The National Law Journal’s D.C. Rising Stars awards recognize the Washington, D.C., region’s 40 most promising lawyers age 40 and under as of the submission deadline. 

• To qualify for this awards category, lawyers must work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and be age 40 or under as of the submission deadline.

• We highlight lawyers who have wielded influence in their practice areas in the D.C. area and beyond. They should be innovators who: develop unique practice niches, secure wins for clients, cultivate robust books of business and demonstrate strong leadership qualities. Those qualities will be demonstrated by a combination of expertise in litigation or transactional work and significant community impact (displayed through sustained pro bono service and other public service.)

• Please also define one or several of the below practice areas:

  • Appellate

  • Corporate

  • General Litigation

  • Insurance

  • Intellectual Property

  • Labor and Employment

  • Personal Injury

  • Products Liability/Mass Torts

  • Restructuring/Bankruptcy

  • Other Practice Area

Essay: An essay of no more than 500 words describing why the nominee should be selected. Please address these topics.

• Describe the accomplishments during the last year that qualify the nominee for our list.
• What makes the nominee stand out from his or her peers?
• Describe how the nominee demonstrated leadership—in his or her practice, in the workplace and in the profession?
• Describe how the nominee contributes to the community through pro bono legal services or other public service.

Biography: A 900-word biography of the nominee, including:

• Employer and location of workplace

• The nominee’s current employment title 

• The nominee’s birthdate and age 

• The nominee’s educational credentials

• Legal work experience (including dates and employer names)

• Other relevant information (awards, affiliations, significant publications)

Photo: A high-resolution color photo of the nominee. We cannot accept black-and-white photos or thumbnails.

References: Two brief reference notes from lawyers or clients who can speak to the nominee’s legal work and record of accomplishment. (350 words will suffice, but please don’t exceed 500 words for each note.)

Practice Profile: Please complete a short practice profile of the nominee. This part may be published if the nominee is selected.

Nominees should have at least one significant win in a jury or bench trial between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024. “Significant” wins include prevailing when substantial damages were at stake, setting a legal precedent or overcoming an unfriendly jurisdiction.

Essay: Please limit each submission to 800 words. Firms should not send more than two submissions for this category, and each submission should focus on one litigator (or a maximum of two litigators, if they co-led the case/matter). Please provide two client references with phone and email for each submission.

Photo and Q&A: Please submit a photo of the nominee and have the nominee fill out responses to a short Q&A in the portal. The responses in this section will be published if the nominee is selected.

The National Law Journal seeks nominations for pro bono work and legal leadership in the field of Environmental, Social and corporate Governance. Winning submissions should focus on the impact of each legal initiative on communities and stakeholders. 

• Please include a brief overview of the firm’s pro bono and ESG history and highlights and detailed descriptions of ESG matters and its community impact resolved between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024.

• Within these descriptions, please name the lawyers involved and describe the extent of their involvement on matters compared with co-counsel. (Example: Our firm handled roughly 70% of the work on this matter. Our co-counsel handled about 30% of the work.) On matters involving co-counsel, please include their names. Also include the names of opposing counsel and the names and contact information for at least two pro bono clients.

• Please limit nominations to no more than 1,800 words. Supporting documents on matters (news clips, etc.) do not count toward the word limit, but we ask that you please limit these supplemental materials to three pages.

The National Law Journal is now accepting nominations for its Washington D.C. Diversity Initiative of the Year competition. This competition is open to any law firm with an office in the D.C. metro area. The competition focuses on in-house diversity initiatives and its results with external stakeholders.

• Please include a brief overview of the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and its application and/or results with outside stakeholders between Jan. 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024. Winning submissions should outline how internal diversity efforts made a difference in working with private sector and government clients or in the courtroom.

• Within these descriptions, please name the lawyers involved and describe the extent of their involvement on matters (i.e. did diverse team members take the lead on a case or initiatives and what were the results?) 

• Word limit: Please limit nominations to no more than 1,800 words. Supporting documents on matters (news clips, etc.) do not count toward the word limit, but we ask that you please limit these supplemental materials to three pages.

Client Matter Listing: Please describe up to 8 litigation results that demonstrate your department’s excellence. 1500 words maximum.

• This list can and should include results obtained pre-trial, at trial or on appeal. It may include pro bono cases. Client matter results must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024.

• Please rank your top 5 client matters in terms of importance. By importance, we mean both significance of the result for your client and contribution made by your lawyers. Note: You can rank all the cases if you like, but ranking is only required for the top 5.

• Each result must have been achieved by lawyers while they were members of your firm based in your D.C. office. Do not include results achieved by lateral hires while they were working for another firm.

• For each client matter result, please include the names of: 1) clients, 2) lead partners and 3) opposing counsel, as well as contact information for at least two clients per matter.

• Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant, but should focus on why the result demonstrates the excellence of your department.

• For each case, please include a case number and jurisdiction.

• DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information submitted will be considered on-the-record and included in the evaluation process.

• If your client was represented by more than one firm, please specify your firm’s leadership role and estimate what percentage of client matter work your firm completed versus co-counsel.

• In your submission, please include a firm contact to whom we may contact with questions.

Essay: Make the case for why your firm should win! 900 words maximum

• Tell us why you should win. Factors we’re looking for are the importance and difficulty of the matters handled; the quality of opposing counsel; ingenuity and diligence.

Upcoming Matters

• Include a brief description of three upcoming matters for your firm. 600 words maximum

Firm Stats and Client References  

We’ll also request additional information on:

• The size of your firm’s litigation department in D.C. and firmwide as of June 1, 2024. (Please specify number of partners, associates and others).

• The percentage of your entire firm represented by the litigation department in terms of lawyers.

• Describe your firm’s biggest litigation loss in the past two years, with names of opposing counsel.

This award recognizes attorneys who have achieved outstanding results in full-service lobbying and public policy initiatives. Attorneys and their firms have successfully launched and concluded legal representation for companies, associations or other organizations to effectively shape federal government actions and / or legislative efforts.

Describe up to 3 lobbying initiatives that demonstrate your department’s excellence in this specialty. 1500 words maximum.

• The projects and tangible results must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024.

• Each result must have been achieved by lawyers while they were members of your firm based in your DC office. Do not include results achieved by lateral hires when they were working for a different firm.

• For each result, please include the names of clients, lead partners and government entities, as well as contact information for all involved whenever possible.

• Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant, but should focus on why the result demonstrates the excellence of your department.

• For each case, please include a case number and jurisdiction.

• PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information submitted will be considered on-the-record and included in the evaluation process.

• Note: If your lobbying initiative included more than one firm, please specify your firm’s role.

• In your submission, please name someone at your firm whom we may contact with questions.

Please submit additional information on:

• The size of your firm’s government relations department in D.C. and firmwide as of June 1, 2024. Please specify number of partners, associates and others.

• The percentage of your entire firm represented by the litigation department in terms of lawyers.

• Three to four client references per specialty practice area, including phone numbers or e-mail addresses.

• Describe your firm’s biggest lobbying loss and victory over the last two years.

• A brief description of three upcoming matters for your firm. 600 words maximum.

Essay: Explain why your firm should be a finalist in this specialty area.

• Essay should be no longer than 900 words.

• Tell us why you should win. Factors we’re looking for include importance and difficulty of the matters handled; bipartisanship; ingenuity and diligence.

The National Law Journal is seeking nominations for our Lifetime Achievement Award. This award will honor an attorney’s career-long accomplishments and impact on the national legal community. 

Essay, resume and references:

• In a brief description (400 words or less), please summarize why you think this nominee deserves this award. 
• Please include a brief resume/bio (limit: 2 pages) of the nominee's career highlights. 
• Please include the names of two references, including one that is not in the nominee's law firm or company, who can speak to the candidate's impact.

Photo and Q&A: Please submit a photo of the nominee and have the nominee fill out responses to a short Q&A in the portal. The responses in this section will be published if the nominee is selected.

This award recognizes chief legal officers and general counsel who, through their effective leadership, had significant accomplishments in 2023. As just a few examples, such accomplishments may include growing the legal department’s head count or expanding the scope of its duties; significantly reducing legal spend or successfully completing a major undertaking such as a corporate merger or acquisition. 

Essay: We’re looking for dynamic leaders who have partnered with their companies and with their outside counsel to find ways to add value and to transform their legal departments from cost centers to business units. Please limit essay to 300-500 words.

Photo and Q&A: Please submit a photo of the nominee and have the nominee fill out responses to a short Q&A in the portal. The responses in this section will be published if the nominee is selected.

This award recognizes firms that have guided clients through government proceedings in Washington, D.C. This includes responding to federal investigations or enforcement actions launched by agencies such as the Department of Justice or the Securities and Exchange Commission, or preparing a client to provide testimony to Congress on a topic lawmakers are considering taking action on.

Essay: Please submit an essay on why your firm deserves to win in this category. Please limit essay to 300-500 words.

This special report highlights law firms that have handled exemplary appellate matters. Potential nominees must be able to point to at least one significant appellate win since January 2023 and possess an impressive appellate track record overall. A “significant win” means prevailing before the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal appeals court, or a state court of last resort when an important legal principle was at stake or the stakes were high, financially or otherwise.

Essay: A short description of the firm’s overall appellate track record (800 words maximum) and the specific case or cases to be considered for the  submission (5 pages maximum.) Please include an explanation of the firm’s contribution to particular cases (i.e. presented oral arguments, drafted briefs, contributed amici arguments cited by the court) relative to significant co-counsel; and a list of the principal attorneys on a case, with their contact information included.

The ideal candidate for this category will have made his or her mark on the profession, and in the law, with an achievement in the past year that goes beyond service to the client. Submit a brief essay (up to 500 words) introducing the candidate, and explaining why he or she made the greatest impact of all during the year. Please register and log into the awards portal to view all nomination questions.

• Describe the accomplishments during the last year that qualify the nominee for our list.
• What makes the nominee stand out from other DC attorneys?
• Describe how the attorney handles the tasks of their day-to-day work.
• Describe how the nominee contributes to the community through pro bono legal services or other public service.

This award will go to the firm that has the best and most meritorious submissions across multiple categories. The purpose of the award is to recognize the DC firm that has demonstrated a broad spectrum of achievements in the past year and talent depth. In order to be considered, firms must enter submissions across multiple categories.

At a minimum, firms must submit in the following categories: DC General Litigation, Litigation Specialty Practice Area, Community Impact Leaders, Attorney of The Year, Lifetime and/or Appellate. No additional essay is required for this category. Please register and log into the awards portal to view all nomination questions.

There is also a Q&A portion of a few short responses that will be published if the nominee is selected. Please register and log into the awards portal to view these questions.

Entries should be for the DC firm leader, including chair, CEO, managing partner or equivalent. The winning entry should demonstrate business leadership prowess during the relevant time period between Jan. 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024. Winning entries will show notable initiatives and/or successes around law firm management, whether that deals internally with anything from talent to technology or externally with clients or the public.

Essay: In an essay no more than 900 words, and it should provide descriptions of the noted successes of any initiative or leadership endeavors, with data to back up the accomplishments. This data could include financial data, statistical improvements, success of programs or work won. The entry should not just be about firm wide initiatives, but should specifically demonstrate the nominee's role in the firm's success. The Managing Partner of the Year entry will demonstrate how this person's leadership and guidance of the firm made a notable difference for the firm, its people, its clients and/or society at large.

Photo and Q&A: Please submit a photo of the nominee and have the nominee fill out responses to a short Q&A in the portal. The responses in this section will be published if the nominee is selected.

Candidates for this award should note their successes in the appellate courts either through personal advocacy or as amicus counsel. Candidates should cite and link to certiorari, response, merits or amicus briefs they believe to be indicative of especially strong advocacy. Candidates should also provide the transcript or recording that exhibits their grace under judicial pressure. Please limit your submissions to two cases.  

In an essay of no more than 500 words, please describe why the nominee should be selected. Please address these topics.

• Describe the accomplishments during the last year that qualify the nominee for our list.

• What makes the nominee stand out from other appellate attorneys?

• Describe how the attorney handles a hot or hostile bench?

• Describe how the nominee contributes to the community through pro bono legal services or other public service.

Photo and Q&A: Please submit a photo of the nominee and have the nominee fill out responses to a short Q&A in the portal. The responses in this section will be published if the nominee is selected.