The Lawdragon selection process has been created over 30 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession and creating lists and guides to the most effective legal professionals. Our team brings more than 100 years in the lawyer reporting and information business.
The foundation of our selection is in journalism. We research each guide extensively, studying which lawyers and law practices have had significant impact, including an emphasis on recent matters handled. We accept submissions and review them alongside thousands of candidates we identify and consider for each guide. We also work with editorial advisors in each substantive area to develop the focus of the guide and identify talent.
We established The Lawdragon 500 Special Situations Lawyers in recognition of the increased demand for lawyers who embody the ethos that crisis is opportunity. They are the cool heads helping clients navigate the legal and financial shoals of crisis brought on by high-stakes and unusual corporate events, economic or geopolitical disruptions or other situations that create risks or opportunities. Their work is by nature complex, fast-moving and high profile.
On the transactional side, we are looking for advisors who fuse dealmaking, restructuring, finance and similar expertise to provide options for companies under duress. These include creative capital, distressed M&A, liquidity solutions, and rescue capital and reorganization. Increasingly termed “Liability Management,” this practice creates and executes bespoke solutions for debt holders and investors, most frequently.
On the Litigation side of Special Situations, we are looking for those lawyers who often are called on by the transactional side to advise on high-stakes corporate conflicts, debt defaults and liability management scenarios via litigation and appellate avenues. This brings together restructuring, securities, M&A, general commercial and appellate specialists who can advise companies, equity sponsors and creditors on pathways forward using litigation as a strategy or necessity.
Of note, we separately publish The Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Crisis Management. While there will be some overlapping honorees, for Special Situations we are looking for the litigators and dealmakers who go to court and or structure the financing moreso than those who communicate on it.
To make a Lawdragon guide, a lawyer will have been in practice at least 15 years, with extremely rare exceptions. Similarly, virtually all will be partners in their law practice or hold a designation that indicates the regard of those with whom they practice. Leadership within their practice in a firm and or in relevant bar organizations is considered.
Lawdragon is an advocate for inclusion in the legal profession and searches extensively for female candidates and others who represent diversity.
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