Research periods and launch dates roll by jurisdiction, as below:

New York and Connecticut Elite
                  Research: September-December 2026
                  Launch: early 2027

Eastern Seaboard, including D.C., Boston and the Southeastern US
                  Research: December-February 2027
                  Launch: spring 2027

Midwest & Texas
                  Research: March-May 2027
                  Launch: summer 2027

West Coast and Medical Malpractice
                  Research: June-August 2027
                  Launch: winter 2027

State
The State rankings meanwhile aim to bridge the gap between smaller firms and Am Law 100 firms, and are designed to recognise high-performing mid-market practices that typically operate in one state and that shape their markets.

There is some flexibility regarding their size, but they will largely be firms of 50+ attorneys that are not national giants, while Am Law 100 firms will be excluded. The first six tables will be for New York, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois and Texas, with plans for future expansion, and the core practice areas will be M&A, Commercial Litigation, White-Collar Crime & Investigations, Real Estate and Intellectual Property.

The research for this table will be based on firm-led submissions, and will feature tiered individual rankings based on these submissions. Sub-tables may be introduced in due course where depth of market activity supports further granularity.

The State rankings will highlight firms that combine scale, sophistication and consistent performance at the state level.

Submission deadline: September 30, 2026
Research: September-December 2026
Launch: Spring 2027

Nationwide
The nationwide coverage continues to recognise firms and practitioners operating at the highest level of the US legal market, that have reach and reputation across multiple states. There is no formal size requirement, but firms must demonstrate a national footprint to be considered.

As such, both large US and international firms that undertake complex cross-border or multi-state matters can be ranked in these tables.

Additionally, market-leading individuals are recognised in the national tables, in the following categories:

• Hall of Fame
• Leading Partner
• Next Generation Partner
• Leading Associate

Legal 500 also wants to stress the importance of diversity in its rankings, and encourages firms to include deserving women and minority lawyers[BB1] .

Submission deadline: November 13, 2026
Research: November 2026-February 2027
Launch: Summer 2027

Private Client
The US Private Client Guide continues to grow with the addition of three new states for 2027, namely Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas, which join the existing rankings across California, Florida and New York.

The guide will continue to celebrate leaders in Art & Cultural Property, Family Law and Private Wealth. Firms are ranked in tiers, with additional recognition for standout individuals, and the research process operates on a submission-first, firm-led basis.

Submission deadline: September 30, 2026
Research: September-December 2026
Launch: TBC

The full webinar and Q&A can be found here:

https://www.legal500.com/events/webinars-home/legal-500-us-introducing-state-rankings-and-2027-research-calendar/

The post Legal 500 US 2027: Introducing State Rankings appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

The most notable change on the referee side is that USA – Nationwide Litigation: General Commercial has now been added to the list of Nationwide sections for which Chambers will not contact referees. Chambers states that, for these sections, it will instead rely on feedback gathered through relevant state-based research. See the Chambers link below for the full list of these ‘no referee’ sections: https://chambers.com/topics/chambers-usa-nationwide-sections-no-referees

On the submissions side, Chambers has introduced 32 new submission areas for Chambers USA 2027. These consist of 27 state-level categories across 20 states and 5 new Nationwide categories. Notably, three of these new sections begin research in July, making them the earliest Chambers USA deadlines this cycle and requiring immediate attention from firms with relevant practices.

Full table: new Chambers USA 2027 practice areas

This table reflects the full list published by Chambers on 30 April 2026: https://chambers.com/topics/chambers-usa-new-practice-areas-submissions

Practical implications

For firms active in any of the new categories, this is a good time to assess whether work previously submitted under broader headings may now be better presented in a more targeted section. That is especially true in areas such as product liability, insurance, litigation specialisms, national security, and digital infrastructure, where Chambers appears to be drawing finer distinctions in its coverage.

For firms with strong Nationwide practices, the referee update reinforces the importance of a joined-up national/state submission strategy. Where Chambers is not taking separate referees for a Nationwide table, firms should ensure their state-level submissions are supported by the right clients and the right matters to tell a compelling broader story.

The most immediate deadlines are the three 16 July 2026 sections: California Media & Entertainment: Music, New Jersey Technology, and Texas Water Law. Firms with credible experience in those areas should move quickly if they want to participate in the first wave of research.

The post Chambers USA 2027: New Submission Areas, Nationwide Referee Changes & Key Deadlines appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

With our extensive experience working with the system since its launch two years ago, and recognizing the huge weight referees carry in the rankings, we’ve designed this session to provide clarity, insights, and practical solutions to help you maximize your success. We will be joined by both current and former Chambers employees, who together can offer a full insight into how best to use the RMT.

What the Webinar Will Cover:

• Technical Overview: A detailed look at the tool’s features and recent updates.
• Practical Tips: Suggestions to optimize contact rates and avoid common pitfalls, including the notorious “3-month rule.”
• Insights from the Experts:
  • Galit Imbo, Managing Director of Submissions at Tier One Ranking, will share solutions and best practices from her experience.
  • Laurence Mussett, former Research Manager at Chambers, will provide a unique researcher’s perspective to the process. 
  • Ernest Lesniewski, Product Delivery and Operations Manager at Chambers, will offer a view from the managers of the RMT and provide the specifics of how it works.
• Q&A Session: Get your specific questions answered.

Webinar Details:

• Date & Time: Monday, March 9th, 3 PM UK time (10 AM ET / 4 PM CET)
• Duration: 1 hour
• Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Submit Your Questions in Advance

To ensure we address the issues most important to you, please send your questions to galit@nishlis.com ahead of the webinar.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the RMT and learn how to make it work for you.

Register Here

A confirmation email with the link to the webinar will be sent to those who register.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The post Webinar Invitation: Chambers RMT – Everything You Need to Know  appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

If you couldn’t make it or simply want a reminder about what was said, here are the key takeaways.

Key dates

The Asia-Pacific submission deadline is Friday 6 March 2026.

However, IFLR is willing to consider extensions on a case-by-case basis, if a firm feels that it won’t be able to submit on time. Firms should contact IFLR as soon as possible if this is the case.

IFLR is planning to hold an APAC Awards event in November for local firms and foreign firms with offices in the region.

Other deadlines mentioned were:

• 26 January: Western Europe
• 16 February: Central and Eastern Europe
• 13 March: The Americas
• July: The Middle East (precise date to be determined)
• September: Africa (precise date to be determined)

The IFLR website contains the latest submission deadlines and research timetables and should be updated once the July and September dates are finalised: https://www.iflr1000.com/Stub/OurResearch

What’s new?

There are three key changes affecting all IFLR research, not only Asia-Pacific. These are:

Submission forms

These now cover both the IFLR1000 rankings and the IFLR Awards, meaning firms now need provide only one submission per practice area (instead of having to submit to the rankings and then to the awards).

Eligible period

IFLR now considers work from the past 14 months instead of the past 12 months. For Asia-Pacific, this means work from January 2025 onwards is eligible.

Practice areas

Certain practice areas have been updated or revised – such as Banking, which is now Banking & Finance – to more accurately reflect practice area distinctions.

Also, new tables have been added in Europe, such as Regional Network (to allow firms to showcase work in foreign jurisdictions where they might not have an office) and Africa Practice (for firms based in Europe but specialising in Africa transactions).

The latest definitions for 2026 can be found here: https://go.iflr1000.com/IFLR1000-Practice-Area-Definitions-2026

Process

The research methodology remains unchanged, with rankings based on work, client feedback, and market response.

Eligibility
Firms must have a physical office and licence in the jurisdiction, and practise in one or more of IFLR’s core areas (financial, corporate, or project development). Lawyers seeking individual rankings must also be licensed and based locally. The exception is Foreign Firm tables, where firms may be based outside the jurisdiction.

Work
Work remains the most important factor. Firms may submit up to 10 matters per practice area, focusing on their strongest and most significant deals. Repeating matters from previous years is discouraged unless there are material updates. Up to three matters can be marked for awards consideration, provided they are publishable, cross-border, and reached financial close in 2025.

Referees and feedback
Up to 15 client referees may be submitted per practice area, all of whom should have worked with the firm in the past 18 months. Referees may complete a survey or request a phone interview. Peer feedback is gathered through lawyer interviews and the annual Lawyer Feedback Survey.

Individual ratings
Firms may nominate up to five lawyers for new or changed individual rankings. Nominated lawyers should be supported by at least three work highlights. Existing rankings will still be reviewed even if no nomination is made.

Submitting
All submissions must be made via IFLR’s online portal. Email submissions are not accepted, and portal accounts must be registered using a law firm email address.

The post IFLR1000 2026 Webinar Watch appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

• Confirm practice area definition + submission window dates
• Identify your target outcome (maintain band, move up, launch new team, add individuals) using Chambers Analytics if available. 
• Build a draft matter longlist (2–3x more than you’ll submit), then prioritize
• Decide the narrative theme (e.g., cross-border strength, sector leadership, complex mandates, growth)

B) Matter selection (what makes the cut)

For each shortlisted matter, confirm:

• Fits the definition (not “adjacent”)
• Shows sophistication/complexity (novel issues, high stakes, multi-party, multi-jurisdiction) or for transactional practices (e.g., M&A), demonstrates high value/strategic importance (deal value where appropriate, market impact, or transformational nature)
• Demonstrates your role clearly (what you led/delivered)
• Has verifiable proof points (milestones, outcomes, deal size/value if relevant, filings, decisions)
• Supports bench strength (more than one name appears meaningfully)

C) Matter write-up template (use every time)

Use the 5 Ws in ~5–8 lines:

• Who is the client (and why they matter)
• What happened + what you did (your role)
• Why it matters (impact, novelty, complexity, precedent, risk)
• Where (jurisdictions / cross-border)
• When (confirm timeframe + key milestone)

Final pass

• Can a non-lawyer understand it in 20 seconds?
• Any jargon removed or explained?
• No “marketing adjectives” without evidence

D) Referee plan (the controllable lever)

• Select referees for responsiveness + willingness (not just seniority)
• Get consent + confirm preferred contact details
• Brief them with: 2–3 bullet reminders of the work + what feedback themes matter
• Track who reliably responds for next cycle using the Referee Management Tool 
• Plan around Chambers re-contact window (~3 months): avoid over-using the same people across staggered deadlines

E) Team + individuals (visibility with proof)

• Ensure key individuals appear in matters (not just bios)
• Include a short, evidence-based team summary: breadth, leadership, growth, differentiators

F) Confidential matters (if names/details are restricted)

• Use a high-quality descriptor (industry/size/role) instead of name
• Provide as much detail as allowed: jurisdiction, complexity, outcome/milestones, your role
• Avoid vague statements (“major client,” “significant matter”) without specifics

G) Final QA (submit-ready checks)

• Everything aligns to definition + timeframe
• Strongest matters first
• No duplicate/overlapping matters unless clearly differentiated
• Proofread for consistency: dates, parties, spelling, roles
• One person sanity-checks it for clarity (someone not on the matter)

The post Directory Submission Checklist (Chambers/Legal 500/IFLR) appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

With that in mind, we caught up with Antony Cooke, Director of Data Innovation and Strategy at Legal 500, to understand a few points:

What was the thinking behind positioning the Client Service Accolades and Net-Promoter Scores® as a separate product from the core Legal 500 rankings?

The accolades are directly visible alongside the rankings, and can be used to filter search results. The rankings are the universally acknowledged measure of overall capability. They’re the sum of everything we know about the team, shortlisted as our recommendation to in-house counsel. But for a market becoming more critical over procurement decisions, we want to respond to that with a more nuanced picture of capability and offering. Awarding accolades on four new metrics supports GCs in making more informed, data-led decisions.

The research underpinning these accolades does feature among the inputs in our ranking decisions, so it’s not quite a separate product but more, a new way to recognise excellence alongside the rankings, the client testimonials, work highlights and the Legal 500 independent review.

How do you see the Client Service Accolades evolving over time, and what will clearly distinguish them from the rankings in terms of methodology and intended use for firms and clients?

This first release is the tip of the iceberg. Our goal is to be as useful a decision-making tool as we can be to in-house counsel. When our research team assesses a law firm’s capabilities, we consider data on multiple dimensions, qualitative and quantitative. We want corporate counsel to be able to tap into that methodology – for them to interrogate our data and analysis by what matters the most to them. These new accolades are a milestone for Legal 500, but there will be more to come.

Could you share more detail on how the client satisfaction accolades are compiled, and whether they may support more advanced search or filtering for users over time?

The accolades are built exclusively on quantitative data. Our client referee quant research started in 2018, establishing the global benchmark for client service and Net-Promoter Score® for the legal industry. Until this year, we hadn’t made this granular benchmarking public, but it gave us time to build confidence in the power of the data set and test its validity.

Today, over 200,000 client referees rate their experiences with their firms on multiple points of value. The themes we present online – Lawyer & Team Quality, Billing & Efficiency, Sector Knowledge – are built on a range of thematic questions that measure the firm’s performance in those three areas.

We then put the data through rigorous significance and validation testing before consideration for usage. Legal 500 fully recognises the high standards lawyers hold themselves to, so in generating the accolades our policy is to recognise relative excellence – that in a market created by natural high-performers, there is a handful of firms deserving of a special mention. So the accolades we publish truly represent the pinnacle of an already impressive pool of candidates for the qualities that clients care about.

Given that Chambers places strong emphasis on referee interviews, while Legal 500 has traditionally focused on substantive work highlights, how should firms best understand the role and weight of client satisfaction within Legal 500’s overall research model?

The client satisfaction research has become a more prominent feature of Legal 500’s research as our data set has grown and demonstrated its power.

Submissions and interviews play an essential role in helping the research team identify the nature and capabilities of each team in the market, while the quantitative research validates our findings and provides a further benchmark for objective comparability. For our research to be robust – to help GCs make the very best decisions they can – we insist on building multiple data sources into our assessment.

The post What Comes After Rankings? Legal 500 on Client Service, Data, and Trust appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

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.

The post ITR World Tax Webinar – Key Takeaways appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Here are some of the key points we covered:

• Work highlights carry the most weight in Legal 500 submissions. While referee and market feedback can help justify a ranking, they hold less influence than the quality and substance of the matters you present.
• Researchers will assess your firm’s overall team strength and depth of capability, not just your star partners. Be sure to reflect this by highlighting a broad range of lawyers involved in matters, as well as any firms you’ve collaborated with.
• Present a strong and diverse client roster to showcase the breadth and quality of your practice.
• Be strategic and concise when describing matters. Clearly explain why each piece of work is complex, innovative, and impactful.
• Secure referee consent in advance and keep them informed when the research process begins. Ask them to whitelist Legal 500’s email addresses to ensure they receive the requests. Choose referees who are available and responsive, regardless of seniority.
• Watch out for updates in practice areas and terminology (https://www.legal500.com/the-legal-500-submission-information/europe-middle-east-africa-emea-submissions/). Legal 500 periodically introduces changes, so stay informed to ensure alignment

A question came up in the chat that we didn’t address at the time—regarding where Of Counsel can be ranked in Legal 500 submissions. Legal500 tries to align counsels with the experience levels typically reflected in the individual categories. For instance, an Of Counsel with 10–20 years’ experience would be considered for the Leading Individual or Next Generation Partner categories, rather than Leading Associate. Conversely, a more junior counsel may be considered for Leading Associate. 

We recommend that the firm nominate the individual for the category that best reflects their experience, and the editorial team will then assess the suitability accordingly.

Click here to watch the full recording of the webinar (Passcode: OEKy#3&*)

The post Legal 500 – Expert tips for the EMEA deadline – Follow Up appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

In light of the recent escalation in Israel, Tier One Rankings have reached out to Chambers and Partners to ask if they will be able to make any adjustments to its approach its currently ongoing research. As a result, Chambers have now made the following announcement about their research schedule, showing a flexible and empathetic approach toward the affected legal community.

Acknowledgement of the Current Situation

Chambers has expressed concern for those impacted and extended hopes for a swift resolution to the crisis. While it is committed to maintaining a full research agenda and will aim to complete its research cycle this year, it has recognised the unique challenges currently facing Israeli law firms and legal professionals.

Revised Research Timeline

To accommodate disruptions, Chambers will delay the start of research for key practice areas in Israel:

• Corporate/M&A, White-Collar Crime, and Dispute Resolution (including Class Actions): Research will now begin on July 7, 2025.
• Projects & Energy and Environment: Research is scheduled to commence on July 21, 2025.
• Other Israel Sections: These will begin in late July to early August, with no changes anticipated at this time.

Referee Outreach and Ranking Considerations

Understanding the potential for delays in referee feedback, Chambers is considering broader use of surveys and is prepared to accommodate lower-than-usual response rates. They have assured firms that these challenges will be taken into account when finalising rankings.

Commitment to Monitoring the Situation

Chambers reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitor developments and will adapt further if necessary. The team emphasised its readiness to maintain open communication with firms throughout the process.

This move reflects a sensitive and proactive stance during a difficult period, reinforcing Chambers and Partners’ commitment to fairness and collaboration.

The post Chambers and Partners Adjusts Israel Research Schedule Amid Ongoing Situation appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

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