For the first time, the inimitable Vault site solicited partners', not just associates', opinions for its annual "Most Prestigious Firms" ranking.  Here we go:

1. Cravath
2. Wachtel
3. Sullivan & Cromwell
4. Davis-Polk
5. Skadden

...etc.  Once again, in a victory for the home team, eight of the top 10 are NYC-based (#7 Williams & Connolly and #9 Latham being the exceptions), as are 16 of the top 25.

Meanwhile, Legal Week posed a different question to its UK base:  How do you see the global legal marketplace ten years hence?

Despite a very rocky past couple of years, Clifford-Chance was judged most likely to be the premier UK-based international player (41%), beating out Freshfields (29%) and Allen & Overy (12%).  Will the leading global firm be?:  UK-based (7%);  US-based (44%); "half and half" [in the Azores, perhaps?] (49%).

My votes?  I have very little quibble with the "most prestigious" rankings (kind of like debating whether Jeter or A-Rod adds more to the Yankees), and I think the 7%-UK/44%-US split of the Legal Week poll means the handwriting is on the wall.

Back to work....