The Lawdragon selection process has been created over 35 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession and creating 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.
Selection for The Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America guide typically requires a lawyer to have shown outstanding skills for at least 15 years in practice, 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.
This is our 4th edition of the Dealmaker 500, which was first published in 2006 and resumed annual publication in 2021. It reports on the M&A, Corporate, Securities, Finance, Private Equity, Tax, Corporate Governance, and ESG leaders handling the biggest deals. There are nods, as well, to Real Estate, REIT, Energy and Infrastructure, Leveraged Finance, Investment Funds and an array of other practices at the forefront of the world’s economy. This guide features lawyers who are based in the U.S., although many of the deals they work on are global in nature.
Lawdragon is proudly inclusive and searches for qualified women, minority, LGBTQ+ and other attorneys who may lend an additional perspective to the heights of dealmaking.
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