Benchmark Litigation
Benchmark Litigation US submissions: deadlines, rules and template guide
Benchmark Litigation US 2027 deadline: 24 Apr 2026 (United States). Deadlines for the 2028 edition are expected (not yet announced); typical timing: April. Complete the Word research questionnaire and the client referee form on the LBG submission portal. Email and PDFs are not accepted.
Benchmark Litigation US key facts
| Deadlines |
|
|---|---|
| How you submit | Word research questionnaire + Excel client referee form via LBG Accreditation Submission Portal; no email, no PDFs |
| Cost to submit | Free ("no cost to participate in the research or to be ranked") |
| Research period | Research begins February |
| Publication | October (US) |
| Matter limit | No minimum or maximum (FAQ); awards section + "20 work highlights" referenced in FAQ |
| Length guidance | None |
| Referee rules | One referee document per firm; not mandatory; referees should have worked with firm in prior 18 months; client survey by email |
| Confidential information | Mark confidential info in RED; never published, used internally only |
| Who submits | One submission per firm (US FAQ) covering practice areas; individual nominations via form + Practitioner Survey; US ranks partners only |
| Edition | US 2027 (complete) / 2028 not published |
A work highlight is one matter, deal or case described for the researchers. A referee is a client or other contact the directory asks for feedback on your work, usually listed in a spreadsheet.
Sources: benchmarklitigation.com/Methodology/UnitedStates · benchmarklitigation.com/FAQ
What Benchmark researchers look for
In the directory's own words, from its official guidance:
“We encourage firms to provide a majority of case highlights that are resolved within the past 12 months.”
Source: Benchmark Litigation FAQ
“We encourage firms to provide as much detail as possible including on confidential cases/clients … mark any confidential information … in RED.”
Source: Benchmark Litigation FAQ
“If there is an extreme disparity between the firm's views and a pronounced percentage of the market, we will provide greater weight to the market consensus.”
Source: Benchmark Litigation FAQ
Common submission mistakes
- Sending more matters than the limit. The cap is 20 matters per practice area. Pick the 20 that best show the depth and range of the practice, not just the largest.
- Missing matter detail. Each matter should say what happened, the firm's role, who led it, the value or stakes where publishable, the dates and the current status. Gaps here are the most common reason a highlight carries little weight.
- Essay-style highlights. Long narrative paragraphs and claims without evidence are hard for researchers to use. Short, specific, provable facts in the directory's own format read better.
- Late or unchecked referee lists. Referee spreadsheets are often assembled in the last days, with out-of-date contact details or contacts who have not agreed to respond.
- Confidential material not marked the expected way. Benchmark asks for confidential information to be marked in red; anything unmarked may be treated as publishable.
- Sending it by email. Email is not accepted for this guide; upload through the portal.
- Reusing last year's form. Templates are reissued each cycle. Download the current version from the official page rather than editing last year's file.
Benchmark Litigation US questions
When is the Benchmark Litigation US submission deadline?
Benchmark Litigation US 2027 deadline: 24 Apr 2026 (United States). Deadlines for the 2028 edition are expected (not yet announced); typical timing: April.
How many work highlights can you submit to Benchmark Litigation US?
No minimum or maximum (FAQ); awards section + "20 work highlights" referenced in FAQ.
How many referees does Benchmark Litigation US accept?
One referee document per firm; not mandatory; referees should have worked with firm in prior 18 months; client survey by email.
Does it cost anything to submit to Benchmark Litigation US?
Free ("no cost to participate in the research or to be ranked").
Preparing a Benchmark Litigation US submission? Talk to us.
We prepare stronger, researcher-ready submissions: a polished draft, a checked referee spreadsheet and a deadline plan. Your team reviews and submits.