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.

Not to ruin it for you, we placed the answers at the end.

Deadlines:

1. Late submissions can have a negative impact on rankings.
2. It is critical to send the referees on time. 

Submissions and individual rankings:

3. If a partner has the strongest work in the submission, they can be ranked without referee feedback.
4. If there are over 20 matters in a submission, the directories will not read the extra matters.
5. Achieving a ranking for individual lawyers is not affected by other lawyer rankings within the same team.
6. There is a quota of up to 5 partners ranked per practice per firm. 
7. Lawyer bios are crucial in the submission form because they determine the individual rankings.
8. Including as many lawyer bios as possible in the submission document is an advantage.

Referee feedback:

9. If a competitor law firm puts down a referee I also want to put down, Chambers will only contact them once. 
10. The average referee response rate to Chambers is 25%.
11. Referee feedback is the most important factor when ranking a firm in Chambers.

And finally…

12. Buying more products offered by the directories increases my chances of improving my rankings.

***

ANSWERS

1. TRUE. Whilst being a day or a week late will not have any real impact, being significantly late with a submission may affect the process of contacting referees. Submissions that are months late may fall outside of the window for research altogether, in which case the directories will be unable to accept a submission until the next research cycle.

2. TRUE. If referees are submitted after research has actively begun, the directories will have less time to get in touch with them and receive your feedback. Legal 500 is particularly keen to ensure referees are received on time because they will send out their first contact to all referees on email at the same time at the very beginning of their research period. Any late referees that miss this first connection might not be contacted further.

3. FALSE. The directories greatly value referee feedback to confirm what they read in the submissions, particularly Chambers. If a lawyer has excellent work but no referee feedback, the directories will likely note their potential and hold their ranking for a year to find out more about them in the next cycle.

4. TRUE. Whilst adding 1-2 extra matters won’t have a serious impact, if a researcher finds a submission that is 25-30 matters long (or even longer!), they are trained to read just the first 20 matters. This is to keep the process equitable so that no firm gets to present more information than others.

5. TRUE. All lawyers are judged independently of each other and are assessed by the amount and quality of their work in the submission and feedback they receive. Firms should however consider the balance of work between the lawyers they would like to see ranked, as partners with a greater amount of higher quality work have a stronger chance of ranking.

6. FALSE. None of the directories set a hard limit to the number of partners ranked in a practice area. However, because the space provided by submission documents is limited, it can become harder to balance the work highlights the more ranked lawyers a team has so that everyone has enough evidence.

7. FALSE. Individual rankings are primarily determined by the work highlights that a lawyer appears on and the quality of that work. The lawyer bios can provide some useful context, but they are a much less significant part of the submission document when it comes to deciding rankings.

8. FALSE. Whilst giving fair credit to all of your lawyers can show the depth of your team, it can also make it harder for the researcher to determine which individuals they should consider for a ranking. We would recommend just including bios for lawyers who feature heavily in the work highlights and that your team would like the researchers to consider.

9. TRUE. Researchers at Chambers will cover all firms that the same referee has been nominated to speak about at the same time. For this reason, we recommend submitting all your referee lists on the first Chambers deadline so that your team does not miss out if a referee are contacted earlier than scheduled to discuss other law firms.

10. FALSE. The average response rate across all sectors and guides in Chambers is closer to 35%, although this rate is increasing since the introduction of the Research Management Tool. This means that achieving responses of 40% or higher in a particular section will be in a good position to improve their rankings.

11. TRUE. The most significant difference between Chambers and Legal 500 is that Chambers values referee feedback the most, whereas Legal 500 is primarily led by the evidence in the submission.

12. FALSE. The big reputable directories are explicitly not pay-to-play. They recognise that the integrity of their rankings is vital, and so their research teams continue to be separated from their commercial activities.

The post Test Yourself – How Prepared for 2026 Submissions? appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Given the significance of this move, we caught up with The Legal 500 team to understand what this integration means for law firms, how it will influence visibility and analytics, and what practical benefits firms can expect.

Q How will Mondaq analytics influence rankings, if at all?

Legal 500: There are no immediate plans to incorporate content-engagement data into Legal 500 research methodology. However, Mondaq’s sizeable reach into the buy-side of the legal services market will extend Legal 500’s ability to collect benchmarking data.

Q What new visibility pathways will firms actually gain?

Legal 500: The intention is that all Mondaq content will be available on the Legal 500 platform, increasing exposure and delivering enhanced value for law firm subscribers and in-house counsel users.

Q Will there be a unified analytics or benchmarking dashboard for firms?

Legal 500: Yes. Legal 500 is quickly evolving into a must-have data and intelligence platform. The Mondaq acquisition will only accelerate that progression through the leveraging of their innovative data technologies. Legal 500 data and analysis will also be served at other key points of use – in CRM, RFP and other enterprise-grade applications used by law firms and corporate counsel. Generally, this service will be made available as part of the subscription packages.

Q Is there anything else of value for law firms of all sizes to know?

Legal 500: Legal 500 is a trusted source of global research and data on law firms, lawyers and their clients. The acquisition of Mondaq directly benefits law firms by giving them access to a uniquely powerful platform that combines Legal 500’s benchmarking data with Mondaq’s AI-enabled intelligence, readership analytics, and thought leadership distribution.

As a result, law firms can now gain deeper insights into client needs, market trends, and competitor positioning, while also amplifying their own expertise to a global audience of over a million registered users in the context of Legal 500’s world-leading market analysis and rankings.

With enhanced visibility, richer analytics, and intelligence across jurisdictions, law firms can strengthen client relationships, identify new business opportunities, and support and inform business development and revenue growth strategy more effectively. Here, at Tier One, we feel like this is a real turning point in how firms should communicate. Content can’t just be “nice to have” anymore – it has to work hard for you, rise above the noise, reflect what you truly know, and speak directly to the issues and concerns your clients have. This is especially when insights, rankings and accolades go together

The post What the Legal 500-Mondaq Deal Means appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

The current landscape

The directories space continues to be dominated by the biggest groups, Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. A few other directories such as IFLR1000 are also prominent, as are some specialist directories covering particular areas such as Benchmark Litigation for Disputes, IP Stars for IP and WTR for tax.

Outside of this group, there are many other organisations that assess law firms, and the last few years have seen a major increase in their numbers. It should be noted however that very few of these new organisations are considered to be reputable. Many of these are described as “pay-to-play”, wherein law firms can buy products in order to improve their chances of being ranked by that directory. These rankings are therefore not considered to have much integrity. The larger directories know that they trade entirely on their reputation of being fair and equitable in their rankings, hence they are more reliable.

Growth of private equity

That said, the larger directories are starting to change their approach to their own rankings, particularly in how best to commercialise their data, engage with law firms and create new products. This increased focus on the commercial arm is largely driven by the fact that a number of the big directories are now owned by private equity. Chambers and Partners was first bought out in 2018 by the PE firm Inflexion, and in 2023 was sold on to Abry Partners- at this sale, Chambers was valued at over £400 million. Meanwhile, earlier this year, IFLR’s parent group Legal Benchmarking was bought out by Triple Private Equity in a similar deal.

In light of the value that is now placed on these companies, the directories have been bolstering their commercial arms to support these products, and sales groups within the key rankings are increasingly getting in touch with firms of their own accord, independently of the research process.

The directories understand that they have a certain tightrope to walk between maintaining the integrity of their rankings and commercial pursuits. They are fully aware that the independence and impartiality of their process is the absolute core of their business; nonetheless, these are businesses, and they are therefore exploring what they can do to maximise their commercial potential whilst also maintaining that integrity.

Directory expansion

As part of the directories’ drive for growth, as well as their goal to produce more comprehensive content, the rankings themselves are continually expanding. The main drive for this expansion is in new ranking tables as their coverage of legal markets deepens and researchers begin to look at new practice areas that are fast developing. For example, the most recent Chambers Europe 2025 guide introduced 17 new ranking tables across 7 key jurisdictions.

The ranking tables themselves have also grown, with more law firms now being recognised on average per practice area than previously. There is therefore an increasing opportunity for firms to achieve a ranking where previously they may have been overlooked. The particular beneficiaries are smaller law firms, those that have been founded more recently, and boutiques who have a very particular area of expertise. One example of this development in Chambers USA guide is known as USA Spotlight, which looks to award recognition to these kinds of smaller law firms in certain states.

They have also sought to release new products making use of the existing data they collect. For example, in the last month Chambers have rolled out a new product called Market Pulse, a tool which makes use of all the commentary the company receives about recent market trends, and identifies what the market considers to be the most pressing issues.

Changes in products: Profiles

Alongside expanding the rankings themselves, the directories are also interested in finding sources of revenue connected to their rankings and are increasingly inviting firms to engage with products relating to the rankings process. For example, one of the major sources of revenue for directories has always been the profile, where a firm can add information about themselves on the directories website.

However recent changes to try and improve the efficacy of the profiles have included displaying law firms with a profile more prominently in the list of rankings, as well as allowing you to post editorial directly to social media.

Changes in products: Expansion of Insight/Research+

Another longstanding tool that is seeing great expansions are the directories’ reports about their ranking decisions. At Chambers these are called Insight reports, whereas Legal 500 refers to them as Research+.

When they were first introduced, these reports were fairly simple breakdowns of the information that the researchers received and the logic behind their ranking decisions. Over the last five years however, these reports have become much more detailed in the information they offer.

Newer features they provide include historical ranking data, numerical ratings for the firm’s performance in key metrics, and comparative data which shows how a team is performing versus closely competing law firms. Legal 500 for example now produces an array of these reports with slightly different areas, such as submission analysis documents and Client satisfaction KPI reports. They have therefore become better value and can be more useful for marketing teams than previously.

Changes in products: Research Management Tool

Another key product that Chambers released a few years ago is the Research Management Tool, which has had a dramatic effect on the research process and the ability of the firms to keep control of the process. Legal 500 have announced that they are introducing a similar tool as part of their Premium subscription.

These tools keep track of the referee process during active research, flagging if somebody
has not responded or there has been an issue with contacting them. Many ranking decisions can come down to whether there is sufficient information to promote, so using this tool can make the difference.

AI

The question of AI and how the directories will use them is also an ongoing issue. So far, the directories have taken a cautious approach to adopting these new technologies internally. As it stands, research remains very labour intensive, backed by large teams (Legal 500 has approximately 50 researchers, whilst Chambers has over 200.)

This is something that may change in future, and no doubt they will be considering how best to use new technology to improve their process. We are keeping an eye out for any potential changes and will send out updates if so.

Continuity in ranking methodology

As much as these changes have significantly altered the approach of the directories and their relationships with law firms, there is a major continuity that should be noted, and that is their core methodology of the rankings. Each directory has a slightly different approach and they have been tried and tested. For example, Chambers places particular emphasis on the feedback they receive from sources, whilst Legal500 primarily focuses on the work evidence provided.

These methodologies have remained steady almost since they were founded over 30 years ago, and whilst the approach around this method may change, it is unlikely that the core process will see any significant transformation.

–

If you liked this article, you might be interested reading Laurence’s latest article on How to prepare for the next directories cycle available here.

The post Trends in directories: What is changing and what to look out for appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

What is Market Pulse and what does it measure?

Market Pulse is a new data and analytics solution from Chambers that surfaces over 200,000 responses from legal buyers captured during our annual research into global markets. It shows real comments from legal buyers in a region on what external factors are going to impact their need for legal advice from law firms. This data is captured during our research process.

Which regions, practice areas, or sectors are included in the standard package?

Market Pulse is available for the following regions: Latin America, Canada, UK, Europe including France and Germany and the U.S.

How often is the data refreshed, and how current will the insights be?

Each month that we research one of these markets we will be providing the latest responses from legal buyers into the platform.

When was Market Pulse officially launched, and how widely is it being used?

Market Pulse was launched on 18th  September to the Latin America market and then rolled out to the Canadian market in late September and is due to be launched to the UK market on 16th  October.

How do law firms benefit in practice — what are the most common use cases for BD, client pitches, or strategic planning?

Key benefits that Business Development and Marketing teams have told us they will see value in using market pulse are:

• Preparing for client meetings – by providing partners with a briefing of the top concerns, including verbatim comments from clients and guidance on what to discuss during pitch meetings.
  
• Shaping campaigns and events – around topics that are top of mind for clients. With data sourced, plan out firms outreach via it’s thought leadership to cover trends clients are actively discussing.
  
• Identify high-potential segments – and target them with evidence-led outreach. Uncover new areas and the key pain points across the legal market to help your firm position itself as legal experts.

Are there any hints for any new useful products on the horizon?

This is just the start of Chambers creating a set of data and analytics solutions to support law firms.

For more information, reach out directly to Chambers or we can point you in the right direction.

The post Innovation Remains at the Heart of Chambers appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Any feedback provided within this period will be taken into account for the rankings.

If your referees miss this feedback window, there is still an opportunity to provide feedback year-round using the link below. Through this form, they can select the relevant publication, jurisdiction, and practice area, and manually enter the firm they wish to comment on, along with their feedback on the team. However, please note that although Legal500 will receive this feedback, there is no guarantee that feedback received outside of the official research window will be considered or published.

Link to provide late feedback : https://www.legal500.com/referee-form/. To be prudent, any referee who has received a reminder is encouraged to use the original link provided by Legal500, rather than the general feedback form.

We will update this post if we receive any new information or developments, and don’t forget to check our LinkedIn to not miss our latest news!

As always, our dedicated team remains available if you have any questions!

The Tier One team

The post Legal500 EMEA 2026 Research: Update on Referee Outreach appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

Here are the key dates:

• Client referees deadline: November 14, 2025
• Editorial submission deadline: November 14, 2025
• Firms interviews conducted: December 2025 to February 2026
• Publication: June 2026

The Legal500 US 2026 guide has broadened its scope to more accurately reflect today’s market — recognising not only top-tier work, but also the strength of talent in the mid-market and specialist boutiques. The updated sections are highlighted in the image below!

For more information on practice area coverage, submission and referee templates, FAQs, click here.

As always, our Tier One team is at your disposal if you have any questions!

The post Legal500 US Guide 2026 – New and Amended Sections appeared first on Tier One Rankings.

The session covered both procedural updates and practical tips to help firms boost their visibility and rankings. We’ve compiled the key points from the webinar below.

Key Dates to Keep in Mind

Several important deadlines were emphasised during the webinar:

• Referee spreadsheet deadline: 4 August 2025 (critical for all regions, including the Nordics!)
• Submission deadline (for all EMEA countries): 4 August 2025
• Submission deadline (for the Nordics): 29 August 2025
• Research: begins in September 2025
• EMEA rankings publication: March 2026
• Embargoed rankings: shared one week prior to public release for subscribing firms

New Features in the Legal 500 Research Process

Legal 500 has introduced several enhancements to its research tools and rankings. A new “Leading Rankings Performers” table aggregates the top-performing law firms across jurisdictions and practice areas, eliminating the need for separate submissions for this accolade. 

The “Worldwide Ranking” category has also been launched, highlighting outstanding firms in key practice areas such as antitrust and intellectual property.

Another notable addition is the “Client Satisfaction” accolade, which recognises firms achieving the highest scores in client surveys.

Additionally, a comparative tool has been introduced, allowing firms and clients to benchmark performance across different rankings — a useful feature for firms looking to position themselves competitively.

How to Build a Strong Submission

One of the central messages from the webinar was the importance of building submissions that go beyond a simple list of matters, combining evidence with storytelling, demonstrating not just what was achieved, but why it matters to clients and to the wider market. 

To achieve this, firms should focus on several key elements:

• Tell your story
  A compelling submission should do more than present facts. It should highlight what sets the firm apart: client wins, unique areas of expertise, the pedigree of the team, and the strategic vision for the future. Legal 500 values submissions that help researchers understand the narrative behind the firm’s success, not just the outcome of individual matters.
• Include robust matter highlights
  The submission window for this cycle covers matters from August 2024 to August 2025. Legal 500 allows up to 20 matter highlights, and firms that provide fewer risk falling behind competitors who use the full allowance. These matters should reflect a mix of complexity, scale, and strategic importance, and — where possible — demonstrate the breadth of the firm’s practice.
• Tailor each submission
  Legal 500 recommends tailoring submissions for each practice area to reflect specialised teams and relevant client work. This level of detail should show researchers that the firm has dedicated resources and deep expertise in each discipline.
• Be strategic with lawyer bios
  Only include lawyers who spend at least 50% of their time in the relevant practice area and who are connected to the matters highlighted. This ensures the submission accurately represents the firm’s active talent pool and avoids diluting attention with irrelevant profiles.
• Address confidentiality proactively
  Confidential matters are treated equally to public ones, but Legal 500 recommends firms to share as much detail as possible. Providing meaningful context — even if anonymised — helps researchers understand the significance of the work without breaching client obligations.
• Use data to your advantage
  Researchers like to see quantifiable achievements in the submission so make sure to incorporate deal values, case statistics, and other measurable outcomes where and when possible. Concrete figures can elevate a submission from descriptive to persuasive.
• Engage with researchers through interviews
  Once the research list is published in September, firms are welcomed to contact the relevant research to arrange a 30-minute call, which the researcher will try to accommodate. These conversations provide an opportunity to clarify highlights, emphasise key matters, and ensure the submission is fully understood.
• Submit on time — every year
  Deadlines are non-negotiable. Late submissions or referee lists cannot be guaranteed review, which can undermine even the strongest content. It is also important that you submit every year, as failing to do so could result in being demoted if Legal 500 lacks information about your firm.

Maximising Referee Feedback

Referees remain a crucial aspect of the rankings process. While Legal 500 allows unlimited referees, firms are advised to provide at least 20 referees to ensure sufficient feedback is collected. The list can include a mix of clients, barristers, and co-counsel who are familiar with the firm’s work and can speak meaningfully about its strengths. Note that referees can be listed for various practice areas. 

Legal 500 stresses the importance of submitting them by the 4 August deadline, to make sure your referees will be contacted when the research starts. 

Referees should be notified in advance, as survey emails will come from editorial@legal500.com. If a referee fails to respond, a self-service form is available to address the issue.

Categories for Individual Recognition

The webinar’s hosts also reiterated the following definitions of their rankings:

• The Hall of Fame recognises lawyers widely regarded as leaders at the very top of the profession, with a long-standing track record of excellence. 
• Leading Partners are established market leaders with significant peer and client endorsements. 
• The Next Generation Partners category identifies rising stars, typically with five or fewer years at partner level, who have achieved recognition through leading roles on significant matters. 
• Finally, Leading Associates are associate-level lawyers frequently cited by clients and peers for their work on noteworthy cases.

Addressing Common Questions

The webinar also addressed frequently asked questions about the research process and made the following comments: 

• Any changes to confidentiality or team composition should be communicated as soon as possible to the relevant researcher.
• Firms requesting changes to their editorial content on the Legal 500 website must contact the designated editorial team rather than researchers directly. 
• Peer feedback (or Market feedback) is considered during the research process but does not determine rankings; instead, it helps researchers identify firms that may not yet be on their radar. 

Subscription Packages: Standard and Premium (see picture below)

Jordan Lincoln, Senior Business Development Manager at Legal 500, introduced us to the new two-tier subscription options, which we’ve summarised below.

The Standard package includes up to six client testimonials (compared to two for non-subscribers), along with twelve key clients and three work highlights. Firms under this package are also featured in the new firm comparison tool.

The Premium package builds on these features by allowing up to ten client testimonials, twenty key clients, and five work highlights. Premium subscribers gain access to historical editorial data across three editions and can provide real-time updates via Legal 500 Live. Premium subscribers also receive submission analysis reports. An additional benefit is the referee tracking tool, which allows firms to monitor response rates and add referees after the initial deadline.

We’ve included an image from the webinar that illustrates the differences between these packages.

Final Thoughts

The major takeaways from the webinar were clear: rankings are reassessed from scratch each year, so firms must submit annually and treat each cycle as an opportunity to demonstrate progress. High-quality submissions that are accurate, comprehensive, and timely remain the most critical factor in success. 

We hope this article has helped clarify what Legal 500 looks for. Our Tier One team recently hosted a webinar covering topics such as the submission process, referee management, selection criteria, etc. Our Submissions Consultant, Lena Martin, summarised the key takeaways in an article, which you can read by clicking here.

If you want to watch the Legal 500 recorded webinar click here.

The post Legal 500 EMEA Webinar – Our Recap 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

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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.

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