Chambers Guide launched

Lawyer rankings have risen by 8% to almost 9,800 in the 2012 edition of Chambers UK.

The client’s guide to the legal profession, which researches factors such as quality and profile of work, incorporating client and barrister feedback, was published last night.

There appears to be greater emphasis on the consumer, with client service rankings up by 85% to 319 and commercial awareness rankings jumping 59% to 225.

City firm Eversheds was one of only two firms to pass the 100 mark in terms of rankings, leading from DLA Piper by 128 to 114.
Eversheds was also the only firm to have more than 200 lawyers ranked and had the most top-tier rankings of any firm.

National firm Pinsent Masons completed the top three places for number of firm and lawyer rankings, whilst there were big increases for CMS Cameron McKenna and Mills & Reeve.

The number of barrister set rankings went up from 478 to 548, with Blackstone Chambers boasting the most set rankings ahead of 39 Essex Street and Brick Court Chambers.

The Chambers 2012 list sees law firms and individual lawyers ranked in bands from one to six, along with editorial comments based on independent research.

Researchers speak to a range of lawyers and their clients, with in-depth interviews lasting around 30 minutes. Thousands of interviews have been conducted for the 2012 edition by a team of more than 50 full-time researchers.

The rankings are now live on the Chambers site.