My partner Brian Chase and I have been named once again as “Super Lawyers.” This is the second consecutive year that I have had the honor of being named on this prestigious list and the fourth consecutive time for my partner, Brian Chase. According to Super Lawyers web site, they define themselves as a “listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.”
Being listed on Super Lawyers is particularly valuable to me because it gives recognition from one’s own peers. Also importantly, this list is published as a special supplement in leading newspapers and city and regional magazines across the country. The Super Lawyers magazine, featuring articles about attorneys named to the Super Lawyers list, is distributed to all attorneys in the state or region, the lead corporate counsel of Russell 3000 companies and the ABA-approved law school libraries. The goal of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a “credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys” that can be used as a resource for consumers and attorneys who are looking for a high caliber of legal counsel.
This year, the organization invited more than 800,000 attorneys to participate in the survey. California is the only state other than New York and Washington D.C. where the survey is conducted by region. The selection process is quite intensive. In the end, only 5 percent of the nation’s attorneys get this distinction of being named a “Super Lawyer.” The organization asks lawyers around the country to nominate the best attorneys they have personally observed in action. Each nomination carries a point value. A nomination from someone outside the lawyer’s firm carries a greater point value. The organization also has a sophisticated database, which helps keep track of who nominates whom to detect lawyers nominating each other or instances where members of the same law firm all cast identical ballots.
In addition to conducting personal interviews, the organization also evaluates attorneys based on verdicts and settlements, transactions, experience, other honors and awards, special licenses, position within the law firm, bar or other professional activity, pro bono and community service, scholarly lectures and writings and other outstanding achievements.
Brian Chase and I have been invited by Super Lawyers and Los Angeles magazine on February 4, 2009 to a reception at the Beverly Hills Hotel in recognition of being named to the list. I consider this not only an honor for the two of us, but for our entire firm – all our employees, our dedicated team of real super stars, who work very hard, stand behind us and offer us their support in every possible way.