Tell us in 800 words or less about initiatives led by your firm or company that had community advocacy and impact. We’re looking for initiatives with external impact, rather than internal initiatives within the organization. Explain how these initiatives represent the cutting-edge of community advocacy work.

Open to Attorneys at Law Firms of ANY Size in California

The Dealmaker of the Year awards highlight major transactions in California in areas other than real estate. Areas can include, but aren’t limited to, corporate, M&A, venture capital, bankruptcy, and tax. Quantity or dollar volume are not the only criteria. These dealmakers get repeat business for how they achieve their clients’ goals so that both sides sign on the dotted lines. To qualify, the bulk of the work nominated for recognition should be completed in 2025.

A nomination essay of 300 to 500 words will be required.

Write an essay of no more than 500 words describing why the nominee should be selected. Describe the accomplishments during the last year that qualify the nominee for an award in this category. We’re looking to honor leaders who have implemented major achievements in the last year, such as leading their firms to record revenue, spearheading large-scale office relocations, implementing new programs or technology and being at the forefront of significant pro bono matters, etc.

Who are the lawyers taking on the biggest names and issues in the entertainment industry? The ideal candidate will be leading the matters that are shaping the future of entertainment. Attorney must be a practicing lawyer in California.

The Innovation in Technology/Artificial Intelligence category recognizes a law firm, team or individual driving meaningful, forward-looking change at the intersection of law, technology, and public impact. This honor celebrates demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and strategic execution in leveraging technology or AI to improve legal services, expand access to justice, or shape emerging legal frameworks.

The ideal candidate is leading legal matters that are breaking new ground in IP law and shaping the world around us through their work to protect creativity and innovation in areas such as IP litigation, patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Nominees must be practicing lawyers in California.

This prestigious award is selected by our editorial staff. To be considered, firms must submit to at least three of these categories: Tech Industry Litigation Department of the Year, Tech Industry Advisory Team of the Year; Lawyers on the Fast Track; Distinguished Leaders; Lifetime Achievement; or Diversity Impact.

Lawyers on the Fast Track (under 40)

Open to Lawyers in California Under Age 40 by the Submission Deadline

Each year, we celebrate the next generation of legal leaders by honoring Lawyers on the Fast Track. The nominee must base his or her practice in California. Completed nomination forms will be evaluated by an impartial judging panel, made up of members of the California legal community. Those nominees receiving the highest composite scores from all the panelists will be our Lawyers on the Fast Track.

• Appellate
• Corporate
• General Litigation
• Insurance
• Intellectual Property
• Labor and Employment
• Personal Injury
• Products Liability/Mass Torts
• Restructuring/Bankruptcy
• Other Practice Area

Open to Anyone in the California legal community

The winner of the Lifetime Achievement award honors a person whose work over the course of a notable legal career has made a significant impact on the practice of law in California. Nominees may come from all corners of the legal profession, not only firm founders, but jurists, office holders or anyone else who has left a lasting imprint on the course of law in California.

A nomination essay of 300 to 500 words will be required.

It takes talent and determination to become an excellent practitioner, but teaching others is a talent unto itself. Good mentors can take those around them to the next level, whether through formal mentorship programs or simply serving as good leaders and guides.

In a brief essay of up to 500 words, tell us about someone at your firm or organization who takes the time and effort to be a true mentor, and why he or she excels at it.

Open to Anyone in California with 1-3 years of experience as an attorney

This award honors an individual in their first years as an attorney who has shown exceptional potential, work ethic, and legal acumen. We’re looking to recognize newly qualified lawyers who have made a major impact on their businesses, demonstrating the qualities necessary for them to quickly climb the career ladder. Nominations should demonstrate examples of leadership potential, initiative, contributions to the community, and any notable talents.

A nomination essay of 300 to 500 words will be required.

These are the leaders of California offices who seem to do it all—they balance their caseloads with management of their firm’s day-to-day affairs while keeping an eye on the firm’s long-term strategic vision. To be considered for the honor, these outstanding leaders must be based in California.

Recognizing successful initiatives, programs or partnerships that advance women attorneys, lawyers of color and other underrepresented groups. The nominations can recognize individual firms or companies, or collaborative efforts among groups. This category celebrates meaningful impact and concrete results aimed at strengthening the legal community through forward-looking stewardship of the field’s emerging talent.

Tell us in 800 words or less about the talent management initiatives including the underlying problem that sparked the initiative, the goals and objectives, any outside partners who have participated, and any measurable outcomes. Explain how these successes have changed your business.

Open to litigation departments and lawyers from law firms of all sizes and locations, but only those matters where the lead or co-lead partner is based in California can be submitted for consideration. Submit only those matters where the client’s objective was substantially achieved between Jan. 1, 2025 and the current date.

For those firms/companies who have revolutionized their business to stay one step ahead of the current and future forces shaping the legal industry. Tell us in 800 words or less about how your organization has transformed your business in recent years in response to world events or changing demands from clients and talent. This could include new business opportunities, workplace/compensation models or other cultural changes. This award is for law firms who buck tradition and take risks to predict evolutions in the delivery of legal services.

Who are the women lawyers handling game-changing, law-shaping, market moving work in and around the tech sector? We will continue our annual tradition of celebrating the Women Leaders in Tech Law focusing on the top women attorneys whose recent achievements have contributed to progress at technology companies and in the law. We’re interested in honoring lawyers who are go-to attorneys for Big Tech or the next groundbreaking tech startups. Women Leaders in Tech Law help forge pathways for all women attorneys in the tech industry.

Requirements include an essay plus a color headshot of the nominee. There is also a Q&A that will be published if the nominee is selected.

• Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Regulatory
• Corporate/Transactions 
   

• Tell us in 350 words or less what makes the nominee stand out as a leader in tech law. Include specific examples of engagements, outcomes and achievements. Include links to news coverage or other information that will support the nomination.
• In one sentence, what is this nominee’s single biggest achievement in tech law from January 1, 2025 to the current date? This information may be published verbatim, so please be accurate.
• Tell us in less than 400 words what makes the nominee stand out as a leader in tech law on new and emerging legal issues, industries or technologies. Help us understand why the legal issue is novel and why the industry or technology might be disruptive.