Friedman Kaplan Named a Tier 1 Boutique Firm for Commercial Disputes and White Collar Defense in The Legal 500 United States 2026 Guide

The Legal 500 United States has recognized Friedman Kaplan on a national basis across five categories in its recently released 2026 guide, including with Tier 1 rankings in both the guide’s commercial disputes – boutique firms listing and its white collar crime – boutique firms category.  Additionally, the firm is ranked in the premium ($500 million+) commercial disputes category and in both the “advice to corporates” and “advice to individuals” lists in the corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense category.

Commercial Disputes

Friedman Kaplan achieves a Tier 1 ranking in Legal 500’s new commercial disputes – boutique firms category as well as a Tier 3 ranking in a new category for premium commercial disputes involving over $500 million. Of the firm’s commercial disputes practice, commentary notes that Friedman Kaplan’s team of “elite trial lawyers” is “able to juggle multi-jurisdictional litigation with aplomb” and “is well equipped to handle even the most complex litigation and can act nimbly and effectively across types of commercial claims.” Litigators Bonnie Baker, Anne Beaumont, Scott Berman, Elizabeth Bierut, Edward Friedman, Mala Ahuja Harker, Scott Henney, Jamuna Kelley, Alexander Levi, John Orsini, Steven Pesner, Jason Rubinstein, Eric Seiler, and Jeffrey Wang are all individually noted for their commercial disputes work within the guide.

White Collar Defense and Investigations

The 2026 United States guide ranks Friedman Kaplan in all three of its white collar criminal defense categories. In addition to being one of only three firms in the nation rated in the top tier of Legal 500’s new boutique firms listing, Friedman Kaplan is also ranked in the “advice to corporates” and “advice to individuals” tables in the corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense category. The directory quotes sources commenting that the group’s “very strong team” of “exceptional lawyers and top-flight advocates” is “strategic in its approach and clinical in its execution.”

On the individual level, white collar practice co-head Mary Mulligan is listed as a leading partner in the white collar boutique firms and “advice to individuals” tables, and Bonnie Baker is listed in the next generation category of the boutique firms white collar table. In addition to Mary and Bonnie’s individual listings, the directory also recognizes Rahul Agarwal, Elizabeth Bierut, white collar practice co-head Eric Corngold, Timothy Haggerty, Mala Ahuja Harker, and Jared Lenow for their work in white collar criminal defense matters.

The Legal 500 analyzes the capabilities of law firms around the world through a comprehensive research process based on a number of criteria, including feedback from clients, interviews, firm submissions, and a team of experienced researchers. More information about the directory’s selection methodology can be viewed here. (No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)