Chambers Europe 2024 Rankings
Last year, our research team analysed over 12,500 submissions. Law firms have submitted over 200,000 referees, and our research analysts conducted over 11,000 calls, in addition to receiving over 27,000 surveys. It is particularly inspiring to see a steady increase in the number of submissions and the increasing number of referees that we receive year-on-year.
Increase in ranked law firms and lawyers
I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time and have either spoken to our research team or interacted with us in other ways, we would not be able to deliver this unparalleled guide to the best European legal talent without you.
The 2024 Guide features 1,574 ranked law firms and 14,530 ranked lawyers, and we have seen an increase in the number of ranked law firms and lawyers over the last few years. Thanks to the depth of our research, we were able to identify over 450 younger lawyers who gained new rankings as either associates to watch or as up-and-coming partners.
Law firms with the most department rankings
The law firm with the most department rankings across Europe 2024 is CMS, with nearly 200 rankings. CMS is closely followed by DLA Piper and Baker McKenzie, with 179 and 170 rankings respectively.
If we narrow it down to law firms with Band 1 rankings, Clifford Chance positions itself at the top with impressive 65 rankings, followed closely by Allen & Overy with 63 top rankings.
Diversity in the Chambers Europe legal rankings
Diversity in the legal profession is an area of continuous focus and our research analysts make greater efforts to speak to female lawyers to broaden the view of the market and we also ask your clients about the diversity & inclusion initiatives at law firms that they have worked with. Clients also put more and more emphasis on the importance of D&I and the ability to get a different perspective.
Looking at greater detail at lawyer rankings by location and by gender, there has been a steady increase in the number of female lawyers featured in our rankings. Most notably, Romania is one of the countries where the proportion of ranked female lawyers is the highest. Last year, women made up of 57% of all of the Romanian ranked lawyers. Looking at the biggest jurisdictions, that percentage is much lower and the gap is much wider. And we know that we have more work to do there.