registration database.

Next steps: Schedule consultations with three firms matching your criteria. Prepare a one-page summary of your legal needs, budget parameters, and timeline. Request written fee estimates and engagement terms. Compare response times, communication clarity, and proposed strategies before making your selection.