Open to all firms and lawyers.This award goes to an attorney who has had outstanding success or achievement in 2024.This can take the form of litigation or pro bono efforts, effective advocacy for legislation or social causes, tangible achievements in leadership roles in bar organizations or another significant impact on the legal community. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee.

Open to all firms. Known formerly as New Leaders in the Law. We’re looking to spotlight lawyers under age 40 by the submission deadline who have excelled in the courtroom, in client service and cultivation, service to bar associations and/or pro bono work or community service. It’s important to note that nominees need not excel in every one of these areas; just one or two will suffice. Please tell us in up to 500 words why the nominee should be named one of the 2025 Rising Stars. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

We're honoring the fresh new faces on the New England legal scene who have gotten their careers started with a bang. For this new award category, we are seeking submissions for attorneys who have been in the profession for three years or less who have shown outsize potential, work ethic, and legal acumen. We’re looking to recognize newly minted lawyers who have made a major impact on their businesses, demonstrating the qualities necessary for them to quickly climb the career ladder.

In 500 words or less, kindly tell us why this person deserves to win in this category. Include examples of the nominee’s leadership potential, initiative, contributions to the community, as well as any notable talents.

This recognizes lawyers who achieved impressive career results and demonstrated clear leadership skills that helped them achieve those results. Examples include but are not limited to: winning significant cases, helping a firm grow, managing a major deal or getting a key piece of legislation passed (or defeated). Attorneys must be leaders at firms. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination by logging into the online portal. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

The New England Legal Awards Litigation Departments of the Year contest is open to any litigation law firm with a New England presence. New England lawyers must have had a significant impact on the work being presented, though the work can be local or global in scope. Because many lawyers and firms have regional or national practices, we will take into account cases handled by New England attorneys in out-of-state and federal courts.

The contest has two distinct categories:

1. Awards for the top overall litigation departments
2. Separate honors for departments that handle specialty litigation practice areas that may include:
   1. Appellate
   2. Intellectual Property
   3. Products Liability/Mass Torts
   4. Labor and Employment
   5. Insurance
   6. Commercial Litigation
   7. Family Law
   8. Business Litigation
   9. Arbitration/ Mediation Services
   10. Personal Injury
   11. White Collar/Corporate Compliance
   12. Probate
   13. solo litigation practice
   14. other

You may compete in the overall category, any number of specialty categories, or a combination of the overall and specialty categories. Depending on the number and quality of entries, there may be multiple award winners in some categories. We also reserve the right to determine the final categories. To nominate a firm, please submit a nomination.

Lawyers and firms in New England that have broken the mold in the accomplishment of significant industry improvements. Nominations are open to attorneys and practice groups who have used new and innovative tactics to achieve goals. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

Is there a judge, or retired judge practicing as a mediator or arbitrator (including ADR professionals and sitting jurists), doing exceptionally poignant and effective work? Tell us which officiator went above and beyond the call of duty to be fair and judicious. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

Attorneys who have had an impact through community improvement efforts on behalf of client populations in need. Work can be pro bono and/or in the public sector in concert with programs aimed at diversity, environment and social justice or public service. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

Choose an attorney who has gone unnoticed for, or worked behind the scenes on, particularly important work. Attorneys must be from firms with fewer than 200 lawyers. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

Succession planning is crucial for midsize and small firms. In addition, more and more young lawyers are being drawn to these firms for the opportunity to get hands-on legal training. Best Mentors honors those more senior attorneys who have taken it upon themselves to prepare the next generation of leaders. We are looking for a sage here, someone who has provided valuable knowledge to younger attorneys, paving the way for advancement and stellar contributions to the industry. Attorneys must be from firms with fewer than 200 lawyers. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

The New England Legal Awards will honor top legal departments in New England. To be considered for the awards, send us an essay to nominate a corporate legal department that is New England-situated or with a nexus to New England. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination, including law firms and the legal departments themselves. The questions are grouped into six (6) categories, and a separate award will be given for each. Answers may be in all six categories, or you may confine your answers to one specific category or more. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

This recognizes an in-house lawyer who had a significant accomplishment in 2024. To nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, please submit a nomination with an essay to nominate in-house counsel that is New England-situated or with a nexus to New England. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination, including law firms and the legal departments themselves. We will ask for relevant information about the nominee, a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

This is a new and special category that allows associates and partners a chance to nominate their favorite leaders in the industry. What has your managing partner done to ensure success at your firm? Please discuss why this leader deserves to win, and ask your MP to fill out the following brief Q&A (to be published if they win).

What makes your law firm this year’s firm of the year? This category will be selected by the editorial staff – no submission is required. To be considered for this category, firms must submit to at least these categories: Litigation Departments of the Year, or Regional Managing Partner or Partner of the Year; Rising Stars; Distinguished Leaders or Lifetime Achievement; ESG Impact or Social Impact.

This award should go to exceptional supporting partners who have earned praise and recognition from firm leadership for their contributions to the past year’s success. How did this partner play a part? Please write a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (this last portion will be published if they win).

How has this attorney excelled in the area of IP law? Please contribute a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (to be published if they win).

How has this nominee excelled as an M&A attorney. Please write a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (to be published if they win).

How has this nominee excelled as a banking and financial attorney? Please write a short essay about why they deserve to win, and a brief Q&A to be filled out by the nominee (to be published if they win). Q&A (3 questions)

What makes this attorney exceptional in the area of real estate law, including accomplishments from the past year? Please contribute a short essay about why this attorney deserves to win, highlighting cases that have stood out.