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Bloomberg Law Introduces Inside In-House: Legal Departments of the Year Awards

In a strategic move to honor the pivotal role of corporate legal teams, Bloomberg Law has announced the launch of the inaugural
Inside In-House: Legal Departments of the Year awards program. This initiative seeks to shine a spotlight on legal departments that excel not only in their legal expertise but also in their contributions to business leadership and community impact.

Recognition of Excellence

According to Lisa Helem, executive editor at Bloomberg Industry Group, these awards aim to acknowledge those behind the scenes—legal teams that guide companies through complex decisions, mitigate risks, foster innovation, and seize opportunities. The awards program provides a platform for celebrating the collaborative strategies and outstanding achievements that characterize successful legal departments in today’s business landscape.

Categories of Recognition

The awards will recognize excellence in three distinct categories:
1. Overall Excellence: This category will honor departments that display exceptional performance across significant legal challenges, demonstrate strategic leadership in business contexts, encourage innovation, and engage meaningfully with both the professional sphere and their communities. To qualify, departments must have a minimum of four full-time in-house attorneys.
2. Pro Bono: This category celebrates those legal departments whose ongoing pro bono initiatives create significant community benefits. It is open to legal departments of all sizes, highlighting the essential social responsibility that comes with corporate legal practice.
3. Lean Leadership: Recognizing the smaller teams, this category focuses on departments with one to three full-time in-house attorneys working for organizations that employ 100 or fewer people, showcasing how they achieve notable results with limited resources.

Application Process

Eligible legal departments must operate within a business that is either headquartered or has significant operations in the United States to qualify. Legal teams located abroad under a U.S.-based parent company may also submit nominations.

Nominations can be made by the legal departments themselves in partnership with their communications or executive leadership teams. Additionally, outside counsel and nonprofit organizations that collaborate with these departments are also invited to submit nominations.

For those interested in applying, the deadline for submissions is November 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. EST. Detailed eligibility criteria, guidelines for submissions, and access to the nomination form can be found at Bloomberg Law's official page.

About Bloomberg Law

As a trusted resource for legal professionals, Bloomberg Law provides a comprehensive platform that merges authoritative news with advanced research tools, enabling legal experts to navigate the complexities of their profession effectively. Being part of the Bloomberg Industry Group, it benefits from the extensive network and resources of Bloomberg L.P., a leader in global business and financial information.

This new awards program presents a significant opportunity for legal departments to gain recognition for their hard work and dedication to not just their organizations but also their communities. As the nominations open, corporate legal teams are encouraged to showcase their contributions and achievements in advancing the legal field and enhancing business operations.

In a world where legal challenges are ever-evolving, the Inside In-House awards aim to not only acknowledge exemplary legal practices but also to inspire all legal departments to strive for excellence in their roles within their organizations.