Welcome to Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

The definitive guide to the Asia-Pacific region’s leading litigation law firms and lawyers

Benchmark Litigation is the only publication on the market to focus exclusively on dispute resolution. Since its inception in 2008, the Benchmark brand has grown dramatically and garnered industry-wide accolades as the definitive hub for in-depth analysis of the players shaping the dynamic practice of litigation. In keeping with Benchmark’s sharp rise in popularity, its publishing staff increasingly aims to respond to the demands of its audience.

The Asia-Pacific guide officially launched in 2018, with a dedicated team located in Hong Kong and actively researching the market on the ground. We exclusively cover the litigation and disputes markets and aim to provide law firm and lawyer rankings on the market’s most important cases and firm developments across the region.

Research is conducted through extensive interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists and their clients to identify the leading litigators and firms. During these interviews, we examine recent casework handled by law firms and ask individual litigators to provide their professional opinions on peers and practitioners within their jurisdiction or practice area.

The annual research cycle begins in August every year and the results are published in May the next year. The 2022 edition of Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific research has been concluded and it's been published online. 

The Benchmark Litigation awards are held every year based on the submissions and research for the guide.

**For Benchmark China, please click:  Benchmark Litigation 中国 2022 - 调研现已开始. **

The 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific research has begun! 

We hosted a well-attended Research Webinar for the 2023 cycle on 14 September at 3:00 pm HKT. 

We would like to thank all of you again who joined and listened to the live webinar till the end.
We hope the webinar was helpful and was able to provide enough clarifications to all of your questions.

You can watch the recording of the webinar and download the webinar PPT using the links below. 

RESEARCH WEBINAR RECORDING

WEBINAR PPT DOWNLOAD

How to take part

To take part in our research simply:

1. Download our RESEARCH FORM and CLIENT REFEREE FORM
2. Complete the form(s)
3. Upload them to our ONLINE SUBMISSION TOOL (ACCREDITATION PORTAL)

** Note: You will need to sign up for and register an account on the accreditation portal before you can upload the submissions **

** Due to GDPR compliance, we cannot accept submissions outside of the portal **

DO NOT USE THE FORM AND LINKS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS. THE FORM AND LINKS ARE MADE FOR EACH RESEARCH CYCLE AND IS UPDATED EACH YEAR.

Practice area submission: Due to our new submission portal requirements, you must submit SEPARATE research forms for each dispute resolution practice area (e.g. commercial and transactions, competition, international arbitration, white-collar crime etc). 

Client referee submission: Each firm should submit only one SINGLE referee excel form with all client details as we do not require practice area specifications. As you upload the excel form, when prompted to select a practice area, simply select any one of the relevant practice areas to your firm and submit. This will link the excel to your submission account irrespective of practice area selection (thus, each submission account should have only one excel form uploaded). 

What we publish

We publish law firm and lawyer rankings and accompanying editorial online.

We research the following dispute resolution practice areas (but not limited to):

*Kindly note that 'Commercial and transactions' refers to general commercial, corporate, transactions-related disputes only. 
 We do not cover non-contentious, transactional work. 

Jurisdictional practice area categories

In each jurisdiction that we cover we have different practice area ranking tables depending on the nature and sophistication of the market.

Below we have listed the ranking categories that we cover in each country. 

New categories may be introduced if, during the course of the research period, the level of market feedback indicates enough evidence for an addition. 

-

Australia – Class action, Commercial and transactions, Government and regulatory, Intellectual property

China – Commercial and transactions, Construction, Government and regulatory, Insolvency, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment

China and Hong Kong SAR (International firms) – Commercial and transactions, Construction, Family and matrimonial, Insolvency, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Private client, Shipping, White-collar crime

Hong Kong SAR (Domestic firms) – Commercial and transactions, Family and matrimonial, Labour and employment, Insolvency, Intellectual property, Private client, White-collar crime

India – Commercial and transactions, Competition/antitrust, Construction, Government and regulatory, Insolvency, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment, Tax, White-collar crime

Indonesia – Commercial and transactions, Insolvency, Intellectual property, Labour and employment

Japan – Commercial and transactions, Intellectual property, International arbitration, White-collar crime

Malaysia – Commercial and transactions, Competition/antitrust, Construction, Intellectual property, Labour and employment, Shipping, Tax, White-collar crime

New Zealand – Commercial and transactions

Philippines – Commercial and transactions, Government and regulatory, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment, Tax

Singapore – Commercial and transactions, Construction, Family and matrimonial, Insolvency, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment, Private client, Shipping, White-collar crime

South Korea – Commercial and transactions, Competition/antitrust, Construction, Insolvency, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment, Product liability and recall, Tax, White-collar crime

Taiwan – Commercial and transactions, Intellectual property, Labour and employment, White-collar crime

Thailand – Commercial and transactions, Government and regulatory, Intellectual property, Labour and employment, Trade and customs

Vietnam – Commercial and transactions, Construction, Energy, Intellectual property, International arbitration, Labour and employment

-

As the research progresses our team may introduce additional ranking categories for individual jurisdictions if market feedback is strong enough.

We will also introduce rankings in other jurisdictions that are not currently featured in the guide if demand from the market is strong enough.

Research timeline

• RESEARCH BEGINS – 23 August 2022
• SUBMISSION DEADLINE (firms and client referees) – 28 October 2022 
• RESEARCH INTERVIEWS (firms and client referees) – Late September to December
• RANKINGS AND EDITORIALS PUBLISHED ONLINE – May 2023

Late submission on client referees will not be entertained regardless of any reason. 

RESEARCH TEAM

Please contact the relevant researcher for your country if you have any specific questions:

Candice Mak at candice.mak@euromoneyasia.com (India, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam)

Kelsey Li at kelsey.li@euromoneyasia.com (Australia, China, China and Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Philippines)

Miao Sha at miao.sha@euromoneyasia.com (Benchmark China regions, Taiwan)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Research form

Do NOT use a research form from the previous years as there are adjustments in the research form each year. Download the latest available research form every year. 

Please mark confidential information in RED and indicate clearly if the case is wholly or partially confidential (if partially, please specify what elements). Any information given may be published, except where indicated.

Provide up to 20 case highlights per practice area, listing in order of importance or significance. You may provide more than 20 cases if you wish.

Case highlights must be ongoing or completed within the last 12 months.

Clearly indicate correct practice area(s) for each case highlight.

Try to fully complete the form by filling in all required information.

Do NOT delete any question or section in our research form. Leave it blank, if you do not wish to provide any specific information.

Do NOT capitalise or highlight the text. Do NOT adjust or alter the format of the research form.

Keep the contents concise and to the point. You may bold some sentences indicating importance. 

Remember to include reasons why the case is important or significant.

Please nominate a maximum of three (3) cases per practice area to be considered for a potential award. All submitting firms will be considered for the next Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific awards.

Please include your firm’s name and jurisdiction (and practice area) when saving your research form. The suggested format is FirmName_Jurisdiction_BMAP2023. If you are submitting by practice areas, save as follows: FirmName_Jurisdiction_PracticeArea_BMAP2023.

Upload it to our online submission portal once completed. We do not accept submissions via email.

Please make sure all your research forms are fully completed and are correct versions. We cannot guarantee any corrections or amendments to what you first submitted will be implemented.

Client referees

There is NO LIMIT on the number of client referees you can submit.

Please follow the client referee excel format exactly and do not make any changes. We do not need to know the recommending lawyers and/or practice areas. 

All client referees that are submitted will be contacted.

All client information provided will be treated as confidential.

We do not accept late submissions for client referees. 

Lawyer survey

Our Lawyer Survey is a quick and easy way for lawyers to tell us about their practice and promote their credentials. It is a key factor in helping us determine our Stars list of ranked lawyers. Lawyers can also provide feedback on our existing lists of ranked firms and individuals.

The survey will close on December 31, 2022. 

The survey is open to all disputes lawyers and you can take it by clicking the link below:

TAKE THE LAWYER SURVEY

Why take part?

• Guaranteed editorial coverage in the guide
• Accurate and in-depth representation of your firm’s activities
• Exposure to our global readership at the world’s most significant corporations and financial institutions
• No cost involved

Methodology

Our law firm rankings are based on three key criteria:

Case evidence

In each research cycle, we ask firms to provide recent case highlights and this is used to determine their position in the market.

Firms should provide their most complex and interesting cases in the research form and explain clearly to our research team why they are important and what they tell us about the firm’s abilities.

Peer feedback

We conduct an online LAWYER SURVEY of law firm partners to get their thoughts and feedback on our current law firm rankings and leading lawyers.

All partners active in the relevant research categories are invited to take part and we also conduct virtual interviews with practitioners.

Client feedback

We speak to a wide range of corporate and in-house contacts as part of our client feedback survey to get their opinions on the firms and lawyers they use. Please note that law firms and referring practitioners are not given direct access to the survey. 

Litigation Stars and Future Stars

Alongside our firm rankings, we also recognise the work of outstanding individuals. Our recommendations are based on the same three factors as our law firm rankings and consist of the following categories:

Litigation Stars

Lawyers who are highly regarded by their peers and possess a strong case record and positive client feedback.

Future Stars

'Ones to watch' these are lawyers who are building their reputations in the market.

-
Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send information in another format?

Yes, as long as the information we ask for is provided, you can submit in Word format (PDF is acceptable, but not preferable).

How does Benchmark differ from Chambers or other competitors?

Benchmark focuses exclusively on dispute resolution and litigation. This allows us to provide a much more in-depth analysis of the market. Benchmark is also editorially driven, rather than statistically driven, and strives to avoid being over-inclusive. We aim to cover only firms and litigators that are of an elite status.

How much influence do we have over our ratings vs. the external market?

Firms are encouraged to tell their story via our research form and through interviews. We then measure the firm’s input against the feedback we receive via studying the market. If our studies are in harmony with the firm’s assertions, we weight them equally. 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.

If we participate, are we guaranteed to get rated and/or have commentary?

All firms who submit and can prove they are doing notable work in the relevant practice areas will receive some form of editorial coverage, however we do not guarantee rankings or lawyer ratings.

Should we list confidential cases/clients? How do we ensure these remain confidential?

You can provide confidential clients/cases if you feel we should be aware of these, and we will certainly be respectful of confidential agreements – please mark confidential information clearly, ideally in RED.

When/how do you contact client referees?

We contact all client referees provided to us via email and invite them to take part in an online client survey. The survey asks clients about the firms they use, why they use them, what they use them for and how long they have been using them. The information provided by clients is confidential though we do publish non-attributed client quotes in the guide.

Do you only rate those of partner level?

We primarily rank partners but outstanding associates and senior associates are recognized in our ‘future stars’ lawyer rating category.

We’re a small boutique firm – what chance do we stand against the big brand name firms in your ratings?

Because Benchmark focuses exclusively on disputes, which is often the focus for specialist firms in the market, smaller firms stand a very good chance of being just as highly rated as large corporate firms, and in some cases even more highly rated.

How do we get an interview?

Speaking to practitioners is an important part of our research. Simply contact us and request one, and, depending on the schedule flexibility of the researcher, we can arrange one. Typically, an interview invitation will be sent to participating firms that have registered their interest. Kindly note that due to current travel restrictions (outside of Hong Kong SAR), all interviews will be on a virtual basis.  

Should I wait until the firm questionnaire is complete before scheduling partner interviews?

There is no need to wait, as the interviews are not about going through the submission again. Interviews allow lawyers to tell our researchers their stories in general personal summary form, and provide us with the feedback that we require regarding peer review, market trends, firm updates, etc.

Can I review my firm’s editorial in advance of press and suggest changes to it?

No. Firms cannot be allowed to view their editorials prior to press, and are never allowed to have their own input into how they read.

What is the readership of Benchmark Asia-Pacific?

The readers of Benchmark include law firms and buyers of legal services/in-house counsel.

Is Benchmark "pay-to-play?" If I don’t support the project financially do I still get rated?

Benchmark is absolutely not "pay-to-play." Firms cannot pay to appear in the guide, and can only be rated if the market deems them worthy of consideration.

I have a question that’s not answered here. Can I contact anyone to ask it?

Editor, Candice Mak at candice.mak@delinian.com

Business Development, Fan Yeung at fan.yeung@delinian.com