The Chambers Referee Management Tool has transformed how law firms manage their referee submissions, making it essential to understand its functionalities to optimize rankings. In our latest Tier 1 Ranking webinar, Galit Tassi (Tier 1 Ranking), Laurence Mussett (Tier 1 Ranking), and Richard Jakubowski (Senior Product Marketing Manager, Chambers & Partners) shared their expert insights on best practices, common pitfalls, and strategic approaches to the system.

1. Referees Are Critical to Rankings

• Client feedback is one of the most important factor in Chambers research and one of the easiest ways to improve rankings.
• High-quality feedback matters—encourage referees to provide detailed comments rather than simply selecting top scores.

2. Understanding the System’s Limitations

• The user-facing portal differs from what Chambers researchers see, meaning not all inputted information carries over.
• Not all fields matter—focus on name, email, and referring lawyer fields, while fields like physical address and phone number are largely irrelevant.

3. Common Issues and How to Fix Them

• Invalid emails: Ensure referees have chambers.com in their safe senders list and provide the correct email.
• Unsubscribed referees: A written confirmation must be sent to Chambers to re-enable contact.
• The Three-Month Rule: If a referee was contacted recently, they won’t be contacted again unless they explicitly opt in.
• Missing referees: Sometimes, referees don’t appear in the system immediately—wait before taking action.

4. Strategy for Maximizing Referee Impact

• Submit referee lists early—this helps avoid conflicts and ensures Chambers researchers have full visibility.
• Diversify referees—using different referees for different practice areas maximizes feedback opportunities.
• Monitor response rates—track who responded and replace underperforming referees in future submissions.

5. Post-Submission & Research Follow-Up

• Once research begins, send reminders to referees—but space them out in coordination with Chambers’ reminders.
• Use the “Latest Update” feature in the portal to track when referees were last contacted before following up.
• Post-research, contact the researcher sparingly—only for critical issues, as they may already be working on another section.

Looking Ahead

Chambers continuously updates its referee management process, with potential changes to the Three-Month Rule and other enhancements on the horizon. Staying informed and proactive is key to leveraging the system effectively.

For those who missed the webinar or need further clarification, feel free to reach out. Mastering the Chambers referee process can be the difference between staying ranked and moving up the tiers.