Legal 500 held a webinar and Q&A on July 14 2026. Hosted by the US team, it served to introduce State Rankings and the 2027 research calendar.
In an effort to sharpen benchmarking across the US, Legal 500 has announced the introduction of three new tiers of table: City Elite, State and Nationwide. Firms will typically be ranked in two of the three categories, with the most likely combinations being either Nationwide and State rankings or State and City Elite rankings.
City Elite
Smaller firms, including those which may be specialised in a certain practice area, will now be able to submit evidence of work to earn recognition in the lawyer-focused City Elite tables. These are aimed at firms with typically up to 50 attorneys, emphasising the importance of a local presence and lawyer-driven excellence, rather than revenue scale. Am Law 200 firms will not be recognised in these tables, and the foundation of this research is finding the individual lawyers who drive the market. As such, the firm tables will be untiered and supported by lawyer tables.
Submissions should aim to showcase up to five representative key matters, and interviews will be carried out with researchers. Lawyers should also provide clear demonstration of their expertise and market reputation. There will be a focus on the quality of legal work, the level of partner involvement, the strength of client relationships and local and regional market reputation.
Research periods and launch dates roll by jurisdiction, as below:
New York and Connecticut Elite
Research: September-December 2026
Launch: early 2027
Eastern Seaboard, including D.C., Boston and the Southeastern US
Research: December-February 2027
Launch: spring 2027
Midwest & Texas
Research: March-May 2027
Launch: summer 2027
West Coast and Medical Malpractice
Research: June-August 2027
Launch: winter 2027
State
The State rankings meanwhile aim to bridge the gap between smaller firms and Am Law 100 firms, and are designed to recognise high-performing mid-market practices that typically operate in one state and that shape their markets.
There is some flexibility regarding their size, but they will largely be firms of 50+ attorneys that are not national giants, while Am Law 100 firms will be excluded. The first six tables will be for New York, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois and Texas, with plans for future expansion, and the core practice areas will be M&A, Commercial Litigation, White-Collar Crime & Investigations, Real Estate and Intellectual Property.
The research for this table will be based on firm-led submissions, and will feature tiered individual rankings based on these submissions. Sub-tables may be introduced in due course where depth of market activity supports further granularity.
The State rankings will highlight firms that combine scale, sophistication and consistent performance at the state level.
Submission deadline: September 30, 2026
Research: September-December 2026
Launch: Spring 2027
Nationwide
The nationwide coverage continues to recognise firms and practitioners operating at the highest level of the US legal market, that have reach and reputation across multiple states. There is no formal size requirement, but firms must demonstrate a national footprint to be considered.
As such, both large US and international firms that undertake complex cross-border or multi-state matters can be ranked in these tables.
Additionally, market-leading individuals are recognised in the national tables, in the following categories:
- Hall of Fame
- Leading Partner
- Next Generation Partner
- Leading Associate
Legal 500 also wants to stress the importance of diversity in its rankings, and encourages firms to include deserving women and minority lawyers[BB1] .
Submission deadline: November 13, 2026
Research: November 2026-February 2027
Launch: Summer 2027
Private Client
The US Private Client Guide continues to grow with the addition of three new states for 2027, namely Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas, which join the existing rankings across California, Florida and New York.
The guide will continue to celebrate leaders in Art & Cultural Property, Family Law and Private Wealth. Firms are ranked in tiers, with additional recognition for standout individuals, and the research process operates on a submission-first, firm-led basis.
Submission deadline: September 30, 2026
Research: September-December 2026
Launch: TBC
The full webinar and Q&A can be found here:
https://www.legal500.com/events/webinars-home/legal-500-us-introducing-state-rankings-and-2027-research-calendar/