Forbes second-annual list of America’s Top Lawyers—a recognition designed to spotlight the nation’s finest attorneys in private practice—is set to debut in the coming months. As with all such Forbes lists, Top Lawyers is based on a rigorous, multi-stage process of editorial research and analysis to identify the finest in the profession: lawyers with impressive track records in their specialties, leaders in their fields and attorneys most respected by peers and clients.
Forbes’ methodology and assessment process was designed by an editorial team with broad experience in law practice and knowledge of the legal marketplace. This team identified a wide pool of eligible candidates through interviews with industry insiders, outside nominations and editorial research, as well as outreach through law firms and local, state and national bar associations. In addition, recommendations were offered by an independent advisory board of experts, including: Rahat Babar, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; Wendy Muchman, Professor of Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and prior Chief of Litigation and Professional Education at the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois; Caren Ulrich Stacy, CEO, Diversity Lab, and a member of the board of advisors of the Centre for Legal Innovation; and Brandon Calvert, Deputy General Counsel at National Equity Fund, where he specializes in real estate financing and portfolio management.
To qualify for consideration, lawyers were required to be active and licensed. More than two thousand finalists from a variety of backgrounds, specializations and jurisdictions were ultimately considered.
The research team conducted in-depth evaluations of each candidate based on a variety of weighted criteria, including: reputation, industry honors, influence on the legal landscape, client list, advocacy performance, practice impact, reviews by peers and clients, credentials and affiliations, thought leadership, pro-bono work, mentorship, and community and/or diversity work. Also assessed were involvement in significant cases, blockbuster verdicts or deals; notable clients or litigation, and volume, variety or type of incoming business. Accolades from state, national and international bar associations, as well as affinity bar groups and other stakeholders and organizations were also evaluated. Although a lawyer’s lifetime achievements were considered, emphasis was placed on their most recent accomplishments.
The resulting collection of elite lawyers represents those delivering the finest legal representation for their clients across a wide array of practice areas. But what they all share are reputations for integrity, records of excellence—and now, Forbes’ recognition as the best in the business.
As with all Forbes lists, no fee or payment of any kind was required for candidates to be considered or to make the list. For questions about this list, email [email protected]
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lianejackson/2025/08/07/americas-top-lawyers-2025-methodology/