Press Release
11 February 2026

Cornerstone Research Earns Top Five Ranking from Vault in 2026

Firm solidifies elite standing among North America’s best and debuts in new performance categories.

For the sixth consecutive year, career information provider Vault has named Cornerstone Research to its annual lists of outstanding consulting firms. In the 2026 rankings, the firm maintained its elite position as the #2 Best Economic Consulting Firm and rose to the #6 spot among the Vault Consulting 50.

The firm also saw significant momentum in market perception, climbing into the top 20 Most Prestigious Consulting Firms. This upward trajectory reflects Cornerstone Research’s growing influence and its commitment to delivering high-impact economic and financial analysis for the world’s leading law firms as well as U.S. and international regulatory agencies.

2026 ranking highlights

Elite market recognition

Top 2 – Best Economic Consulting Firms
Top 10 – Best Consulting Firms to Work for in North America, Vault Consulting 50
Top 20 – Most Prestigious Consulting Firms

New and expanding capabilities

Top 15 – Best Consulting Firms, Data Analytics
Top 20 – Best Consulting Firms, Financial Consulting

Operational excellence

Top 5 – Best Consulting Firms for Compensation
Top 10 – Best Consulting Firms for Benefits

Vault also recognized the firm in its top 20 lists in multiple other categories, including promotion policies, overall business outlook, formal and informal training, firm leadership, and innovation.

Employee perspectives

Vault compiles its rankings based on annual surveys conducted with verified employees. Survey respondents highlighted Cornerstone Research’s commitments to professional development, transparency, and fostering a supportive professional culture. Reviews from employees include:

“The mentorship opportunities at Cornerstone are unmatched. The firm operates around a generalist model for the staffing of analysts, which allows for a variety of different workstreams.”
“The people are genuine and want everyone to succeed. Everyone works hard and accepts the challenge of solving some of the most difficult problems with a team-first approach.”
“Cornerstone is focused on promoting continuous growth among its consulting staff. There are opportunities to grow your responsibilities each year.”
“Career growth at the firm is clearly defined and openly discussed. Expectations for each level are transparent, and people who’ve been promoted are good about sharing how they got there. There’s also a strong culture of informal mentoring—senior staff are approachable and willing to give career advice or feedback.”

Read the Firm’s Complete Profile

“Once again, Cornerstone Research rose in key rankings by delivering for our clients and investing in our people,” said Kristin Leary, chief talent officer at Cornerstone Research. “These recognitions are a direct reflection of our dedication to building a culture of growth, innovation, and career-long professional development. Receiving such strong positive feedback from our team members shows that we are empowering them to thrive and do their best work.”