LEGAL TOPICS
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METHODOLOGY & OUR HISTORY
How the Recognition Works
The first step is for a lawyer to be nominated. For the full research process, please visit our Methodology page.
The first edition of The Best Lawyers in America® was published in 1983 and has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.
Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith founded Best Lawyers in 1981.
Best Lawyers has conducted research in more than 76 countries — spotlighting excellence in law on the local and global scale. See the full directory of country publications below.
For more than four decades, Best Lawyers has continuously recognized top legal talent. The 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America® was announced on August 15, 2024. Additional country publications began in 2007 and research schedules vary based on country.
Why Best Lawyers?
Recognition you can trust.
For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has used peer review to identify lawyers recognized by their professional peers. Recognition cannot be purchased.
About our Methodology About Purely-Peer Review™
Best Lawyers believes meaningful peer review starts with the quality of the lawyers providing it. Our rigorous and transparent process gathers substantive evaluations from recognized legal professionals to identify excellence in legal practice.
130K+
Lawyers recognized worldwide
1M+
Peer evaluations submitted
75+
Countries represented
40+
Years of peer review
