Carlton Fields earned national first-tier rankings for four of its practices in the 2018 U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” guide. The firm also received high rankings for a multitude of its practices in several metropolitan areas.
According to Best Lawyers, law firms included in this list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.
National First-Tier Rankings:
- Appellate Practice
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Real Estate
The firm also received national rankings in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Environmental Law
- Health Care Law
- Insurance Law
- Land Use & Zoning Law
- Litigation – Environmental
- Litigation – Patent
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
- Media Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
- Trademark Law
Metropolitan First-Tier Rankings
Hartford
- Banking and Finance Law
- Real Estate Law
Miami
- Appellate Practice
- Arbitration
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Insurance Law
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Environmental
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Media Law
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
Orlando
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Litigation – Construction
Tallahassee
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental Law
- Government Relations Practice
- Land Use & Zoning Law
- Litigation -- Environmental
- Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
- Real Estate Law
Tampa
- Antitrust Law
- Appellate Practice
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Copyright Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Environmental Law
- Health Care Law
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Patent
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Litigation – Regulatory Environment (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation – Tax
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Non-Profit/Charities Law
- Patent Law
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Real Estate Law
- Securities Regulation
- Tax Law
West Palm Beach
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Commercial Litigation
Metropolitan Second-Tier Rankings
Atlanta
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Hartford
- Equipment Finance Law
- Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Los Angeles
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Labor & Employment
Miami
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- Litigation – Trusts & Estates
- Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions -- Defendants
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
New York City
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation -- Patent
Orlando
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Tampa
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Employment Law – Management
- Land Use & Zoning Law
- Legal Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
- Trademark Law
- Water Law
West Palm Beach
- Appellate Practice
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Real Estate Law
Metropolitan Third-Tier Rankings
Atlanta
- Real Estate Law
Los Angeles
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
Miami
- Litigation – First Amendment
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
New York City
- Trademark Law
Orlando
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
Tallahassee
- Energy Law
Tampa
- Labor Law – Management
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Litigation – Trusts & Estates
The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the 23rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America list for that particular location and specialty. Awards were given in 75 national practice areas and 122 metropolitan practice areas.
©2026 Carlton Fields, P.A. Carlton Fields practices law in California through Carlton Fields, LLP. Carlton Fields publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information and educational purposes only, and should not be relied on as if it were advice about a particular fact situation. The distribution of this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship with Carlton Fields. This publication may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication or proceeding without the prior written consent of the firm, to be given or withheld at our discretion. To request reprint permission for any of our publications, please use our Contact Us form via the link below. The views set forth herein are the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the firm. This site may contain hypertext links to information created and maintained by other entities. Carlton Fields does not control or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this outside information, nor is the inclusion of a link to be intended as an endorsement of those outside sites.
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