A list that ranks law firms by capability and the methodology behind it

General counsel often want to know which law firms lead in various practice areas. One source of that information are the many surveys and lists that purport to rank law firms by their experience, capability, and performance.

As another resource, Exec. Counsel, Vol. 5, July/Aug. 2008 at 34, declares that it will rely on the methodology of Chambers and Partners and will produce its own short list of leading firms. That methodology has been approved by the British Market Research Bureau British and includes “thousands of in-depth interviews with clients and lawyers … using a team of more than 50 full-time researchers. Each interview lasts about a half hour. All interviews are confidential and no findings are attributed to any respondent.

Chambers gives greater weight to the views of clients about law firms than the views of law firm partners. All this sounds like a substantial and reliable resource for general counsel.