Beyond merely gathering information for the researcher, these interviews offer a personal opportunity to cultivate relationships, delve into finer details, and gain deeper insights into the ranking process. They provide invaluable interactions with researchers, fostering connections and enhancing understanding.

What are Directory Interviews?

During these interviews, researchers look to add to their knowledge of the market by gathering additional information about law firms and lawyers to assess their eligibility for inclusion in the directory. These interviews offer an opportunity for firms and individuals to present their achievements, notable cases, client testimonials, and other relevant information that can strengthen their candidacy, and add point to any extra matters or new clients that may have come about since the submission was sent in.

Directories, such as the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, often split their interviews into three main sections. In no particular order, one wave of questions will focus solely on the team’s work and the individuals involved; another on general trends in the wider market and how these have changed/are expected to change; and another that concentrates on peer feedback and your views on the current rankings of firms and individuals.

Preparation is Key

Firms and lawyers should thoroughly review the criteria for inclusion in the directory and ensure that they have the necessary evidence to support their submissions. While it’s advisable to review the submission beforehand, there’s no need to recite details verbatim as the interview serves as a supplement to the written submission; researchers are interested in what goes “beyond” the submission.

Here’s how to come prepared:

1. Key Matters: Identify three key matters that exemplify your firm’s expertise, achievements, and contributions to the legal field. Be ready to discuss these matters in detail, highlighting their significance and the unique approach taken by your firm.
2. Comparison to Other (Higher) Ranked Firms/Individuals: Prepare a comparison of your firm or individual lawyers to others in the field. Provide supportive information, such as case studies, client testimonials, or industry recognition, to substantiate these claims. Showcase what sets you apart and why you stand out in the market.
3. Feedback on Current Rankings: If applicable. Discuss any areas where you believe your firm or lawyers have been underrated or overlooked. Provide concrete examples and evidence to support your feedback. You may be the best firm but the researchers will not take your word  for it unless it’s supported by facts (statistics, deal value and big client names, etc.).

Showing kindness, respect, and offering assistance to fellow researchers is invaluable. Human connection is irreplaceable; it ensures that others will remember you favourably when the time comes for ranking in directories

Follow-Up and Feedback

After the interview, it’s advisable to follow up with the researchers to address any additional questions or provide supplementary information if needed. Additionally, soliciting feedback from the researchers can offer valuable insights into areas where the firm or lawyer can enhance their candidacy for future directory editions.

The post Making the Most of Legal Directory Interviews appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Submissions: 20 work highlights per submission per practice area. If more than 20 included, researchers will only look at first 20. No need for exhaustive detail, a summary of key points will suffice.

Client Feedback: Maximum of 20 referees per firm per practice area – might be some exceptions. Please check the Chambers research calendar to confirm referee limit in your jurisdiction/practice area.

Lawyer Interviews: Lawyer interviews are optional, not critical. They are a chance to provide extra detail, but largely for the researcher to get market feedback.

How are rankings determined?

Work Highlights

• Evidence of work that is comparable standard to other ranked/submitting firms
• Greatest credit given to sophisticated, cross-border matters, especially novel/market first
• Deal/case value is often indicative, but not a determining factor.

Referees

• Referees are incredibly important and provide feedback on the firm’s service and wider team.
• Submissions are undoubtedly important but lose their impact without corroboration from referees.

Market Feedback

• Peer appraisal is taken into account but with the awareness that this feedback is subjective.

Referees: Who to put forward?

• Talkers
• Clients who know the team/market
• Mix of old and new clients
• Link to submission matters
• Can be direct clients, overseas counsel or regulators
• Seek consent before putting down an individual’s name
• Encourage client participation
• Don’t miss the deadline!

Referee Trials

In the upcoming Chambers Europe 2025 guide, there will be an expansion of the referee trial.

The full list of countries that will be part of ref trial to be found on website – see here: Ranking Opportunities for Law Firms | Chambers Europe Legal Topics

New Sections Open for Submission

• Austria – TMT: Data Protection
• Finland – Competition/European Law: Public Procurement
• Greece – Banking & Finance: Capital Markets
• Gibraltar – General Business Law: Corporate/Commercial and General Business Law: Financial Services
• Italy – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration
• Netherlands – Arbitration
• Netherlands – Litigation: Supreme Court Litigation and Litigation: Mass Torts: Mainly Plaintiffs
• Portugal – Dispute Resolution: Highly Regarded and Dispute Resolution: The Elite

Differences between Chambers Europe & Global:

Europe-wide categories:

This section assesses firms’ cross-border and international capabilities and coordination between offices.

When should I submit?

• Deadline is May 30^th
• Multiple offices across different jurisdictions within Europe.
• Dedicated Trade/WTO practice.
• Do not submit to Europe-wide if you have missed the local deadline.
• Referees should only be submitted for International Trade/WTO and Regulatory & Public Affairs.

The post Chambers Europe 2025 – Everything you need to know for the upcoming guide. appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Having launched in 2024, the Legal Media Group (LMG) DEI Awards cast a spotlight on pioneering achievements within law firms and among practitioners across EMEA, Canada, the United States, and Latin America.

This inaugural initiative is positioned to celebrate diversity, foster inclusivity, and acknowledge excellence within an industry that holds a pivotal role in shaping our legal terrain.

The LMG DEI Awards transcend mere commendations; they signify a dedication to advocating for DEI principles within the legal sphere. These awards seek to recognize individuals and firms not only for their embrace of diversity but also for their active efforts in cultivating inclusive environments where all individuals are esteemed and respected. In doing so, these firms position themselves to better address the diverse needs of their clients and communities.

Award Categories

The Awards recognise individuals and initiatives that serve as catalysts for change within the legal industry. These champions break down barriers, challenge biases, and foster environments where diversity thrives. Subject matters include:

• Race & Ethnicity: Recognising efforts to support diverse ethnic minorities.
• LGBTQ+: Honouring initiatives supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
• Disability: Acknowledging programs for individuals with visible and non-visible disabilities.
• Social Mobility: Celebrating initiatives aimed at addressing socio-economic barriers.
• Religion: Recognizing efforts to promote inclusivity across faith-based groups.

Firm Awards

The Firm Awards acknowledge law firms and practitioners for their dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. These awards highlight firms that have implemented effective strategies and policies to create inclusive workplaces.

Diversity Leader Awards

The Diversity Leader Awards recognise individuals who advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession. These leaders drive positive change in various subject matters, fostering inclusivity at every level.

In-House Team Awards

The In-House Team Awards honour corporate teams that demonstrate a commitment to DEI within their workplaces. These teams implement initiatives that foster inclusivity and create diverse and equitable environments.

General Counsel Awards

The General Counsel Awards recognize top-ranking in-house lawyers who champion diversity, equity, and inclusion. These advocates play a crucial role in promoting DEI principles within their organisations and beyond.

Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame Award is the highest honour, bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. These trailblazers inspire positive change on a broad scale and remain staunch advocates for DEI principles.

Part of IFLR’s suite of services, the awards will open for the EMEA region on April 4 2024, with a submission deadline of May 9. The shortlist will be announced on July 18 and the Awards Gala will take place this September.  The submission deadline (March 1) has passed for Canada, USA and Latin America.

More information and the relevant forms can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yedxn62r

The post Introducing the LMG DEI Awards 2024 appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

As per the 2022 Wolters Kluwer Future Ready Lawyer Survey – 50% of law firms in both Europe and the US have established an ESG practice within the last three years. Furthermore, 27% of firms have maintained an ESG practice for over three years, while an additional 18% are in the process of planning to establish an ESG practice within the coming three years.

This is largely due to the fact that “environment and climate change is more important to clients than ever,” (Caroline May, head of environment, safety and planning practice at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright in London).

It should also be noted that these environmental concerns have trickled into other areas of work for law firms. For instance, in response to pressures to reduce carbon emissions, the property sector is making use of an abundance of sustainable measurement initiatives. The CRC (a carbon-trading scheme requiring large, non-energy-intensive businesses and public sector organisations to report on their carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in the UK) has increased the number of instructions from clients who are asking about its impact on their businesses – these include commercial landlords and their tenants, as commercial property is estimated to contribute around a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions.

Legal directories will be well aware of the ever-growing need for ESG measures, and as a result, will be looking for related expertise in a growing number of practice areas. Where it is not possible or appropriate to showcase this in the matter highlights, firms should make use of the shop window (what the department is best known for) and/or the ‘initiatives and innovation’ section (or similar) within the submission. A perfect example for the latter would be Simmons & Simmons’ involvement in pro bono initiatives tackling climate change, which it does so through its support of the Legal Response Initiative launched in 2009 by lawyers from Oxfam and WWF-UK, and Carbon Leapfrog.

The post Environment and Legal Directories – Navigating a Critical Growth Area appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

What’s changed?

The big game changer is that there is now a maximum of 10 deal examples, rather than 20. IFLR is calling on firms to be selective, emphasising the need for quality over quantity.

Market Leaders, Highly Regarded and Woman Leader nominations have been condensed into a single section – with an unlimited number of suggestions.

Rising Star Partner, Rising Star Lawyer and Expert Consultant nominations now have a maximum of three suggestions per category – down from five in the previous format.

The main shop window (i.e. the firm’s practice strengths) has been condensed into a single box that details what the firm is best known for in the market – note that there is now a strict limit of 500 words here (as seen in Chambers).

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) section now has a strict limit of 250 words.

What’s new?

An Environment/Climate section to provide details of the firm’s environmental (climate and carbon reduction) strategies, highlighting their achievements since January 1, 2023 – this has a strict limit of 250 words.

A list of key publishable clients (seen also in Chambers and Legal 500 submissions) – there is a maximum of 5 names to be listed here.

A brief section on referral work to other law firms.

In line with the other directories, a section for feedback on other law firms.

There have been a number of changes to the format of deal highlights – the most notable being the removal of external links to input data, allowing for a much smoother process. Below is an infographic that presents the differences:

2023 (LEFT) 2024 (RIGHT)

The post Navigating the Changes to the IFLR1000 Template for 2024 Research appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

• Written submissions are vital. It is the main source of information about the team and its work, providing context by telling the researcher exactly what the firm is doing. This can help to make client and peer feedback much more meaningful.
  
• In the “About Us” section (often at the beginning of the document), you must introduce the researcher to the firm and its strengths with the use of hard facts and statistics. Do not use this box to express views on the previous rankings – that will come later on!
  
• The matters you put forward make up the bulk of the submission. What is complex will depend mostly on context and the broader market will have an opinion on this too. My advice here is to think about cross-border elements, innovative structures, new legislation, impressive deal values, etc.
  
• Mastering the matter descriptions is crucial. Aim to break them up into two main sections: the first should explain who the client is and what you are doing for them, while the second dives into the uniqueness and complexity of the case (i.e. what sets it apart from routine work).
  
• Do not, however, get too carried away with the descriptions. Make sure the matters are not too long – aim to strike the perfect balance between detail and compactness. And avoid using marketing speech!
  
• There is no need for more than 20 matters – too much can serve to create a less focused submission. You should be including up-to-date matters that encompass a wide range of sectors, where possible.
  
• Aim to provide matters led by various individuals – but be selective here: those you wish to have added/promoted in the rankings should be leading a good chunk of the matters put forward. I’d also recommended mentioning desired promotees/additions in the shop window – it’s the first section researchers will read and thus will be sowed into their minds as they read on.
   
• The size of the team is important, of course, but do not be tempted to drive up the numbers for the sake of filling in boxes – the numbers put forward should be reflected in the matters.

The post Unlocking Success: Tips from a Former Legal 500 Researcher appeared first on Tier One Rankings.