Daniela Spiro, Author at Tier One Rankings https://tieronerankings.com/author/daniela/ help you succeed with your directories and awards submissions Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:22:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://tieronerankings.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1-32x32.png Daniela Spiro, Author at Tier One Rankings https://tieronerankings.com/author/daniela/ 32 32 ITR World Tax Webinar – Key Takeaways https://tieronerankings.com/itr-world-tax-webinar-key-takeaways/ https://tieronerankings.com/itr-world-tax-webinar-key-takeaways/#respond Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:22:45 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=2632 ITR World Tax held a live Q&A webinar on January 21st, hosted by John Harrison, Head of Research at ITR World Tax. If you couldn’t make it, don’t panic; below are the key takeaways you need to know if you are planning on submitting soon! Some important dates reminders first What’s new? The 2027 submission […]

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ITR World Tax held a live Q&A webinar on January 21st, hosted by John Harrison, Head of Research at ITR World Tax. If you couldn’t make it, don’t panic; below are the key takeaways you need to know if you are planning on submitting soon!

Some important dates reminders first

  • The submission deadline is March 13, 2026 (for all regions).
  • Practitioner survey deadline: June 12, 2026
  • Client feedback survey deadline: July 10, 2026
  • Research results published:
    • Europe and Middle East – October 2026
    • Americas and Asia Pacific – November 2026
    • Africa – April 2027

What’s new?

The 2027 submission form has been updated. As a result:

  • You will now submit one unified research form covering both ITR Rankings and ITR Awards. Within each matter description, you can indicate whether you would like the matter to be considered for awards.
  • Submissions in alternative formats will no longer be accepted. Only the official 2027 submission form will be considered.
  • The time period for submitted matters is now clearly stated at the start of the form.
  • The “Key individuals” section has been renamed “Key practitioners”, with no substantive change to the information required.
  • The matter section requests largely the same information as before, but it is now recommended to specify whether a matter is cross-border.
  • The 2027 submission covers a significantly wider range of topics, including CSR/ESG, DEI, technology solutions, innovation, compliance & reporting, tax policy & pro bono work, and global mobility & incentives – mostly relevant for awards consideration.

In short: the new form is unified, more structured, and more detailed.

What does it means concretely: The new form requires broader, firm-wide strategic information than the previous version and will therefore require additional time and internal collaboration from your team.

Submission

  • Matters are the primary source of information on deals for researchers.
  • Ongoing matters are permitted. Be sure to include key dates and clearly explain what work was carried out during the current research year.
  • Matters should be complete, concise, and detailed, clearly explaining the firm’s role, the complexity of the work, and evidence of consistent growth over time.
  • Matters are assessed based on complexity, innovation, and jurisdictional or regional impact -> Tier 1 firms are expected to demonstrate leadership at both national and international levels, particularly in cross-border tax matters.
  • Avoid generic descriptions. Focus on why the matter is important or novel within your jurisdiction.
  • The final question in each matter (“Explain why you chose to highlight this matter?”) is often omitted but is important as it helps analysts who may not be familiar with your local market.
    • For example: Was it the first ruling of its kind? A landmark court decision?
  • Strong matter should clearly outline the dispute or advisory context, specific legal, tax, or valuation issues, timelines, and innovative or impactful outcomes -> Be explicit about what tax work was actually done.
  • Firms may submit up to 15 matters per practice area per form.
    • Firms active across multiple practice areas may submit one form covering multiple practice areas, or submit separate forms, each with up to 15 matters.
    • -> Submitting separate forms is recommended for larger teams to better showcase breadth and depth.
    • -> Smaller firms should focus on their strongest matters and can do so by submitting 3-4 matters per practice area or include them all in a single submission.
    • If submitting one combined form, aim for 3-4 matters per practice area.
  • One matter per client is recommended.
  • The same matter may be reused across two different specialised practice areas, as long as it is relevant.
  • Ensure that individuals you want ranked are listed as in Section 1, and featured in the submitted matters in Section 2. -> Key practitioners should appear consistently across matters to demonstrate genuine involvement and maintain credibility.
  • Researchers assess firms on a rolling 3-5 year history, so consistent submissions are strongly encouraged rather than one-off participation.
  • The DEI section does not impact your rankings.

Referees

  • There is no limit on the number of referees you may submit.
  • All referees will be contacted, and firms will be notified before ITR reaches out to clients.
  • For confidentiality and integrity, firms are not copied on referee emails, and don’t receive the survey link.
  • Firms should encourage referees to whitelist ITR emails to avoid delivery issues.
  • Quality matters more than quantity! Try to submit relevant, high-quality referees, and confirm their willingness to participate. -> A smaller group of engaged referees who respond to surveys or interviews leads to stronger feedback and better ranking outcomes.
  • Referees do not need to be directly linked to a specific matter, but alignment between referees and highlighted cases improves the quality of feedback.
  • The client referee survey focuses on general impressions of the firm, which helps analysts assess reputation and client satisfaction.
  • Referee titles do not affect the weight of feedback, but firms should include roles or positions for context.

Awards

  • Rankings and awards rely on the same submitted matters, eliminating the need for separate award submissions. Additional interviews or follow-up questions may be requested if needed.
  • Matters considered for awards must be publishable cases or deals, and have had a significant market impact, either due to size, value, or precedent.
  • Awards are available across multiple categories, including transfer pricing, indirect tax, CSR, disputes and litigation, etc.
  • DEI considerations are important for awards for the regional DEI Firm of the year.

Additional Helpful Information

  • Extensions may be granted on an ad hoc basis if requested by email.
  • Practitioner and client feedback surveys are expected to go live in April, after submission deadlines and any extensions.
  • Firms can expect to be contacted in April.
  • Firms with specific questions or those seeking submission guidance are encouraged to email the researcher directly to arrange one-on-one calls for future improvement.

Here are some helpful links:

  • If you need a refresher on their methodology, click here.
  • Need to check the ranking description? Click here.
  • Need to check the practice area definitions? Click here.
  • If you want to watch the entire recorded webinar, click here.
  • A previous webinar held on November 19, 2025, walked through all sections of the research form in detail. You can access it here.

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IFLR1000 2026: Key Takeaways from This Year’s Webinar https://tieronerankings.com/iflr1000-2026-key-takeaways-from-this-years-webinar/ https://tieronerankings.com/iflr1000-2026-key-takeaways-from-this-years-webinar/#respond Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:16:42 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=2628 If you joined the IFLR1000 webinar yesterday (or meant to and got pulled into just one more call), you weren’t alone. The session covered some meaningful changes for this research cycle—especially around submissions, practice areas, and lawyer nominations. Here’s our no-fluff breakdown of what actually matters, and what you should be thinking about now. What’s […]

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If you joined the IFLR1000 webinar yesterday (or meant to and got pulled into just one more call), you weren’t alone. The session covered some meaningful changes for this research cycle—especially around submissions, practice areas, and lawyer nominations.

Here’s our no-fluff breakdown of what actually matters, and what you should be thinking about now.


What’s the Biggest Change This Year?

For the first time, firms will submit a single, unified research form covering both:

  • IFLR1000 rankings, and
  • IFLR Awards

This means:

  • No more separate rankings and awards submissions
  • Matters included in your research form can now be flagged directly for awards consideration
  • Less duplication, more strategic planning

💡 Takeaway: You’ll want to think about rankings and awards together from the outset—especially when selecting deals.


Are the Practice Areas the Same as Last Year?

Not exactly—and this is an important one to double-check.

The most notable update is the expansion of the traditional Banking category into Banking & Finance, which now explicitly includes:

  • Traditional banking work
  • Project finance
  • Asset finance
  • Financial services regulatory matters

This change also means:

  • New ranking tables in certain European jurisdictions
  • In some jurisdictions, previously separate practice areas have been combined
  • In others, firms may still have the option to submit under two separate sub-categories

💡 Takeaway: Don’t assume last year’s structure applies. Always review the practice areas for your specific jurisdiction before submitting.


What If I Only Want to Submit for the Awards?

You still can.

Awards-only submissions remain possible, and the form is flexible if rankings aren’t your focus this year.

If you’re submitting just for awards:

  • Focus primarily on deal highlights
  • Keep the practice description and lawyer sections light
  • Simply tick “Yes” in the awards nomination box

A few key rules to keep in mind:

  • All matters submitted for awards must be publishable
  • You may nominate up to three matters for awards consideration

💡 Takeaway: Even an awards-only submission benefits from a clean, compelling narrative—just without the full rankings depth.


IFLR1000 Has Capped Referees at 15—Does This Affect Rankings?

Short answer: No.

While the maximum number of referees has been reduced to 15:

  • Referee feedback will be weighted the same way as in previous years
  • There’s no change to how rankings are calculated

💡 Takeaway: Quality over quantity still applies. Choose referees strategically.


Should I Nominate Lawyers Who Are Already Ranked?

Generally, no.

Lawyers who are already ranked do not need to be re-nominated unless:

  • They are seeking a change in ranking, for example:
    • Highly Regarded → Market Leader

💡 Takeaway: Use your nominations to promote lawyers who are not already ranked and to increase bench strength.


Is There a Limit on Lawyer Nominations?

Yes—and this is another area where precision matters.

You may nominate:

  • Up to 5 lawyers total across:
    • Market Leader
    • Highly Regarded
    • Women Leaders
  • Up to 3 lawyers for:
    • Rising Star Partner
    • Rising Star

💡 Takeaway: Be intentional. Over-nominating isn’t an option.


Can I Submit by Email?

Nope.

All submissions must be made exclusively through the IFLR1000 portal. No email submissions are accepted—no exceptions.


Are There Other Ways to Nominate Lawyers?

Yes!

The Lawyers Survey will open in March, allowing:

  • Self-nominations
  • Peer nominations

This is separate from the firm submission and can be a useful supplementary channel.

💡 Takeaway: Don’t overlook the Lawyers Survey—it’s an additional opportunity to reinforce visibility. You can use it to add names that weren’t included in the submission due to space constraints or to further highlight those who were.


Final Thought

This year’s changes are clearly aimed at streamlining the process—but they also reward firms that plan early and submit strategically. Between the unified form, evolving practice areas, and tighter nomination limits, a thoughtful approach matters more than ever.

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Key Insights from the IFLR1000 Webinar https://tieronerankings.com/key-insights-from-the-iflr1000-webinar/ https://tieronerankings.com/key-insights-from-the-iflr1000-webinar/#respond Sun, 19 Jan 2025 21:04:53 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=2127 When handling submission, it’s essential to keep up with the latest trends and requirements in the submission landscape, particularly with organizations like IFLR1000, which plays a pivotal role in assessing corporate financial and transactional work. The IFLR webinar yesterday provided critical insights regarding the submission process, eligibility criteria, and research methodology. Here, I summarize the […]

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When handling submission, it’s essential to keep up with the latest trends and requirements in the submission landscape, particularly with organizations like IFLR1000, which plays a pivotal role in assessing corporate financial and transactional work. The IFLR webinar yesterday provided critical insights regarding the submission process, eligibility criteria, and research methodology. Here, I summarize the key points discussed that are vital for firms navigating this competitive arena.

Understanding IFLR1000

IFLR1000 specializes in covering various aspects of corporate financial and transactional work across multiple practice areas. These areas include:

  • Banking & Finance
  • Capital Markets
  • Financial Services Regulatory (FSR)
  • Investment Funds
  • M&A/Transactional Private Equity
  • Project Development/Projects
  • Restructuring and Insolvency

The importance and relevance of these practice areas can vary significantly based on jurisdiction as well as the volume of work conducted by the firms in those regions. Firms need to be particularly attentive to how they align their practices with IFLR1000’s requirements.

Submission Guidelines: The Portal is Key

One of the major updates emphasized during the webinar is that all submissions and referee lists must be submitted exclusively through the designated portal. It’s crucial to remember that submissions sent via email will not be accepted.

The portal offers several benefits, including:

  • The ability to preview past submissions, providing an excellent reference point for crafting current submissions.
  • Ensuring that when creating an account, it is done using the law firm’s official email domain, maintaining professional integrity.

Eligibility Requirements: What You Need to

Participate

To participate effectively in the IFLR1000 research process, firms must meet several criteria:

  • Physical Presence: A tangible office must exist in the jurisdiction where the submission is being made.
  • Local Licensing: Both the firm and the lawyers involved must be licensed to practice locally.
  • Core Practice Areas: The firm should practice in one or more of the core areas defined by IFLR1000, ensuring their expertise aligns with the submission requirements.

Detailed Breakdown of the Research Form

The research form itself is structured with clear sections that demand careful consideration.

Section 1: Lawyer Nominations

  • A new change this year, the first section exclusively focuses on new lawyers, specifically those who are currently unrated by IFLR1000. This change signifies a shift towards recognizing emerging talent within the legal industry.
  • When nominating, it’s essential that all nominated lawyers work within the specified jurisdiction for the submission.

For lawyers who are already rated, maintaining their ratings hinges on several factors:

  • The submission of  deal evidence showcased in Section 3 of the form.
  • Gathering and considering both client and peer feedback, which are integral components of the evaluation process.

Notably, the Lawyer Survey has returned this year, providing an opportunity for self-nomination and allowing lawyers to present additional deal evidence.

What if the lawyer is rated for one practice area but not another?

  • In that case you can put down the lawyer’s name for the other practice area.

Section 2: Overview of Practice

In this section, firms must present a comprehensive overview of their practice. This entails selling their unique competitive advantage to the IFLR evaluators. Relevant data regarding market share should be included, and firms are encouraged to provide information on their impact in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) space, if applicable.

Section 3: Prioritize Complex Deals

When it comes to Section 3, firms are directed to prioritize their top 10 deals that are characterized by complexity, impact, and innovation. It is critical not to leave the innovation section blank, as this could raise questions regarding the firm’s capacity for creative and impactful work—something that is vital in the eyes of IFLR’s research methodology. It is important to prioritize this section as it is the most decisive factor in IFLR’s research methodology

Referee Form Details

This year, IFLR is requesting feedback from only 20 referees per practice area. It is important to confirm with referees prior to listing them to maximize the likelihood of positive engagement. Each referee can provide insights on multiple lawyers, and it is recommended that about half of the referees can be linked to deals in the submission.

Moreover, firms can proactively inquire about the percentage of client feedback received, which can serve as a useful metric for understanding the firm’s standing.

Important Timetable to Note

Firms should be particularly aware of the key deadlines associated with the IFLR research cycle:

Submission Deadlines fall on either February 12 or June 30 depending on your jurisdiction.

Research interviews will take place from February to August.

The lawyer survey will be sent out in March/April.

Research publication dates are to be announced in early Spring 2025, with all firm and lawyer rankings being released simultaneously.

Good luck to all of those submitting this year! If you would like any help or assistance with your upcoming submissions, please feel free to reach out to our Tier One team.

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Webinar Watch: IP Stars Rankings and Managing IP Awards 2025 https://tieronerankings.com/webinar-watch-ip-stars-rankings-and-managing-ip-awards-2025/ https://tieronerankings.com/webinar-watch-ip-stars-rankings-and-managing-ip-awards-2025/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:57:20 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=2023 The 2025 submission process for the IP Stars rankings kicked off with a detailed webinar hosted by Kingsley Egbuono and Chris Adams from the now-officially named Legal Benchmarking Group, which manages the IP Stars and Managing IP Awards. Here’s a recap of the essential updates and strategic insights shared during the session. Standout Case Studies […]

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The 2025 submission process for the IP Stars rankings kicked off with a detailed webinar hosted by Kingsley Egbuono and Chris Adams from the now-officially named Legal Benchmarking Group, which manages the IP Stars and Managing IP Awards. Here’s a recap of the essential updates and strategic insights shared during the session.

Standout Case Studies and Achievements of 2024

One of the key focal points of the submission process is the importance of highlighting a firm’s achievements in 2024. It’s crucial to clearly indicate the timing of a matter, as the assessment process gives significant weight to the date of the work. This is especially important as the submission form remains the primary tool for both the rankings and awards process. This dual function means that attention to detail in completing the form is critical to ensure your firm’s best work is recognized in both contexts.

Partner Interviews

The Legal Benchmarking Group continues to value interviews with partners to supplement the written submissions. Their preference is to interview at least two partners per firm, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of a firm’s achievements. If a firm is approached by an IP Stars researcher for an interview, it is crucial to arrange for multiple lawyers to participate in the discussion to provide a well-rounded perspective.

What’s New this Year?

A few new elements have been introduced for the 2025 submission process:

Addition of the Firm’s URL: On the first page of the submission, there is now a section to add the firm’s URL for their website.

Your New IP Stars Section: This is where firms can recommend senior IP practitioners who are not already ranked. This is a chance to elevate deserving professionals for consideration in the next edition.

Diversity and Inclusion Reporting: There has been a change in how the Legal Benchmarking Group collects diversity data. A new Social Impact Awards category is being introduced, giving firms recognition for their contributions to diversity, inclusion, and broader societal impacts.

Referee Spreadsheets: While last year they introduced two separate spreadsheets for referees, one for companies and one for firms, there is now just one. However, firms must still clearly identify the type of referee (in-house practitioner/ direct client or another law firm) to guide the research team’s questions effectively.

Best Practices for Submitting Matters

A final key piece of advice focused on the submission of matters: it’s recommended to submit at least 10 to 15 cases. Submitting fewer than 10 may not provide a comprehensive overview of your firm’s work, making it harder for the researchers to accurately evaluate your firm’s standing.

As highlighted in the webinar, most of the information from last year’s session remains highly relevant and can serve as a helpful reference for addressing further questions. For a detailed review of last year’s insights, please refer to the following link: https://tieronerankings.com/key-updates-for-you-from-the-recent-ip-stars-webinar/

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A Guide to IP Legal Directory Submissions https://tieronerankings.com/a-guide-to-ip-legal-directory-submissions/ https://tieronerankings.com/a-guide-to-ip-legal-directory-submissions/#respond Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:26:25 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1937 For IP lawyers, submitting to legal directories can be a year-round task. Unlike other practice areas that usually submit two or three times a year, IP itself can have us writing up to eight submissions per year. Today, I’m going to go over some of the main IP guides and hopefully help you decide which […]

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For IP lawyers, submitting to legal directories can be a year-round task. Unlike other practice areas that usually submit two or three times a year, IP itself can have us writing up to eight submissions per year. Today, I’m going to go over some of the main IP guides and hopefully help you decide which ones you should be submitting to.

IP Stars

IP Stars is the all in one IP Directory. The submission covers all types of work as well as all types of IP.

The submission is broken down into a number of sections:

  • Patent Case Studies
  • Trademark Case Studies
  • Copyright Case Studies
  • Design Case Studies
  • IP Transaction Case Studies
  • Domain Name Case Studies
  • IP Tax Advice Case Studies

In last year’s IP Stars webinar, researchers emphasized that incomplete sections do not affect rankings, understanding that boutique firms may specialize in only a few areas. There is no maximum number of matters you may add; however, we recommend only 10 matters per section.

Referees: There are two separate referee sheets, one for referees from law firms (in-house or otherwise) and the other for referees from other companies. Researchers at IP Stars have explicitly said, “the more referees, the better.”

Awards: Yes, at the end of the submission, there is also an option to participate in the Awards. The submission does not affect the Awards, so please highlight the biggest matters from the last year in the Awards section.

Deadline: October/November

Who should submit: Any firm with an IP department

IAM Patent 1000

IAM Patent 1000 identifies the top patent practitioners and firms in key jurisdictions around the globe.

While the rankings have separate tables for Patent Prosecution, Litigation, and Transactions, the submission also includes a separate section for Trade Secrets. It is recommended to select 15 matters per section.

Referees: Up to 5 referees for each submitting practitioner.

Awards: Yes, by submitting to the guide, you will automatically be entered for the Global IP Awards, which are a collaboration between the IAM Editorial teams and their sister platform, the World Trademark Review.

Deadline: September

Who should submit: Firms that specialize in Patent law 

IAM Strategy 300

This guide recognizes leading IP strategists worldwide for their exceptional skills in maximizing IP asset value. Unlike most guides, consideration for IAM Strategy 300 is based on receiving at least three external nominations. Self-nominations will not be accepted. After receiving the nominations, a researcher will contact the nominee for further information.

Awards: No

Deadline: December

Who should participate: IP Strategists

World Trademark Review 1000

A sister platform of IAM, the World Trademark Review (WTR) is a leading source of news, analysis, and insights on trademark law and practice globally.

The submission is broken down into three categories:

  • Prosecution and Strategy
  • Enforcement and Litigation
  • Licensing and Transactions

While there is no limit on the number of matters, we recommend up to 15 matters per section.

This year, WTR added a section for firms to introduce their copyright practice, providing a broader view of their IP offerings.

Referees: Up to 5 referees for each submitting practitioner.

Awards: Yes, participation in the WTR Awards will automatically enter you in the running for the WTR Industry Awards, as well as the Global IP Awards.

Deadline: March

Who should submit: Firms that specialize in Trademark and Copyright Law

Chambers and Legal 500

Most countries for Chambers Global/Europe and Legal 500 EMEA have one general Intellectual Property submission that covers all types of IP (patent, trademark, copyright etc.) and a full scope of IP work.

However, some regions, have multiple IP practice areas in these guides. For example, Spain has five different IP Practice areas for Chambers and three for Legal 500. Therefore, before submitting, it is imperative to check your jurisdiction’s specifics beforehand.

For both guides, the number of matters is capped at 20.

Referees:

  • Chambers: 20-30 referee maximum depending on your region. For Chambers referrals are the most important factor in determining rankings.
  • Legal 500: Unlimited referees

Awards: No

Deadline:

  • Chambers: Depends on jurisdiction
  • Legal 500: August

Who should submit: Any firm with an IP department

In conclusion, selecting the right legal directories for IP submissions can significantly enhance your firm’s visibility and recognition in the industry. By understanding the specific requirements and deadlines for each guide, you can strategically plan your submissions to maximize impact. Whether you specialize in patents, trademarks, or a broader range of IP services, there is a directory that aligns with your expertise. Stay organized and proactive to ensure your firm gains the recognition it deserves.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Legal Directories https://tieronerankings.com/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-legal-directories/ https://tieronerankings.com/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-legal-directories/#respond Mon, 08 Apr 2024 08:39:30 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1829 Last month multiple industries – including law – celebrated International Women’s Month and the achievements of female GCs, private practice lawyers, and many more. In recent years, the global directories have shone a spotlight on DEI initiatives in law firms, championing the women lawyers who are impacting their clients, supporting their firms and shaping the […]

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Last month multiple industries – including law – celebrated International Women’s Month and the achievements of female GCs, private practice lawyers, and many more. In recent years, the global directories have shone a spotlight on DEI initiatives in law firms, championing the women lawyers who are impacting their clients, supporting their firms and shaping the law. With inclusivity an integral part of many firms’ cultures, the legal directories are increasingly prioritizing inclusivity, and helping to advance diversity goals in the legal profession and beyond.

Here, we take a look at what some of the principals are doing:

Chambers:

While Chambers has explicitly noted that it will not harm a firm’s submissions if mostly men are nominated, Chambers requests that a diverse selection of lawyers be put forward for nomination. This can offer a firm an advantage of featuring on a DEI Spotlight Table (only available in certain jurisdictions) which aims to highlight firms and individuals that are involved in impactful initiatives to advance DEI. Chambers runs DEI Awards in the following jurisdictions: USA, Latin America, Brazil, Europe (including UK solicitors), Asia Pacific and Greater China Region, and the UK Bar. Categories cover individual, firm and in-house submissions, as well as pro bono and sustainability efforts.

Chambers has been gradually improving their research process to consider DEI. To do so, Chambers collects gender diversity data on ranked lawyers and firmwide diversity data across a range of diversity markers at firm discretion for all guides in order to understand the profession’s demographic make up and ensure their rankings reflect the breadth of diversity. Chambers aims to speak to a diverse mix of lawyers and has set a target of holding 50% of our lawyer calls with women to get a broad range of perspectives.

Legal 500:

Legal 500 also encourages firms to put forward women nominees and has recently included a separate part in the initiatives section that welcomes firms to discuss their socio-cultural initiatives specifically. This information is incorporated into their evaluations and research to ensure the representation of diversity in their rankings.

Furthermore, Legal 500 often uses the data collected from their research to publish reports and blog posts on diversity within the legal sector in various jurisdictions, including insights into gender, racial and LGBTQ+ representation trends and challenges. These reports are a valuable tool to raise awareness and provide data which could help diversity initiatives.

Lastly, this year Legal 500 has launched its first-ever ESG Awards in the UK, with the ceremony taking place later this month. These Awards are aimed at championing diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the British legal sector. The scope is broad, with specific awards for LGBTQ+, ethnic, women and disability/neurodiversity representation and inclusion.

IFLR:

Like Legal 500, IFLR also has a specific section in its submission template for DEI asking firms to detail their achievements over the past year. While gender is not a direct factor in the rankings, this information is taken into account during research and evaluation. IFLR leverages its research findings to publish insightful articles and blog posts on ESG matters on their website, accessible to its members. This service is a valuable resource to those in the legal community as it raises awareness about diversity. 

IFLR also hosts the longstanding Women in Business Law Awards, which aims to honour outstanding women lawyers for their achievements in the legal profession and law firms that champion gender diversity. These awards are split into two jurisdictions, Americas and EMEA, and this year have adopted two new awards to recognize leading women attorneys: Thought Leader of the Year and ESG Leader of the Year.

Conclusion:

By recognizing and celebrating the diverse talents and contributions of individuals from underrepresented groups, these platforms not only promote a more inclusive legal profession but also pave the way for broader societal change. Let us continue to support and champion law firms in their DEI initiatives, fostering a more inclusive and equitable legal profession for all.

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Making the Most of Legal Directory Interviews https://tieronerankings.com/making-the-most-of-legal-directory-interviews/ https://tieronerankings.com/making-the-most-of-legal-directory-interviews/#respond Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:54:57 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1815 Directory rankings in global legal directories hinge primarily on written submissions and client feedback. However, a crucial third factor often influences outcomes: market feedback, primarily gathered through partner interviews. These interviews are more than just a means of providing information to researchers. They serve as a unique opportunity to build relationships, explore finer details, and […]

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Directory rankings in global legal directories hinge primarily on written submissions and client feedback. However, a crucial third factor often influences outcomes: market feedback, primarily gathered through partner interviews.

These interviews are more than just a means of providing information to researchers. They serve as a unique opportunity to build relationships, explore finer details, and gain deeper insights into the ranking process. Through these discussions, valuable connections with researchers are formed, enhancing understanding and rapport.

What are Directory Interviews?

During these sessions, researchers aim to deepen their understanding of the legal market by gathering additional insights about law firms and lawyers to assess their suitability for inclusion in the directory. These interviews provide an opportunity for firms and practitioners to highlight their achievements, showcase notable cases, share client testimonials, and present other relevant information that may enhance their candidacy. Additionally, firms can bring up new matters or recent clients acquired since the submission was initially submitted.

Directories like the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners often structure their interviews into three primary sections. One wave of questions may focus specifically on the team’s work and the individuals involved, another on broader market trends and anticipated changes, and a third on peer feedback and perceptions of current rankings for firms and individuals.

Preparation is Key

It’s essential for firms and lawyers to review the directory’s criteria carefully and ensure they have the necessary supporting evidence for their submissions. While it’s useful to review the submission beforehand, reciting details verbatim is unnecessary; the interview should serve as a supplement to the written submission, offering insights that go “beyond” it.

Here’s how to come prepared:

  1. Key Matters: Identify three significant matters that illustrate your firm’s expertise, accomplishments, and contributions to the legal sector. Be prepared to discuss these matters in depth, emphasizing their importance and the distinct approach taken by your firm.
  2. Comparison to Other (Higher) Ranked Firms/Individuals: Prepare to compare your firm or individual lawyers with others in the field, including those ranked higher. Provide supporting details, such as case studies, client endorsements, or industry recognition, to substantiate these comparisons. Highlight what sets you apart and why you’re distinguished in the market.
  3. Feedback on Current Rankings: If applicable, address any areas where you feel your firm or lawyers have been underrated or overlooked. Present concrete examples and evidence to support your feedback. Even if you believe your firm is the best, researchers will require supporting facts, like statistics, deal values, and notable client names, to validate these claims.

Showing respect, kindness, and a willingness to assist researchers can make a lasting impression. Building a human connection ensures you’ll be remembered favorably when it’s time to consider rankings in directories.

Follow-Up and Feedback

After the interview, following up with researchers can be helpful to address any remaining questions or offer additional information if needed. Additionally, requesting feedback can yield valuable insights into areas where the firm or lawyer might improve for future directory submissions.

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Key Takeaways from the World Tax 2025 Webinar https://tieronerankings.com/key-takeaways-from-the-world-tax-2025-webinar/ https://tieronerankings.com/key-takeaways-from-the-world-tax-2025-webinar/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:09:03 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1560 The deadline for World Tax 2025 has officially been set for March 14, with plans to launch in the Americas and Africa.  To kick off the preparations, seasoned World Tax Editor, Jon Moore hosted a comprehensive webinar yesterday, sharing key insights and vital details about the upcoming submissions for next year’s World Tax. The Three […]

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The deadline for World Tax 2025 has officially been set for March 14, with plans to launch in the Americas and Africa. 

To kick off the preparations, seasoned World Tax Editor, Jon Moore hosted a comprehensive webinar yesterday, sharing key insights and vital details about the upcoming submissions for next year’s World Tax.

The Three Pillars:

As with previous years, the research process for World Tax consists of three pillars: Practical Evidence, Peer Feedback and Client Feedback.

Firstly, Practical Evidence is all about your firm’s submissions. The researcher will be looking at how your deals stack up against others, with a focus on highlighting innovative and complex matters. It’s crucial to explain why each item is in the submission in a clear and comprehensive way. They look for the best matters, not necessarily the most. As Jon emphasised in yesterday’s webinar: “The best submissions are the most detailed submissions.”

The second pillar is Peer Feedback, which will be assessed from the practitioner surveys and the firm interviews. Through the surveys and interviews, the researcher will also enquire about other firms and their place in the market. It’s crucial to keep in mind that, given the competitive nature between firms, only positive feedback about them will be taken into consideration.

The last, and most important pillar is Client Feedback, which will be the most heavily weighted out of the three. Accordingly, it is essential for firms to encourage clients to participate and remind them during the research period. 

World Tax cannot disclose which referees have participated, so taking steps to ensure that they respond is important.

Practitioners Survey:

The Practitioners’ Survey is more than just a way for peers to share feedback. It’s a chance for all kinds of professionals—tax lawyers, economists, advisors, and consultants—to showcase their work to the researcher. Initially, the survey is sent through email to those in the World Tax system. But don’t worry, after the March deadline, a link will be shared so all tax practitioners can take part. The deadline to take part in the survey is in May.

Firm Interviews:

Firm interviews will take approximately 15-20 minutes and will be a chance for firms to discuss areas of their tax practice that may have been overlooked in the submission or the past. 

This is also a good opportunity to provide peer feedback if you have not done so already. It is important to note that these interviews do not have a direct impact on the rankings and if your firm has not been given an interview, that is not necessarily a disadvantage.

How to submit:

Due to some confusion last year, Jon stressed that all World Tax submissions should be submitted via the Delinian portal. 

On the other hand, the Awards should be submitted via the nominations gateway available on the website.

As we wrap up this journey through the World Tax research process, we extend our sincere wishes to all participating firms. Best of luck to each team as you navigate the rankings. Remember, your efforts in this process not only reflect the present but pave the way for future achievements.

For any submission related questions, please feel free to contact me at daniela@nishlis.com

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Key updates for you from the recent IP Stars Webinar https://tieronerankings.com/key-updates-for-you-from-the-recent-ip-stars-webinar/ https://tieronerankings.com/key-updates-for-you-from-the-recent-ip-stars-webinar/#respond Thu, 28 Sep 2023 11:45:38 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1422 On September 14, IP Stars launched a webinar outlining the main takeaways for the 2024 submission. With the deadline about a month away, here are some tips and updates to keep in mind when drafting your firm’s IP Stars submission. If you and your firm have any more questions regarding the upcoming IP Stars submission, […]

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On September 14, IP Stars launched a webinar outlining the main takeaways for the 2024 submission. With the deadline about a month away, here are some tips and updates to keep in mind when drafting your firm’s IP Stars submission.

  1. You don’t have to fill out all the practice areas. Managing IP will take into consideration if you are a smaller firm that specializes in only a few areas within Intellectual Property.

  2. Put details/statistics you want the researcher to know about your firm in Section 1e. There is no word limit in this section, so this is your opportunity to really show off your firm, but less is often more and concise is a must!

  3. Prioritize the inclusion of new matters. Obviously, you can still roll over previous matters if they remain ongoing, but fresh mandates are also important as the guide looks to stay fresh and current.

  4. This year, there will be two separate referee sheets: one for referees from law firms (in-house or otherwise) and the other for referees from other companies. This will make it easier for Managing IP to consider and analyze the data.

  5. The more referees, the better!

  6. The submission does not influence the Awards, so also highlight the biggest matters from the last year in the Awards section.

  7. Nominate other firms. The researchers will look at your submission favourably if you do so.

If you and your firm have any more questions regarding the upcoming IP Stars submission, please email us at info@tieronerankings.com.

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Legal 500 2023 Results Analysis for Poland https://tieronerankings.com/legal-500-2023-results-analysis-for-poland/ https://tieronerankings.com/legal-500-2023-results-analysis-for-poland/#respond Tue, 02 May 2023 13:51:10 +0000 https://tieronerankings.com/?p=1197 This year’s Legal 500 results for Poland saw significant changes over a range of practice areas. The most active practice areas were Real Estate and Commercial, Corporate and M&A with 9% and 8.6% of the overall moves, respectively. Another interesting fact about these results was that 85% of the moves were positive. Out of the 254 […]

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This year’s Legal 500 results for Poland saw significant changes over a range of practice areas. The most active practice areas were Real Estate and Commercial, Corporate and M&A with 9% and 8.6% of the overall moves, respectively. Another interesting fact about these results was that 85% of the moves were positive. Out of the 254 overall moves, 216 were firms and individuals that either moved up or were newly added. To put this into perspective, there are jurisdictions which we tracked, in which there were more negative movements than positive.

Firm Rankings:

The Legal 500 Poland results saw 175 moves across the board with 80 firms added to various practice areas. The practice area with the most moves was Commercial, Corporate and M&A, with 20 moves. Interestingly, the vast majority of those moves were positive, with 11 firms going up and 8 new firms added. The practice area that saw the least amount of change was Investment Funds, which stayed the same.

Furthermore, this year saw some practice areas removing or adding tiers to their rankings list. Insurance added a Firms to Watch category but, removed Tier 3 along with the two firms previously listed in this category. Private Client, Public Procurement and Restructuring and Insolvency also all added a Firms to Watch category.

This year 11 firms moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1 or were added to Tier 1. The best performing firms this year, like with Chambers Global, were Baker McKenzie and SSW Pragmatic Solutions. The former saw eight positive moves, two of which were to tier 1. Meanwhile, SSW saw seven positive moves and one move to Tier 1. Interestingly, SSW was also one of the best-performing firms in Chambers.

Individual Rankings:

The Legal 500 individual results saw 75 total moves, where Real Estate had the most changes with 8 moves and Banking & Finance was at a close second with 7 moves.

Alternatively, the practice areas that saw the least change were Investment Funds,with no changes, and Restructuring & Insolvency, with one move.

This year 29 lawyers moved into the leading lawyers table. The most improved firm with 11 of its lawyers with positive moves, two of which were newly added to leading lawyers, was Dentons. It is also interesting to note that Dentons was the most improved firm in the individual category for Chambers as well.

Congratulations to all the firms who participated! Whether you and your firm had positive or negative results, remember that there is always next year as the Legal 500 EMEA submissions deadline for 2024 will be announced in late May.

View report below or click the link to download: 

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