How the Legal Rankings Market Has Changed
After foreign legal rankings ceased their research in Russia in 2022, new domestic players emerged to fill the gap.
Currently, rankings are being compiled by Pravo.ru, Kommersant, RAA Guide, PROBankrotstvo, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Forbes did not announce its research in 2023).
The number of Russian rankings is growing, intensifying competition among them. Law firms often struggle to assess the value of participating in a particular ranking or to understand each ranking’s methodology. To assist them, Natalia Klein has prepared a comparative table of existing rankings.
The rise of new rankings is generally a positive trend for the market, as increased competition drives improvements in quality—an area where domestic rankings often need refinement. Common criticisms include unclear or vague methodologies, the composition of expert panels evaluating firms’ projects, and client reference collection systems that are not always seen as reliable.
When choosing which rankings to participate in, key considerations include:
- The criteria used in the research
- The number of case studies required
- The inclusion (or exclusion) of specific practice areas
- Whether rankings are national or regional
- The need to provide client references
Given these factors, it is difficult to definitively say which rankings a firm should or should not join.
The primary considerations when selecting a ranking should be the firm’s development strategy, as well as its key cases and practice performance over the year.
To navigate the growing landscape of Russian legal rankings and understand their differences and unique features, we recommend using the comparative table provided.
Read the full article:
Russian Legal Firm Rankings.pdf
