What are the Chambers Rankings?

Bands 1-6

Chambers rankings are the definitive mark of excellence across the legal industry.

A ranking from Chambers shows that your firm has stood out in the most rigorous, independent and in-depth research process of any legal directory on the market, and has emerged as one of the best in your field. Law firms and individual lawyers are ranked in bands from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest). Being ranked in any band is a significant achievement. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include:

  • Technical legal ability
  • Professional conduct
  • Client service
  • Commercial astuteness
  • Diligence
  • Commitment
  • Other qualities most valued by the client (for further description of these please see methodology above)

Foreign Experts / Foreign Desks

Chambers Global identifies leading Foreign Experts and Foreign Desks, individuals or teams with expertise in a different jurisdiction from where they are based. These individuals and teams are particularly highly regarded for international and cross-border work.

Usually, they will be identified in the jurisdiction in which they are based. For example, a lawyer based in the UK may have an in-depth knowledge of China. They would appear in the UK as a Foreign Expert for China.

Senior Statesperson, Star and Eminent Practitioners

There are further categories in which lawyers can be ranked as exceptional individuals: 

  • Senior Statesperson: a lawyer 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. 
  • Star: ranking is given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field. 
  • Eminent Practitioners: highly influential lawyers in a particular practice area who, due to managerial or client relationship commitments, are less active in fee-earning work but remain key players in the team. 

Up-and-Coming, Star Associate, and Associate-to-Watch

Three additional bands list those who are at the forefront of their generation : 

  • Up-and-Coming: lists those who do not yet have an established reputation but who are driving their firm's growth. 
  • Associates to Watch: senior associates who are recognised for their work in the background of major deals. 
  • Star Associate: awarded to an associate who consistently demonstrates an outstanding degree of technical and commercial expertise beyond that of their peers. 

Silks and Juniors

In the UK, Barristers are divided into Leading Silks and Leading Juniors. Leading juniors who have since taken silk appear banded under New Silks. 

Spotlight

A 'Spotlight' ranking is given to firms or individuals where the table does not have numerical rankings. All 'Spotlight' rankings are equal and the ranking serves to highlight a select group of firms or individuals. These rankings are most commonly used for 'Foreign Experts/Foreign Desks'.