U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers have joined forces to rank law firms across the U.S. Three Chattanooga firms have announced top rankings in the 2015 edition of the annual report, titled Best Law Firms.
The rankings are presented in tiers both nationally and either by metropolitan area or by state. The report showcases more than 12,000 law firms ranked nationally in one or more of 74 legal practice areas, and in metropolitan or state rankings in one or more of 120 major legal practice areas.
To determine the rankings, U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers conduct national surveys in which they ask major clients and leading lawyers to rate the law firms they consider to be the best in their practice area. The survey responses were combined with more than 4.9 million evaluations of individual lawyers in these firms in the most recent Best Lawyers survey of leading lawyers.
The following firms, which are either based in Chattanooga or have an office in the city, received high rankings on the 2015 Best Law Firms list, the fifth edition of the analysis:
Baker Donelson
Baker Donelson garnered 175 first-tier metropolitan rankings on the 2015 Best Law Firms list. These tier one rankings across 11 metropolitan markets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C., earned Baker Donelson a spot among the top 20 firms nationally.
Baker Donelson ranked nationally in 25 practice areas, including earning a tier one national ranking in five practice areas: Construction Law; Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants; and Railroad Law. The firm also has the most practices with first-tier rankings in the nation.
The firm was also named Law Firm of the Year in Railroad Law. Only one law firm in each of the nationally ranked legal practice areas receives this recognition.
Additionally, Baker Donelson achieved the highest number of tier one metropolitan rankings in Tennessee, with 97 practice areas ranked, including 19 in Chattanooga.
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel
Chambliss received first-tier rankings in 14 practice areas, including: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Employment Law – Management; Energy Law; Health Care Law; Litigation – Antitrust; Litigation – Labor & Employment; Patent Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Trademark Law; and Trusts & Estates Law.
“To have our work recognized by clients and peers in this way is an honor,” said Mike St. Charles, managing shareholder for Chambliss. “It reflects our continual effort to provide exceptional client service.”
Miller & Martin
Best Law Firms ranks Miller & Martin in 38 practice areas for its metropolitan markets in the 2015 edition. Overall, the firm achieved 21 tier one metropolitan rankings, including Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law in both the Atlanta and Chattanooga markets. The firm ranked tier one in the Nashville market for Land Use & Zoning Law.
Miller & Martin’s tier one metropolitan rankings for Atlanta include: Banking and Finance Law; and Real Estate Law. The firm’s tier one metropolitan rankings for Chattanooga include: Arbitration; Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar; Criminal Defense: White Collar; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Employment Law – Management; Health Care Law; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Litigation – Labor & Employment; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants; Mediation; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Real Estate Law; and Trademark Law.
Source: Baker Donelson, Chambliss Bahner, and Miller & Martin