We speak to a vast range of lawyers and their clients (i.e. commercial users of legal services). Greater weighting is given to the views of the clients, and any biased viewpoints tend to cancel each other out. All interviews are conducted purely for research purposes and are entirely confidential and un-attributed.
We select our sources on the basis of:
In-depth interviews with clients and with attorneys are done over the telephone, each one lasting about half an hour.
For the current US directory, over 14,000 of these interviews were conducted covering the whole of the USA. They were carried out by a team of over 40 full-time researchers over a period of 6 months.
Law firms and individual attorneys are ranked in bands from 1-6, with 1 being the best.
In addition, there are further categories in which attorneys can be ranked as exceptional individuals. A 'Senior Statesman' is an attorney who no longer works hands-on with the same intensity but who, by virtue of close links with major clients, remains pivotal to the firms success. A 'Star' ranking is given to attorneys with exceptional recommendations in their field.
Two additional bands list those who are at the forefront of their generation but who do not yet warrant inclusion in the tables. The 'Up and Coming' band lists those who do not yet have an established reputation but who are driving their firm's growth. 'Associates to Watch' are senior associates who are recognised for their work in the background of major deals.
The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.
Firms and individuals are ranked in bands (where they are listed alphabetically).
Editorial comment is based on our research, with quotations used when they sum up the prevailing opinion in the market.
The rankings and editorial comment about attorneys are independent and objective. Inclusion in this section of the guide is based solely on the research team's findings. No-one can buy their way in.
Once the rankings are completed, those included are given a listing in the guide, setting out contact details, which is free of charge. They can, if they wish, enhance this 'Profile' at a cost based on the size of the profile they choose.
If you or your firm are ranked and you would like to expand your online profile, please email Brad Sirott with the relevant details, or call him on +44 207 778 1627.