• Key insights into the legal directories scoring system.
• Strategies to secure individual rankings and maximize referee responses.
• Tips for crafting standout work highlights.

Date: November 12th
Time: 1 PM (UK time)
Audience: Legal professionals, marketing teams, and lawyers involved in legal directory submissions and award applications.

Don’t miss out!

Click here to register and to receive a link for the webinar.

The post Submissions 360 – Webinar appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

– Cross-border elements: Transactions involving companies from different countries introduce complexities such as navigating multiple regulatory environments, varying legal systems, tax regimes, and cultural considerations.

– Industry-specific regulations: Highly regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, biotech, financial services) often require compliance with stringent, specialized regulations that may add layers of complexity.

– Public company acquisitions: Acquiring a publicly listed company involves securities laws, disclosure requirements, tender offers, and regulatory scrutiny (e.g., antitrust or competition authority approvals), making it more complex than private deals.

– Value: Although one component of the assessment process, there is no doubt that the value of a transaction in a given industry does play a key role. Without a high value, the matter needs to incorporate many of the points below. 

– Hostile takeovers: In a hostile takeover, the acquirer seeks to purchase a company without the consent of its board, which can lead to defensive strategies by the target company (e.g., poison pills) and intricate legal maneuvers.

– Multiple stakeholders: Transactions involving multiple stakeholders (e.g., government, minority shareholders, private equity) create complex negotiations, competing interests, and varied legal and financial obligations.

– Use of innovative deal structures: Transactions that involve innovative financing methods, earnouts, stock swaps, or the use of complex instruments like contingent value rights (CVRs) or equity clawbacks can introduce financial and legal challenges.

– Post-transaction integration: Deals requiring complex integration, especially when combining differing corporate cultures, operating systems, or geographies, can increase difficulty.

– Distressed assets or insolvency: Buying distressed companies or assets often requires navigating bankruptcy laws, debt restructuring, and creditor negotiations, which adds complexity to the deal structure.

– Intellectual property (IP) issues: Acquisitions that heavily rely on IP (e.g., technology or biotechnology companies) often require thorough IP due diligence and may involve complicated licensing or patent litigation concerns.

– Antitrust and competition law concerns: Mergers or acquisitions that significantly alter the competitive landscape of an industry may require antitrust reviews or concessions to avoid regulatory challenges.

These factors can make an M&A transaction more challenging than typical deals, requiring creative legal, financial, and strategic solutions, and should be made clear to the researcher.

The post Key Factors in Elevating M&A Transactions appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Prepare in advance

Don’t wait until the last minute. The awards are now open so make a start before Christmas approaches. Gather your final directory submissions, recent matters in any billing or transaction database, and identify potential matters that may impress a judging panel –collecting any missing details from the lawyers on the matter.

Focus on Deals of the Year and the Criteria

No more than three deals per category, all deals must be cross-border in nature.  Though domestic transactions can be referenced briefly in Firm of the Year submissions, the focus must remain on CROSS-BORDER deals and INNOVATION. Without completing the “why is this matter innovative” part, the deal cannot be shortlisted. 

Categories
While you can find more about the categories here, they are as follows:

• Debt and equity-linked

• Equity

• High yield

• M&A

• Loan

• Private equity

 • Project finance

• Restructuring

• Structured finance and securitization

• Financial services regulatory

• Digital finance, among others.  

Financial Services Regulatory recognizes non-contentious financial services regulatory and compliance advice, while Digital Finance focuses on crypto and blockchain work. There are also individual awards, including IFLR Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame (for senior female partners who have had an impact shaping the legal landscape and not won the award before). There is also the Rising Star category, aimed at senior associate-level lawyers with less than 15 years’ post-qualification experience.

How to highlight innovation

The IFLR judges will be looking for submissions that highlight legal innovation and creativity. While directory rankings can depend on the depth of work across a field, sector or team, awards can be awarded on ONE piece of outstanding or innovative work or one terrific lawyer who has had a tremendous year. For example, innovation might take into consideration the following points.

a) Legal and regulatory requirements, such as antitrust laws and foreign investment restrictions, vary dramatically and may need more tailored and innovative clauses to comply or get through any objections.

b) Different tax laws can lead to double taxation and increased liabilities.

c) Vital protection of patents and trademarks may form part of the transaction.

d) Varying data protection laws can complicate the transaction.

Talk to the nominee

Talk to the nominees to obtain these insights and ensure that the wider impact or unusual nature of the matter does not get missed.

Furthermore, ask the lead partner for a deal in which the firm was NOT involved but was significant. IFLR also requires nominations of other deals from participants.

Also ask the lawyer if they would recommend the in-house legal team at any of their banking clients, for which there are also awards.

This helps IFLR expand their pool of nominations and work. Find out more details about the awards from IFLR here.

The post Raise the Bar with IFLR   appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Chambers UK has just launched its 2025 guide, the most comprehensive yet, offering invaluable insights into the UK legal market. This year’s guide introduces over 200 new department recognitions and a 6.5% increase in lawyer rankings, with more than 600 new entries, 370 of which are women. With 57,000 responses and seven months of research, Chambers continues to set the gold standard for legal rankings.

New Initiatives and Market Trends

One of the standout updates in this release is Chambers’ growing focus on gender diversity. Over the past three years, they’ve added over 1,000 women to their rankings and have nearly closed the gap to a 60/40 ratio of ranked men to women. In addition, Chambers has enhanced its ability to highlight niche firms through the introduction of new tables, such as SME-focused firms and dispute resolution specialists.

The SME-focused category is a significant addition. It’s aimed at recognizing firms that excel in serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a client base that’s seen a 24% rise since 2010. These firms often cater to very different needs compared to larger corporations, and Chambers is now offering more targeted rankings to reflect this. More about the SME-focused table in our previous blog post https://tieronerankings.com/introducing-chambers-uks-new-opportunity-for-sme-focused-law-firms/.

Refined Categories and Sector Focus

Chambers is also introducing more refined categories to better address changes in the legal market. For instance, the decline of PFI and PPP projects has led to a shift towards two key categories: “Projects Domestic” and “Projects International,” which streamline Chambers’ recognition of project-related work.

At the same time, the guide has discontinued less active categories such as Retail: Corporate & Competition and Aviation: Commercial, reflecting evolving market priorities.

AI-related legal work has also become a central theme in this year’s submissions. More firms are now engaged in AI governance, data protection, and intellectual property issues. Chambers’ analysts noted a surge in AI-related cases across multiple sectors, reflecting the technology’s growing influence on business strategy and legal frameworks.

Litigation Market and Future Rankings

Chambers has also highlighted shifts in the litigation market, with a new table for dispute resolution specialist firms. Litigation boutiques have been on the rise, offering personalized service at competitive rates. This year’s guide shines a light on 15 firms in this growing space.

Additionally, for the UK 2026 guide, Chambers will be expanding its ranking criteria by asking firms to provide 20 referees, particularly in the SME-focused category. This will offer deeper insight into what makes a firm an ideal fit for SME clients and help expand the rankings in this area.

Upcoming Awards and Looking Ahead

Chambers also announced its inaugural UK Solicitors Awards, set for February 13, 2025. These awards will recognize the top-performing legal teams in over 20 categories, ranging from finance to pro bono work, and will be a major event to watch for industry leaders.

Chambers continues to evolve alongside the UK legal market. By expanding its categories and adapting its research methods, the guide ensures that it remains a vital resource for firms and clients alike. With the legal landscape shifting rapidly—thanks to factors like AI, gender diversity, and SME growth—Chambers UK’s rankings reflect not only the best firms today but also those leading tomorrow’s trends.

The post Chambers UK Guide Launch 2025 – Webinar Watch appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

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/

The post Webinar Watch: IP Stars Rankings and Managing IP Awards 2025 appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Who Uses Legal 500?

Legal 500 is one of the leading global legal directories, attracting over 6.1 million unique visitors annually, with more than 21.5 million page views. It has become a go-to resource for 90% of Fortune 500 companies, 95% of FTSE 350 companies, and 100% of Fortune 500 financial institutions and pharmaceutical firms. This extensive user base highlights its importance for law firms looking to increase their visibility among high-profile clients.

Why Submit to Legal 500?

Legal 500’s rankings are determined based on feedback from over 300,000 clients worldwide. The directory focuses on law firms that deliver innovative and cutting-edge advice to corporate counsel. With over 316 firms ranked, the focus is on exclusivity, with many firms earning only a few rankings across their various practice areas. Legal 500 emphasizes quality over quantity, making it a prestigious platform for law firms to showcase their expertise.

Submission Best Practice:

• Matter Descriptions

Submissions should include matters that occurred between November 2023 and November 2024, summarizing key aspects of the case individually rather than grouping them together.

Each firm is allowed to submit up to 20 matters, and the same matter may appear in multiple submissions if tailored for different practice areas. Ensure all relevant details, such as dates, team members, and opposing parties, are included. This attention to detail helps Legal 500 accurately evaluate the scope and complexity of the work.

• Confidentiality

Non-publishable work highlights (WHs) and client names should be included in the designated confidential sections of the submission.

While confidential WHs are treated equally for ranking purposes, it’s critical that firms disclose significant aspects of the work.

The matter summary section should be clear and concise, offering a one-line synopsis of the work handled, ensuring it’s ready for publication.

• Team Information

Providing comprehensive team details is key to a successful submission. Include information about any significant arrivals or departures within the senior team that are relevant to the practice area. Legal 500 is interested in how these changes impact the firm’s ability to deliver cutting-edge services. The team’s role in significant matters should be clearly reflected in the submission to highlight the firm’s bench strength.

Categories of Lawyers

• Leading Partners: Partners leading market-defining work.
• Next Generation Partners: Partners with three to five years’ experience.
• Leading Associates: Key associates or of-counsel driving major matters.
• Recommended Lawyers: Any individual mentioned in the editorial, client testimonials, or as heads of practice.

Client Referees

Referees are a critical part of the Legal 500 evaluation process. Firms should submit their client referees in the correct format without altering the template. The number of referees is unlimited, and firms can use the same referee across multiple practice areas if necessary.

Legal 500 will contact referees directly via email (editorial@legal500.com) and maintain their anonymity to ensure honest feedback. The feedback is then used to assess the firm’s service quality and client relations.

How Firms Are Ranked

Legal 500’s rankings are based on a rigorous, evidence-based approach. The most important factors are the work presented in submissions, the firm’s track record, and the calibre of the client base. Rankings also consider market share, bench strength, and team developments, such as new hires or departures.

In addition to these factors, referee feedback and the firm’s perception in the market influence rankings. However, unlike other directories, academic achievements or industry awards are not considered. Legal 500 focuses solely on a firm’s ability to deliver high-quality legal services.

What’s New? Key Ranking Updates for US Law Firms

The Legal 500 2025 US edition introduces several new and amended ranking categories that US law firms should be aware of.

New Ranking Categories

• International Business Reorganizations (Corporate M&A)
• National Security (under the renamed International Trade and National Security BPA)
• Commercial Lending – Advice to Direct Lenders/Private Credit

Amended Categories

Several practice areas have undergone renaming or have been divided into separate subsections, including:

• International Trade and national security – updated BPA
• Cartel (Investigations and criminal litigation) – RENAMED SECTION
• Civil litigation (incl. class actions) – defence – RENAMED SECTION
• Civil litigation (incl. class actions) – plaintiff – RENAMED SECTION
• Commercial Lending: advice to borrowers – NOW A SEPARATE TABLE
• Commercial Lending: Advice to bank lenders – RENAMED SECTION
• Financial services regulation: Banking – NOW A SEPARATE TABLE
• Financial services regulation: Consumer finance and broker-dealers – RENAMED SECTION, NOW A SEPARATE TABLE

A full list of new and amended categories is available on the Legal 500 US Submissions Information page.

US City Focus: A New Regional Ranking Initiative

Legal 500 has introduced the US City Focus, which aims to recognize law firms that stand out on a regional and national level. This initiative initially targets firms in New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., with a second phase covering Boston, Charlotte, and Miami. It will highlight partner-led firms outside the global elite, offering a fresh perspective on legal powerhouses in key US cities.

While Legal 500 will adopt a shortlisting approach, law firms are encouraged to submit if they believe their lawyers are well-suited for consideration. To inquire about submissions or further details, contact Barnaby Merrill or Nathan Oseroff-Spicer at nathan.oseroff-spicer@legal500.com.

Why Subscribe to Legal 500?

Subscribing to Legal 500 offers significant advantages, particularly for firms aiming to boost their visibility and engagement within the legal market. Here’s why subscribing is worthwhile:

• New Platform: The platform has undergone significant enhancements, including new rankings, client satisfaction scores, and the ability to filter firms by national or international approaches, offering users a tailored experience.
• Massive Audience Reach: Legal 500’s vast audience provides subscriber firms the opportunity to engage with an expansive, global market. By subscribing, your firm can increase its visibility and reach within Legal 500’s audience of influential companies and decision-makers.
• Proven Marketing Effectiveness: Legal 500 has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness as a legal marketing tool. The platform enables firms to stand out in a competitive market, helping build a strong reputation with existing and potential clients.
• 2025 Updates: The 2025 edition comes with a brand-new user interface, improved functionality, and over 500 new tables. The new platform is also AI-optimized to ensure maximum impact, allowing firms to better leverage data and user engagement to enhance their profiles.
• Enhanced Visibility: Subscriber firms enjoy significantly increased visibility on the platform, ensuring that their profiles stand out among competitors. This visibility is critical in the highly competitive legal industry, where client engagement and brand differentiation are key to success.

By subscribing to Legal 500, your firm will be better positioned to showcase its strengths, attract new clients, and solidify its place in the legal market. The combination of enhanced functionality and a proven track record makes this platform a valuable tool for law firm marketing and growth.

Research+ Program: Gain Strategic Insights

The Research+ Program offers law firms strategic insights through early access to rankings and submission feedback. The program evaluates the firm’s market reputation, client feedback, and compares it to industry peers. This detailed analysis, conducted by the Legal 500 research team, provides actionable suggestions for improving submissions and identifying growth opportunities. For more information on Research+, contact Tim Verbrugge at Tim.verbrugge@legal500.com.

The post Legal 500 US ‘Meet the Editor’ Webinar Watch: Key Takeaways for US Law Firms appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Key Findings

In 2024, Polish law firms and individual practitioners saw a total of 261 movements in the rankings, with 169 changes in the firm rankings and 92 in the individuals. Notably, Dispute Resolution was the most active practice area, accounting for 14% of all firm-related movements. This year also saw 9 firms promoted to Tier 1, while 31 lawyers entered the Leading Individuals category, and 2 new lawyers joined the Hall of Fame​.

Overall, 68% of the movements concerning practice areas were positive (Up or New), while only 32% were negative (Out or Down). For individual rankings, a remarkable 80% of all moves were positive, underlining strong performances by legal professionals across Poland​.

Firm Rankings Overview

The Dispute Resolution sector stood out with 23 moves, making it the most active practice area. Among these, 9 firms improved in the rankings, and 6 new firms were added, reflecting increased participation and competition in this area. Conversely, the practice areas of Tax, Investment Funds, Insurance, and Private Equity experienced minimal movement, with only 2 changes each, indicating a more stable environment in these fields​.

Several practice areas saw significant changes:

• Employment saw a notable increase in firms entering Tier 4, demonstrating the competitive nature of this always changing field of work.
  
  
• Construction introduced a “Firms to Watch” category, signaling emerging firms’ potential in this sector, while Data Privacy and Data Protection removed such a category, hinting at possibly greater market consolidation, among other reasons​.

Individual Rankings Overview

In the individual rankings, Real Estate led with 14 moves, followed by Dispute Resolution with 9 moves. This indicates the importance of these sectors in Poland’s legal market. In contrast, sectors like Energy & Natural Resources, Investment Funds, and Tax saw minimal or no changes, underscoring a stable pool of experts in these areas​​.

Other noteworthy developments included:

• New additions to the Hall of Fame in Commercial Corporate and M&A and Real Estate.
• The Rising Star category expanded across most practice areas, highlighting the continued emergence of new talent and the robust health of the legal market at the more junior end of the spectrum.
• In Intellectual Property (IP), two new individuals were added to the Next Generation Partner category, while one was removed​.

Top Performing Firms and Individuals

Several law firms and individual practitioners excelled in the 2024 rankings:

• Dentons, Baker McKenzie, and CMS were among the best-performing firms, particularly in sectors like Banking & Finance, Real Estate, and Dispute Resolution.
• DLA Piper and Clifford Chance also showed strong performances, with significant improvements across various practice areas​​.

On an individual level, lawyers from firms like Rymarz Zdort Maruta, Greenberg Traurig, and Wardynski & Partners received considerable recognition, with multiple professionals climbing to the Hall of Fame and Leading Individuals categories​.

Conclusion

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 rankings for Poland illustrate a dynamic legal market with significant improvements in key practice areas such as Dispute Resolution and Real Estate. The positive trends in individual rankings reflect the high caliber of legal expertise available in Poland. As international firms continue to strengthen their positions in the Polish market, the competition remains intense, highlighting the importance of strategic focus and specialization for law firms aiming to excel in this environment.

The post Analysis of Poland’s Legal Market: Legal 500 EMEA 2024 Rankings appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

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.

The post A Guide to IP Legal Directory Submissions appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Anna Bauböck and Daniela Costa, Editors for The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa, addressed F&Qs and covered a wide range of expectations, requirements and practices Legal 500 look for when reviewing submissions and referees.

We also had the opportunity to hear from Jordan Lincoln, Head of Business Development for EMEA, on the ways in which law firms can stand out in the upcoming Legal 500 2025 edition. This article summarizes the key takeaways from the webinar to guide legal professionals in optimizing their Legal 500 rankings.

Why submit to Legal 500?

Legal 500 reported 5.9 million users access the Legal 500 website annually, meaning it has been visited 2.5 times more than their biggest competitor. Alongside its popularity, the Legal 500 rankings and awards are used extensively by various in-house lawyers, business leaders and law firms – according to their research, they have received feedback from over 300,000 clients worldwide!

Due to their comprehensive research programs, Legal 500 rankings are based on a series of criteria which require law firms to highlight their most elite in their areas of practice. Brand reputation alone does not help in this regard, only outstanding work must be submitted within the research period (past 12 months).

What does the Research timeline look like?

May: New submission guidelines (i.e. submission information page) released. It is possible that new or amended ranking categories are introduced, so make sure to check every year. It is advised that you download the submission template and referee spreadsheet to familiarize yourself with the format of Legal 500 and be aware of any changes made to submission fields or commentary sections.

August: Referee deadline (including Nordics) is 5^th August 2024. Editorial submission deadline is also 5^th August 2024. However, for Nordic jurisdictions the editorial deadline is 30^th August 2024. Please submit via the submission portal on Legal 500 as emailed documents will not be accepted. Ensure you send separate submissions and referee spreadsheets for each practice area.

September – November: During this period, interviews take place. Updates can still be made to the submission as long as you reupload the updated submission on the Legal 500 submission page. Interviews should involve senior practitioners and practice management, last 30 minutes and try to request interviews proactively – if you feel like you really want an interview, major developments in the relevant practice area or team. If you had a recent submission update (e.g., team change or matter changed confidentiality), you can still update and re-upload on L500 portal, replacing the older version. If done so correctly, please notify the researcher with reasonable notice so they have ample time to analyse all recent developments.

December – March: By this point,research has concluded. This means updates about matter highlights can no longer be applied to uploaded submission, but exceptions still apply. For example, major developments like team restructuring or a recent merger will be regarded as acceptable updates at this stage. Once finalised, Editors start working on ranking decisions.

March: Legal 500 EMEA 2025 edition released. Queries via FAQS (legal500.com/faqs).

What’s new with Legal 500 EMEA?

Legal 500 have introduced new ranking categories for the EMEA regions:

• Spain – Financial Services Regulatory
• Spain – Venture capital

Alongside these additions, they have also amended certain categories as they believe it is best to merge all energy related submissions into one:

• Netherlands – Energy Transactional & Regulatory work is now merged into one consolidated ranking
• Norway – Offshore Construction & Shipbuilding is now split into: Offshore Construction and Shipping & Maritime law (include shipbuilding work)

Additionally, Legal 500 announced they will split Real estate & Construction for Switzerland:

• Switzerland – Real estate & Construction is now split into: Real estate and Construction.

Lastly, the following category was removed from Legal 500 EMEA:

• Switzerland – Leading Firms: Italian-speaking Switzerland

Submission best practices?

1. Matter highlights:

Remember to include the recommended number of highlights (20) that fall within the research time period (past 12 months). Identify what is significant about your role in the matter (don’t just provide a description). It is important you complete all submission fields, including dates, team members and opposing parties if relevant. You are allowed to include the same matter in more than one submission but please tailor the matter description to the relevant practice area.

2. Confidentiality:

Work marked as confidential must stay confidential (only used for internal research). Many believe confidentiality will lead to a weaker submission. However, the editors at Legal 500 have confirmed you will not be penalised for providing confidential information. This is because they are treated the same from a ranking perspective as publishable highlights.

3. Team information:

It is ideal that you do not include lawyers who have spent less than 50% of their time practising in a practice area you are submitting. Please do not put forward practice heads or recommended lawyers for recognition who do not feature in the matter highlights.

4. Lawyer categories:

Acclimatize yourself with the following Legal 500 lawyer categories:

1. ‘Hall of Fame’: Lawyers widely regarded as being at the very top of the profession, and consistently ranked as leading individuals for several years.
2. ‘Leading Partner’: True market leaders with long-established reputation, lead roles in multiple recent significant matters, and exceptional endorsement from peers and clients.
3. ‘Next Generation Partner’: Lawyers with generally five years or fewer at partner level, significant recognition from client and peers, and recent lead roles on multiple matters.
4. ‘Leading Associate’ (non-partner): Association level lawyers who appear frequently in significant matters.

What was said about client referees?

When submitting your referee list to Legal 500, ensure you submit in the correct format – also do not amend or add any additional fields to the spreadsheet Legal 500 supply.

Only provide one referee spreadsheet per practice area and if you are struggling to gather enough referees, remind yourself that anyone (e.g., another firm or someone who isn’t an in-house counsel or CEO) who can provide an informed opinion about the sophistication of work involved, are eligible.

Due to the sensitive nature of certain matters, Legal 500 guarantee client referee anonymity. Before you decide including referees in your submission to Legal 500, always ask for their permission first as Legal 500 does not want to contact referees who didn’t provide consent. Another important practice is to double check (annually) your referees will respond in a timely manner.

How Legal 500 rank firms

Legal 500 rank firms on several factors based on the matters you submit and the referees you choose. Please consider the following:

• Evidence based approach to the rankings – work presented in the submission
• Track record in a practice area
• Calibre of the client base
• Market share
• Bench strength
• Team developments
• Sector strengths
• Referee feedback

How do you make a good submission?

When determining the strength of your submission, you should ask yourself this question: what really differentiates you from your peers? This will help you sell yourself as an individual and a representative of your firm. To answer this question effectively, it is crucial you focus on facts to demonstrate your position. Tell the researcher about team growth, new clients and new areas of work.

Due to the limited number of work highlights you can include, use matter highlights wisely. You must emphasise your role and why its special – don’t just describe the work you were involved in. Talk about strategic growth plans for the practice rather than. Don’t make matters confusing by including legal jargon as not all Legal 500 researchers/editors have a legal background. Finally, submit on time and in the right format – including referee data.

The post Legal 500 EMEA 2025: Insights from ‘Meet The Editor’ Webinar appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Executive Summary

This year, there were a total of 235 movements in the rankings, comprising 48 firm rankings and 187 individual rankings. Among these, 1 lawyer and 3 firms climbed to Band 1, while 70 new entries were made across different practice areas, with 15 new firms and 55 new individuals. Conversely, 36 firms and individuals were removed from the rankings​​.

Key Findings

• Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market and Dispute Resolution were the most active practice areas, each accounting for 14% of the overall moves.
• Life Sciences saw the most firms added, while Projects and Infrastructure experienced the least changes​​.
• Banking & Finance had the most changes among individual rankings, with significant movements including the addition of 4 new individuals to the Up and Coming category and 8 individuals moving up​​.

Firm Rankings Overview

• The practice areas with the highest number of moves were Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market and Dispute Resolution, each with 7 moves.
• Life Sciences saw the highest number of firms added to the ranking, particularly in Band 4.
• Projects and Infrastructure had no movements, indicating continued stability in this sector​​.

Individual Rankings Overview

• Banking & Finance experienced the highest number of changes, with 17 movements including new entries and upward shifts.
• Practice areas like Construction and TMT saw no changes, while Environment and Restructuring/Insolvency had minimal movements.
• Several practice areas adjusted their ranking categories, with new bands added in some areas and others removed​​.

Best Performing Firms and Individuals

• Dentons emerged as the best-performing firm with significant improvements across multiple practice areas.
• Wolf Theiss and Gide Loyrette Nouel were among the firms that climbed to Bands 1 and 2 in the Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market category.
• In the individual rankings, Janusz Tomczak and Inga Dulska were notable climbers, achieving higher band placements in their respective fields​​.

Practice and Individual Performance

Graphs in the report highlight the total number of improvements (upward movements and new entries) across firms and individuals. Notable firms such as Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, and SK&S showed strong performances in various practice areas​​.

Conclusion

The 2024 Chambers Europe rankings reflect a competitive and evolving legal market in Poland. For firms and practitioners, staying informed about these changes is crucial for strategic positioning and understanding the competitive landscape. As the legal market continues to evolve, these insights from Chambers Europe provide valuable guidance for both existing players and new entrants as they aim to make their mark in the coming year.

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