IFLR held a webinar and Q&A session on 5 February 2026. The event, hosted by
IFLR1000 research analysts Nancy Ping and Elva Lee, served to provide advice on
the research process, explain the changes being implemented this year, and give
attendees a forum for asking questions.
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.
