The National Law Journal published its first annual listing of the nation’s top verdicts in 2002. Since that time, no law firm in the nation has won more “Top 100 Verdicts” than McKool Smith. The firm’s record-breaking 23 top verdicts amount to nearly $3.8 billion in jury awards for the firm’s clients. These victories have earned McKool Smith accolades across the nation’s leading legal directories and rankings. The firm’s recent honors include:
- Awarded "Patent Disputes Firm of the Year (South)" – Managing IP (2025)
- Awarded “Plaintiff Law Firm of the Year” – The National Law Journal (2024)
- Recognized as an “Awesome Opponent” – BTI (2024)
- Named a “Distinguished Leading Edge Firm” in BTI’s Leading Edge Law Firms inaugural report (2024)
- Named among “Most Active Plaintiff Firms” in Lex Machina’s Patent Litigation Report (2024)
- Recognized as one of the top PTAB firms in the Patexia PTAB Intelligence Report (2024)
- Ranked the #2 Most Active Law Firms Representing Plaintiffs and recognized as one of the Top Patent Litigation Firms in the Patexia Patent Litigation Intelligence Report (2025)
- Recognized as one of the Top 10 Most Active and Best-Performing law firms in the Patexia ITC Intelligence Report (2025)
- Chambers USA
Chambers USA ranks the nation’s leading firms and lawyers in a wide range of practice areas and features client commentary. McKool Smith’s 2025 rankings include:
- Ranked in Band 1 (highest ranking) for Intellectual Property in Texas. "McKool Smith has a very strong team of litigators with extensive trial experience and deep technical knowledge."
- Ranked Band 1 (highest ranking) for Litigation: General Commercial in Texas. "This firm is highly professional, exceptionally organized and experienced in shepherding a multifaceted case with a large team. Its attorneys are exceptionally talented and hardworking."
- Ranked Band 1 (highest ranking) for Litigation: Securities: Institutional Plaintiffs in New York. "They seamlessly handle complex and difficult matters with the utmost competence."
- Ranked nationally as a leading firm for Intellectual Property. "McKool Smith has several extremely skilled trial lawyers who understand how to provide practical advice that leads to efficient and successful results."
- Ranked as a leading firm for Litigation: General Commercial: Highly Regarded in California. "They have got a lot of experts that we can rely on."
- Chambers Global
Chambers Global identifies leading lawyers and firms in more than 190 countries. McKool Smith's 2025 rankings include:
- Ranked as a leading U.S. firm in the Intellectual Property: Patent category
- Benchmark Litigation
Benchmark Litigation focuses exclusively on litigation in the U.S. McKool Smith's 2024 rankings include:
- Ranked nationally as a “Top 20 Trial Law Firm”
- Ranked as a “Highly Recommended” litigation firm.
- The Legal 500
For the past two decades, The Legal 500 Series has provided the most comprehensive worldwide coverage currently available on legal services providers in more than 100 countries. McKool Smith's 2024 rankings include:
- Ranked nationally as a leading firm for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation – Full Service.
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000
McKool Smith received national and regional rankings in the 2025 edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals.
- One of seven trial powerhouses ranked nationally in the “Firms: plaintiff” category
- One of six firms ranked Gold (highest tier) in Texas in the “Firms: litigation” category
- Ranked Bronze for D.C. Metro Area in the “Firms: litigation” category
- Managing Intellectual Property
Managing IP is a leading global resource covering all aspects of IP law and practice. Our 2025 accolades
- Awarded "Patent Plaintiff Firm: Texas" category
- Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding lawyers by conducting surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their peers. McKool Smith's ranked practitioners for 2025 include:
- Blake Bailey, Samuel Baxter, Melissa Cabrera, Mathew Cameron, John Campbell, Gary Cruciani, Travis DeArman, Kirk Dillman, Alexandra Easley, Eric Fountain, Michael Fritz, Scott Hejny, Daniel Hendler, Kevin Hess, Arvind Jairaim, Richard Kamprath, William LaFuze, Lewis LeClair, Warren Lipschitz, Alan Loewinsohn, Robert Manley, Veronica Manning, Nick Mathews, Ryan McBeth, Michael Miguel, Neil Ozarkar, Steven Pollinger, Jonathan Powers, James Quigley, Hugh Ray, Steven Rizzi, Kevin Schubert, David Sochia, John Sparacino, Jennifer Truelove, and Avery Williams.
- Best Law Firms in America
Best Law Firms in America
Best Law Firms features national and metropolitan firm rankings. Below are McKool Smith’s 2025 national Tier 1 rankings:
National Tier 1
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Litigation - Patent