Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is a New York law firm of 272 lawyers that led 2025 BigLaw rankings with $12.152 million in profits per equity partner, up 34.48 percent, according to Above the Law. It earned $5.085 million in revenue per lawyer, the highest in the ranking, from a single Manhattan office.
What are the key facts about Wachtell Lipton?
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is a single-office New York law firm founded in 1965 that concentrates on mergers and acquisitions. The table lists the facts most readers look up first.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founders | Herbert Wachtell, Martin Lipton, Leonard Rosen and George Katz |
| Lawyers | 272 (Above the Law, 2025 figures) |
| Office | One Manhattan office |
| Practice focus | Mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and shareholder litigation, restructurings, large real estate transactions |
| Best-known creation | The poison pill, created by Martin Lipton in 1982 |
| AI citation share | #2 of 25 BigLaw firms, Citation Share Index of 96 (EPR audit, 2026) |
How much did Wachtell earn in 2025?
Wachtell led the 2025 BigLaw rankings on both profits per equity partner and revenue per lawyer. The table compares it with the firms closest behind it, using Above the Law's reporting of American Lawyer data.
| Metric | Wachtell | Comparison |
|---|
| Profits per equity partner | $12.152 million (up 34.48%) | Kirkland & Ellis: $11.121 million |
| Revenue per lawyer | $5.085 million (up 13.71%) | Davis Polk: $2.588 million; Kirkland: $2.547 million |
| Lawyers | 272 | Kirkland: 4,145 |
| Gross revenue | About $1.39 billion | Kirkland: about $10.5 billion |
Wikipedia reports Wachtell's 2025 revenue at $1.39 billion. EPR's Kirkland & Ellis profile covers the largest firm on the list.
Who founded Wachtell Lipton and when?
Four New York University law graduates founded Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in 1965: Herbert Wachtell, Martin Lipton, Leonard Rosen and George Katz. Wachtell, Rosen and Katz graduated in 1954 and Lipton in 1955, according to Encyclopedia.com's company history.
Lipton, Rosen and Katz worked at the bankruptcy firm Seligson, Morris & Neuburger, which dissolved in December 1964, and they then invited Wachtell and his partner Jerome Kern to join them, per The Lipton Archive.
What is the poison pill?
The poison pill is a shareholder rights plan that a company's board can use to defend against a hostile takeover. Martin Lipton created it in 1982, according to Vault's firm profile.
When a hostile bidder accumulates a meaningful stake, the plan lets other shareholders buy additional shares at a discount, which dilutes the bidder's position. Boards use it to buy time to negotiate or find a better offer.
Why does Wachtell stay in one office?
Wachtell stays in one office because its senior partners believe expansion would dilute its culture. A Reuters report carried by Daily Times said the firm considered a London office and decided against it, preferring ad hoc teams working from Manhattan.
The firm operates from a single Manhattan office and is one of the smallest firms in the Am Law 100, as Wikipedia's firm entry notes.
What does Wachtell practice?
Wachtell concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and shareholder litigation, restructurings and large real estate transactions. Vault's profile describes the firm as the leading firm for appraisal litigation defense, including the PetSmart case, the largest appraisal case in Delaware history.
How does Wachtell communicate?
Wachtell runs a quieter communications program than most BigLaw peers, in EPR's assessment. EPR's Law Firms Citation Share Audit ranks Wachtell #2 of 25 BigLaw firms across five AI engines, with a Citation Share Index of 96 against Kirkland & Ellis at 100, despite the smallest website in BigLaw. Wachtell AI citation share explains the reason.
Last updated October 10, 2026. Financial figures are 2025 results as reported by Above the Law and Wikipedia. Citation share figures come from EPR's 2026 audit.
