Unveiling the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America: A Benchmark for Legal Excellence

The Best Lawyers in America 2027 Edition Released

On August 20, 2026, Best Lawyers®, a premier network showcasing vetted legal professionals, unveiled the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers Ones to Watch® in America. This edition acknowledges over 106,000 lawyers across the United States for their exceptional professional achievements, assessed through peer evaluations.

A Legacy of Recognition

Marking its 33rd year, The Best Lawyers in America® now recognizes a total of 81,620 lawyers engaged in 151 different practice areas across 203 metropolitan and geographical regions. This selective acknowledgment showcases the top 5% of practicing attorneys in the American legal market. Likewise, the seventh edition of Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in America® honors 25,052 early-career lawyers across 79 practice areas, a representation of the top 2% of early-career attorneys in the U.S.

Selectivity at Its Peak

2027 marks a historic high in selectivity for The Best Lawyers awards. This year’s selections were influenced by an impressive 3.8 million evaluations from over 32,000 voting lawyers, contributing to an overarching database of 30 million historical evaluations. From this outstanding pool, 4,915 lawyers achieved the coveted “Lawyer of the Year” title, acknowledged for receiving the strongest peer feedback within their respective practice areas and cities. Phillip Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers, articulated, "While approximately 30% of this year’s honorees are first-time recipients, the consistent total of recognized lawyers signifies the strength and selectivity underpinning our peer review process." He underscored that being recognized by Best Lawyers is a distinctive victory in the legal community.

Regional Recognition and Specialities

The awarded attorneys are dispersed across various legal markets nationwide. Washington, D.C. leads with 4,119 recognized lawyers, followed closely by New York City with 3,834. Other notable cities include Chicago (2,731), Dallas/Fort Worth (2,595), and Los Angeles (2,483). Notably, the same metropolitan areas lead in the Ones to Watch awards, with New York City being home to the most early-career honorees.

Furthermore, the results emphasize the enduring strength of fundamental U.S. legal practices. The largest practice area remains Commercial Litigation, with 12,824 lawyers recognized, followed by Real Estate Law (7,302), Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (5,782), Corporate Law (5,280), and Litigation – Labor and Employment (5,264). These specializations have consistently occupied significant representation over the past five editions.

Emerging Practice Areas

Alongside established fields, the 2027 edition has also spotlighted emerging legal specialties. Juvenile Practice showed the most considerable growth among smaller practice areas, with notable increases in Artificial Intelligence Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Government Contracts. The expansion of Privacy and Data Security Law corresponds with the rising focus on technology, cybersecurity, and compliance-related issues.

Gender Representation Trends

Gender representation within the honorees continues to evolve favorably. Women occupy significant positions across various practice areas. For instance, among The Best Lawyers in America® honorees, women represent 71% of recognized lawyers in Collaborative Law Family Law and 61% in Family Law Mediation, demonstrating prominent female participation in these sectors. Among the Ones to Watch recipients, women constitute 78% in Family Law Arbitration and Mediation, 75% in Family Law, and other areas, signalling a broader gender presence in legal fields early in careers across diverse specializations.

Conclusion

This year’s edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch showcases not only the traditional cornerstones of the legal industry but also emphasizes new trends and enhances awareness of the evolving legal landscape. To delve deeper into the results segmented by region and practice area, or to learn more about Best Lawyers, please visit Best Lawyers' official website and Best Law Firms. Being recognized in these editions remains a testament to the diligence and excellence of legal professionals navigating an increasingly complex landscape.