The NLJ takes the pulse of litigation departments in top law firms in our nation’s capital. We asked them to tell us about their shops, including their biggest wins in 2016, their clients and their opponents. From a competitive field, we selected eight firms. They made the case for why they stood out in general litigation and in these practices: insurance, intellectual property, labor and employment, products liability and white collar. Two share top overall honors. For more on the winners, read on. —Lisa Helem

GENERAL LITIGATION: WINNER
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR
In 2016, Wilmer dominated the litigation landscape like an armored vehicle, on offense and defense, in cutting-edge and traditional cases and across a wide swath of law.

GENERAL LITIGATION: WINNER
KIRKLAND & ELLIS
From defending the rights of minority voters in North Carolina to representing auto giant General Motors in some unlikely wins, careful, extensive discovery and innovative trial strategies drove this firm’s 2016 successes.