Spotlight Expands to New States and Firms

The Chambers Spotlight initiative, designed to highlight small and midsize firms, expanded its scope significantly in 2025. The program introduced rankings for Ohio, Illinois, and California, bringing the total to 888 firms ranked across 40 practice areas in seven states.

According to Chambers, the Spotlight ranking table received 21,000 views last year, suggesting increased interest in regional legal markets. New rankings for Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Georgia are expected to be published within the next six months.

Introduction of Market Pulse 

Chambers also launched Market Pulse, a new research product aimed at business development teams. Powered by 200,000 data points from law firm clients, it provides insights into regional trends and external factors shaping demand for legal services.

Major Trends

Among the key themes identified this year were:

• Growing client concern over an uncertain regulatory environment
• Ongoing economic volatility
• Increased demand for legal advice in specialized areas, such as tariff regimes and alternative fund structures

Debut Rankings for AI and Space Law

Chambers introduced two new practice area rankings in 2025: Artificial Intelligence and Space Law.

Chambers’ new AI Law ranking reflects growing client demand for legal advice on AI development, regulation, and disputes. While adoption varies, interest in internal tools and global compliance is rising. Despite cost and implementation hurdles, firms recognize AI’s long-term value.

The Space Law ranking highlights the surge in legal work around commercial space ventures, like private stations and space mining, as the ISS nears retirement. Legal needs are outpacing regulation, and only a few lawyers have the niche expertise required—making them highly sought after.

Legal Spend, Pricing Models, and Fee Sensitivity

The 2025 research also focused on how clients select external legal counsel. One recurring theme was cost sensitivity. Chambers reported that rack rates increased by approximately 9% in the first quarter of the year.

In-house counsel interviewed by Chambers indicated that the combination of rising fees and economic instability is leading them to seek alternatives to hourly billing. There is greater openness to:

• Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs)
• Outcome-based billing
• Blended rates for routine legal tasks

Clients also reported a growing emphasis on efficiency and innovation in service delivery, with many turning to legal providers who demonstrate strong technology integration and less reliance on labor-intensive processes.

Evolving Client Relationships

Clients now value deeper, long-term partnerships—especially through secondments, which help with both cost control and stronger collaboration. Firms that use shared tech, work closely with in-house teams, and go beyond basic legal work are preferred.

The focus is shifting from just legal advice to a full client experience, where innovation, flexibility, and teamwork are just as important as legal skills.

Firms that embrace this approach are more likely to attract and keep top-tier clients in today’s competitive, cost-conscious market.

Key resources

The first submission deadline is July 10th, 2025. The full research scedule can be found here.

The full list of research coverage can be found here

Research for the Chambers USA 2026 Guide will begin in August this year.

The post Chambers USA 2025 Webinar – Key Takeaways appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

London Happy Hour – June 25

Join us for an exclusive Happy Hour at The Albion in London!

This event is for legal marketers specializing in rankings, directories, and awards. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network, exchange tips, and unwind.

Register now to secure your spot!

Prague Legal Directories Briefing – June 10

Confused by legal directories? Want to improve your firm’s rankings?

Join us in Prague for a practical briefing led by the Tier One Rankings team.

Open to law firm marketing departments.

Click here to register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/legal-directories-tips-tricks-and-insights-tickets-1369959528829?aff=oddtdtcreator

Celebrating Pride Month

We proudly celebrate Pride Month and reaffirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Check out Daniela Spiro’s insightful article on DEI efforts in legal directories like Chambers and Legal 500.

Must-Read: Robert Charters on Chambers Insight

Our Submissions Editor, Robert Charters , with a decade of experience in Chambers’ Insight department, shares expert guidance on how to select and leverage Insight effectively.

Missed Our Researcher’s Webinar?

Don’t worry—Blessing Adeagbo and Lena Martin share their key takeaways. A video recording of the webinar is now available!

Perfect for sharpening your approach to submissions and rankings.

Recipe for Perfect Referee Feedback – A Baking Day Special

Celebrate International Baking Day with our fun (and practical) recipe for excellent referee feedback in legal submissions.

2 cups referee availability

1 tbsp recent work

¾ cup familiarity with the partner

1 shot memorable adjectives

Generous praise for the team

Pinch of comparison

Full instructions in the monthly newsletter— share your version with us!

IAM Patent 1000 – 2025 Edition Now Live

Explore the top global patent professionals and service providers.

IAM subscribers also gain access to in-depth analytics and benchmarking tools.

Legal 500 EMEA – Submission Deadlines Announced

Mark your calendars for Monday, 4 August 2025.

Important for editorial and referee deadlines — including for the Nordics.

Legal 500 has also updated and expanded several categories.

Don’t miss our expert tips on standout submissions!

Women in Business Law Awards – EMEA 2025 Shortlist Announced!

We’re thrilled that every single client we submitted has made the shortlist.

Congratulations to all firms recognized — your work continues to inspire!

Talent Insights from Chambers and Partners

A must-read report on what attracts and retains top legal talent — essential insights for law firms planning long-term growth.

Click to read the monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/nishlis/tier-one-newsletter-17298165

The post Tier One Rankings Monthly Newsletter, June 2025 appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

The post London Legal Marketing Happy Hour appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Chambers does offer solutions to this problem, front and centre being Insight, which it claims will provide you with “tailored guidance to improve your firm’s rankings.” This sounds promising, but what can you expect if you buy?

Let’s talk about this product in this forthcoming series of articles, starting with what an Insight report actually is and contains. Join me for the insight scoop.

What is Insight?

Insight is a bespoke, paid-for online business report that aims to give firms a clearer understanding of their performance in current research and, by extension, the rationale behind Chambers’ ranking decisions.

Firms can choose to purchase by guide and practice area, allowing them to tailor the size and focus of their order. For example, a firm could get a report on its entire practice, or on just the tables it wants to improve in, or on something in between.

Reports come in two varieties: the Client and Market Intelligence (CMI) report and the Client Intelligence (CI) report. But what is the difference in terms of content?

In short, the CMI has two main features a CI lacks: peer feedback and analysis of up to three other firms in the table in question. While these analyses do not divulge confidential information, they should shed light on what competitors are doing to earn their rankings.

What is included in an Insight report?

For the overall team:

For individuals who this year have or have lost a ranking or an internal Potential designation:

For individuals without a ranking in the last 2+ years:

*Please note, these features are new additions for Europe 2025 and beyond. As a result, there might be a bedding-in period while Chambers builds up the data sets that power them. Certain features might not initially be included in the final version of the Insight report if they are drawing on incomplete data sets.

Which one is right for me?

The choice of report type – or whether even to buy at all – will be a personal decision, informed by your department’s goals, budget, and intentions for the report. However, here are some possible uses and benefits for both products.

• Gain an understanding of what Chambers thinks are your team’s and individuals’ strengths and weaknesses. Understanding how Chambers views your performance can help you pinpoint and address perceived areas of weakness.
• Find out how your department might improve its performance. An Insight report’s recommendations for improvement can shed light on perceived successes or shortcomings in your work highlights and client response. Knowing this might provide clear pathways to stronger performances.
• See what clients are saying about your team and individuals. Feedback is anonymised, allowing clients to speak honestly and openly about their experiences and opinions. These comments highlight aspects of the service that clients highly value and areas they think could do with addressing. By knowing what clients think, you can enhance your offering.
• Obtain quotes for marketing purposes. As long as firms credit Chambers as the source, they can use any of the quotes in their Insight report for marketing, as testaments to their service standard.

CMI only

• Learn what the market thinks. Insight into how other firms perceive your practice might give you a better idea of how to market yourself to ensure you are always putting your best foot forward.
• Understand what competitors are doing differently or similarly. The analysis of other firms should shed light on what makes groups in higher tiers stand out. This can offer deeper insight into the factors underpinning these higher rankings.

Conclusion

Chambers offers two types of bespoke report for firms seeking to improve their rankings. Both the CI and the CMI provide insight into team and individual performances across Chambers’ research metrics and offer recommendations for improvement. However, the CMI goes further, for an added financial cost, providing customers with feedback from wider market sources and analysis of competitors’ strengths.

Neither report is necessary to attain or improve a Chambers ranking, but both can be a useful addition to a firm’s submission toolkit. By finding out what research thinks of your performance and where you are falling short, you can work to address these perceived weaknesses and present your practice to Chambers in the best light, which could in turn lead to progress within the guides.

About the Author: Robert Charters is a Legal Directories Editor at Tier One Rankings with a decade of experience as an editor and Principal Research Specialist on Chambers Insight.

The post The Insight Track to Improving Your Chambers Ranking appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

• How best to present your team’s work in submission documents.
• The referee process and how you can help improve response rates.
• The research process at the directories and how they make ranking decisions.
• Differences between the major directories and how to adapt a submission to each of them.
• Scoring system and three pillars of success.
• The key to getting individual rankings.
• Crafting the perfect work highlights, and much more.

This session will be a presentation covering the above, followed by a Q&A where our panel can address any issues you are experiencing.

Don’t miss this chance to elevate your submission strategies and boost your profile in the legal sector.Confirm your spot today as seating will be limited.

Confirm your spot today as seating is limited.

Date: June 10th. Time: 15:00-17:00. Location: Kinstellar offices, Palác Myslbek, Na Příkopě 19, 110 00 Prague 1. Link to register: Click here.

The post Prague Briefing: Legal Directories – Tips, Tricks and Insights appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

The session covered how to craft compelling submissions, manage the referee process, understand what researchers look for in making ranking decisions, and increase your chances of achieving a Band 1 ranking. Whether you’re a legal marketer, a lawyer, or a firm aiming to refine your approach, this webinar was packed with expert tips and actionable strategies. We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout and to receive so many engaging questions!

Below, you will find a summary of the key topics we covered during the live session, and a link to the webinar recording.

• We began by outlining the Chambers research cycle, which includes preparation, interviews, and final rankings. Preparation involves organizing spreadsheets and scheduling interviews. During the interview phase, researchers gather feedback from lawyers and clients. Finally, researchers assess submissions, score them internally, and recommend rankings. We will soon be publishing an article that explores this topic in greater depth!
  
• Submissions should focus on two things: the sophistication of the work and the depth of the team. Matters must be relevant to the practice area. Structure is essential – lead with impactful, high-value matters and explain why they stand out.
  
• Chambers uses internal scores (1–5) to evaluate work quality, client feedback, and team strength. Scores guide decisions but don’t dictate rankings outright. Researchers consider past performance and upward or downward trajectory.
  
• Referee feedback is crucial – accounting for over 50% of the ranking outcome. Choose referees who are available and familiar with your work, not just senior in title. Strong feedback is often the deciding factor for rising or new lawyers.
  
• Team representation must be strategic. Prioritize those actively working in the practice area. Co-led matters and the “Other Team Members” section can help spotlight juniors and up-and-coming talent. 
  
• Lawyer interviews help researchers gather market trends, team updates, and peer insights. Be constructive – avoid focusing solely on frustrations or undermining others. Use the call to build a relationship and clarify key points. 
  
• Matter descriptions should be concise yet informative. Avoid overly technical language, but include key legal elements when helpful.  
  
• Chambers does not currently use AI tools in its rankings. Submissions drafted with AI are acceptable, as long as the content is clear and well-written. However, referee quotes should be genuine and not AI-generated.
  
• There’s no fixed cap on the number of ranked lawyers from one firm, but balance is maintained across rankings. Give space to younger lawyers while continuing to support senior team members with a track record. 
  
• Confidential-only submissions are permitted and are treated equally. The only limitation is that Chambers cannot use them for editorial purposes. 

We hope these insights help refine your approach to submissions and rankings. A full Q&A article containing in-depth answers will be published soon on our website.  

Click here to see the full recording of the webinar. Password: 8ctZDa$%

The post Chambers Researchers’ Webinar – Key Takeaways  appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Chambers Success Strategies Webinar: Insider Advice from Former Research Analysts

We’re excited to invite you to a live webinar on May 7th at 2pm UK with former Chambers researchers Blessing Adeagbo and Lena Martin. Get an exclusive peek behind the scenes of Chambers as they share:

How ranking decisions are made

Practical strategies for submissions & referee management

Tips to boost your chances of achieving a Band 1 ranking

Plus a live Q&A! Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your legal directory strategy. [Register now]

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket: A strong directory ranking doesn’t come from submissions alone. Success in Chambers and Legal 500 requires a well-rounded approach: strategic submissions, compelling referee feedback, and market visibility. Need guidance? Visit our blog for insights—or get in touch with us directly!

Key deadlines coming up for Chambers USA 2026:

• First submission deadline: July 10, 2025

• New practice areas announced – check them out here!

• Chambers USA 2025 guide launches June 5, 2025

Top tips from Kushraj Cheema, Chambers’ North America Research Director:

Be specific about your strengths & niche expertise

Be selective—highlight complex, high-impact matters

Be direct—share feedback on existing coverage

Be efficient—keep work highlights concise & relevant

Stay proactive—communicate referee & submission updates

And congratulations to all the winners of the IFLR Europe and Asia-Pacific Awards 2025!

Final call for FinTech submissions! Deadline: May 22, 2025—good luck to all participating firms!

Click to read the full monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/nishlis/tier-one-newsletter

The post Tier One Rankings Monthly Newsletter, April 2025 appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

At Tier One Rankings, powered by Nishlis Legal Marketing, we’re thrilled to welcome Robert Charters, Lena Martin and Blessing Adeagbo to our expanding team. With their arrival, our lineup now includes seven former Chambers editors and researchers—a testament to our deep expertise in legal marketing, submissions for legal directories and rankings strategy.

As Chambers Global 2026 research kicks off, we’ve shared practical advice on referee communication—don’t let key feedback go unheard. Read our Referee Management Tips by former Chambers researcher Blessing Adeagbo to maximize impact.

Referees account for 55% of your score in Chambers—ignoring them is a costly mistake. Staying on this subject, Senior Editor at Tier One Rankings and former Chambers editor, Laurence Mussett, together with our team of former Chambers researchers have put together some advice for what to do and how to handle issues with referees during Chambers research.

Chambers Europe 2025 Rankings are out, senior editor Chris Lahr presents key insights related to the guide launch. highlights include:

• Spain: Tech boom & new players

• Romania: Leading in female representation

• Benelux: Rise of ESG litigation

• Austria: New TMT rankings

• Switzerland: Sports Law debuts

Lastly, huge congratulations to everyone featured in Legal 500 EMEA 2024! We’re proud to support our clients and cheer on the BD, Marketing & Directories professionals behind the scenes.

Click here to read the full monthly newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yrfb8umr

The post Tier One Rankings Monthly Newsletter, March 2025 appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Robert Charters, joining as a Legal Directories Editor, brings a decade of experience from Chambers and Partners, where he played a pivotal role in writing and editing Insight reports, managing workflows, and developing new product ideas. His in-depth knowledge of global legal markets will be invaluable in helping clients refine their submissions with clarity and strategic impact.

Lena Martin, a Submissions Consultant, previously worked at Chambers and Partners as a Research Analyst – EMEA, before being promoted to Senior Research Analyst – EMEA. In these roles, she gained extensive experience in evaluating legal markets, conducting research across multiple jurisdictions, and analysing top law firms and practitioners.

With a team of seven former Chambers Editors and Researchers, including Chris Lahr, Laurence Mussett, Lee Saunders, Blessing Adeagbo and Eleni Chalkidou, Tier One Rankings continues to offer unparalleled insight, precision, and strategic guidance in directory submissions.

The post Tier One Rankings expands team with two additional former Chambers experts, strengthening Legal Directories expertise appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

This point cannot be overemphasised. For most directories, referees are a key part of their methodology. This is because, speaking to referees gives the directories the most possibility of receiving unbiased feedback about the firm, and its all-round service that goes beyond the substance of the work itself. For Chambers, referee response can contribute to roughly 55% of the research methodology. Therefore, to think that referees are not important or to not pay attention to them can be a costly mistake. 

Availability trumps popularity 

In choosing referees for a research cycle, it is important to consider who is available and will have the time to speak to the researchers or complete the survey forms. The referee does not have to be the CEO or COO of the client’s company. It is enough to have an integral member of the team, who may not be as popular or senior on the team but has the time and knowledge to provide the feedback and information needed for the research process. 

Familiarity over seniority 

This point flows from point 2 above. The chosen referee should be a person familiar with the team of lawyers and the advice provided to the client in the past year. Ideally, the referee should be the person that has liaised with the firm and lawyers on the matters, who is able to describe the work sufficiently, mention the names of the lawyers active on the matter and what the roles of each lawyer was on the matter. The closer you get to choosing a referee to meet all of these requirements, the better. Similarly, the referee should be the person that has worked with the team recently (preferably in the past year) to ensure that their feedback is relevant to the research, and they also have fresh remembrance of the team of lawyers and their roles on the matter. The referees should also be a good mix of existing and new clients. Existing clients already know how the team works, would most likely be more familiar with the team members and may be more comfortable speaking about the team. Including new clients helps to add some diversity to the referee list and to ensure that the same list of names are not recycled year after year. 

Prior notice is key 

No one enjoys being barged with multiple emails about some research that they know nothing about. It is important to inform referees in advance or at the start of research so that they can expect to receive the emails from researchers and attend to them. Even if the referee is familiar with the directory and has been part of the research in past years, there is no harm in informing them that they will be contacted again, this time for the research.  

Remember to follow up 

It is not enough to inform the referee that they will be contacted, it is helpful that firms follow up with their referees to find out if they got the researchers’ emails and if they have provided feedback. By now, spam filters, firewall blocks should sound familiar as they almost always happen with some referees when they are contacted. Following up helps to know if there are such issues and helps to ensure that they get sorted on time. If the firm has subscribed to tools like the Chambers Referee Management Tool, it will be helpful to maximise the use of these tools to track the status of the referee feedback rates. There are times when it may be helpful to also follow up with researchers about referees, as researchers are busy, it is important to not overdo the follow up process. For our thoughts on the best approach to following up with referees and researchers, see here.

Always remember, written feedback is possible

Rather than not providing any feedback at all, you can encourage your busy referees to provide written feedback to the directories. Most directories provide surveys to referees, even where they request calls, they will most likely accommodate written feedback via surveys, questionnaires and even emails. Encourage your clients to explore this option where their schedule does not permit getting on calls within the timeframe of the research. 

Guidelines matter 

It is typical of directories to state the maximum number of referees that they want each firm to put forward for each practice area. It is important to comply with this instruction by ensuring that enough referees are put forward and that extras are not too much. Also, where, as with Chambers and Partners, there are specific instructions as to the number of referees each referring partner can put forward, it is important to comply with such instructions. This is to ensure that all referees are contacted for the purpose of the research, and some are not left out simply because some partners put forward more names than they should. 

Non-client referees

It is worthy of note that referees can be other people apart from clients. They can include lawyers on the same side (not at your firm), or on the other side of deals, third parties such as professionals advising on the same deals like accountants, tax advisers, etc., arbitrators, barristers, and so on. In deciding to put forward any non-client referee, it is important to inform them in advance and pay attention to their availability, familiarity with the matter and the team at the firm and other necessary points mentioned above. 

Running out of time? Your referee list can help out 

If you are ever running out of time with the submissions and research is about to start, uploading the referee list in the meantime helps to save the day. While you ask for that extension or try to get the submission done as quickly as possible, the uploaded referee list gives the researchers something to work with and they can contact referees already while awaiting the submission. 

Next time you are preparing a referee list for the purpose of a directory research, consider all the points above and see how helpful those referee comments can be for achieving your ranking goals. 

The post Referee Management 101 – For Chambers and other Directories (Tips from an ex-senior researcher at Chambers) appeared first on Tier One Rankings.