It's that time of year again to apply for The National Law Journal Legal Awards, and this year's event will include a few new entries to highlight the top work in Washington, D.C.

New this year is the Government Relations/Lobbying category. Returning categories include ESG and Community Impact, Winning Litigators, Litigation Departments of the Year General and Specialty, Diversity Initiative of the Year,  Crisis Management and Oversight, Appellate Hot List, Lifetime Achievement, GC Impact, and DC Rising Stars.

If you have any questions, please contact Pearl Wu at [email protected].

Note: These are descriptions of each category that will give you an idea of what each submission might entail. However, the descriptions do not include the full nomination form and questions. To view all nomination questions, please register for an account and log in.

D.C. Rising Stars

The National Law Journal's D.C. Rising Stars awards recognize the Washington, D.C., region's 40 most promising lawyers age 40 and under as of the submission deadline. Interested in submitting yourself or a colleague? Read on. 

  • Geography: To qualify for this awards program, lawyers must work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. 
  • Criteria: We highlight lawyers who have wielded influence in their practice areas in the D.C. area and beyond. They should be innovators who: develop unique practice niches, secure wins for clients, cultivate robust books of business and demonstrate strong leadership qualities. Those qualities will be demonstrated by a combination of expertise in litigation or transactional work and significant community impact (displayed through sustained pro bono service and other public service.)

Please also define one or several of the below practice areas:

    • Appellate
    • Corporate
    • General Litigation
    • Insurance
    • Intellectual Property
    • Labor and Employment
    • Personal Injury
    • Products Liability/Mass Torts
    • Restructuring/Bankruptcy
    • Other Practice Area

Deadline: July 14, 2023

Submission Materials: We ask that you provide the following:

Essay: An essay of no more than 500 words describing why the nominee should be selected. Please address these topics.

    1. Describe the accomplishments during the last year that qualify the nominee for our list.
    2. What makes the nominee stand out from his or her peers?
    3. Describe how the nominee demonstrated leadership—in his or her practice, in the workplace and in the profession?
    4. Describe how the nominee contributes to the community through pro bono legal services or other public service.

Biography: A 900-word biography of the nominee, including:

  • Employer and location of workplace
  • The nominee's current employment title (as of June 1) 
  • The nominee's birthdate and age (as of June 1)
  • The nominee's educational credentials
  • Legal work experience (including dates and employer names)
  • Other relevant information (awards, affiliations, significant publications)

Photo: A high-resolution color photo of the nominee. We cannot accept black-and-white photos or thumbnails.

References: Two brief reference notes from lawyers or clients who can speak to the nominee's legal work and record of accomplishment. (350 words will suffice, but please don't exceed 500 words for each note.)

Winning Litigators 

The National Law Journal is seeking nominations for its annual special section, "Winning Litigators: Profiles of Successful Attorneys and Their Strategies." Nominees should have at least one significant win in a jury or bench trial between Jan. 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023. "Significant" wins include prevailing when substantial damages were at stake, setting a legal precedent or overcoming an unfriendly jurisdiction.

The nomination deadline is July 14, 2023.

Please limit each submission to 800 words. Firms should not send more than two submissions for this contest, and each submission should focus on one litigator (or a maximum of two litigators, if they co-led the case/matter). Please provide two client references with phone and email for each submission.

ESG and Community Impact Leaders:

The National Law Journal seeks nominations for  legal leadership in the field of Environmental, Social and Corporate governance. Winning submissions should focus on the impact of each legal initiative on communities and stakeholders. Submissions can also include pro bono work.

To apply:

  • Please include a brief overview of the firm's ESG history and highlights and detailed descriptions of ESG matters and its community impact resolved between Jan. 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023.
  • Within these descriptions, please name the lawyers involved and describe the extent of their involvement on matters compared with co-counsel. (Example: Our firm handled roughly 70% of the work on this matter. Our co-counsel handled about 30% of the work.) On matters involving co-counsel, please include their names. Also include the names of opposing counsel and the names and contact information for at least two pro bono clients.
  • Word limit: Please limit nominations to no more than 1,800 words. Supporting documents on matters (news clips, etc.) do not count toward the word limit, but we ask that you please limit these supplemental materials to three pages.

DC Diversity Initiative of the Year

The National Law Journal is now accepting nominations for its Washington D.C. Diversity Initiative of the Year competition. This competition is open to any law firm with an office in the D.C. metro area.

Overview: The competition focuses on in-house diversity initiatives and its results with external stakeholders.

To apply:

  • Please include a brief overview of the firm's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and its application and/or results with outside stakeholders between Jan. 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023. Winning submissions should outline how internal diversity efforts made a difference in working with private sector and government clients or in the courtroom.
  • Within these descriptions, please name the lawyers involved and describe the extent of their involvement on matters (i.e. did diverse team members take the lead on a case or initiatives and what were the results?)
  • Word limit: Please limit nominations to no more than 1,800 words. Supporting documents on matters (news clips, etc.) do not count toward the word limit, but we ask that you please limit these supplemental materials to three pages.

D.C. GENERAL LITIGATION CONTEST

Client Matter Listing

Please describe up to 8 litigation results that demonstrate your department's excellence. 1500 words maximum.

  • This list can and should include results obtained pre-trial, at trial or on appeal. It may include pro bono cases. Client matter results must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2022 and June, 1 2023.
  • Please rank your top 5 client matters in terms of importance. By importance, we mean both significance of the result for your client and contribution made by your lawyers. Note: You can rank all the cases if you like, but ranking is only required for the top 5.
  • Each result must have been achieved by lawyers while they were members of your firm based in your D.C. office. Do not include results achieved by lateral hires while they were working for another firm.
  • For each client matter result, please include the names of: 1) clients, 2) lead partners and 3) opposing counsel, as well as contact information for at least two clients per matter.
  • Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant, but should focus on why the result demonstrates the excellence of your department.
  • For each case, please include a case number and jurisdiction.
  • DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information submitted will be considered on-the-record and included in the evaluation process.
  • If your client was represented by more than one firm, please specify your firm's leadership role and estimate what percentage of client matter work your firm completed versus co-counsel.
  • In your submission, please include a firm contact to whom we may contact with questions.

Essay

Make the case for why your firm should win! 900 words maximum

  • Tell us why you should win. Factors we're looking for are the importance and difficulty of the matters handled; the quality of opposing counsel; ingenuity and diligence.

Upcoming Matters

  • Include a brief description of three upcoming matters for your firm. 600 words maximum

Firm Stats and Client References  

We'll also request additional information on:

  • The size of your firm's litigation department in D.C. and firmwide as of June 1, 2023. (Please specify number of partners, associates and others).
  • The percentage of your entire firm represented by the litigation department in terms of lawyers.
  • Describe your firm's biggest litigation loss in the past two years, with names of opposing counsel.

D.C. SPECIALTY PRACTICE AREA CONTEST

 The specialty contest will award departments focused in each of five areas:

  • Intellectual Property
  • Products Liability/Mass Torts
  • Labor and Employment
  • White Collar Defense
  • Whistleblower

You may compete in more than one category. Note: Separate submissions will be expected for each.

Describe up to 5 litigation results that demonstrate your department's excellence in this specialty. 1500 words maximum.

  • This list should include both trial and appellate work.
  • The results must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023.
  • Each result must have been achieved by lawyers while they were members of your firm based in your D.C. office. Do not include results achieved by lateral hires when they were working for a different firm.
  • For each result, please include the names of clients, lead partners and opposing counsel, as well as contact information for all involved whenever possible.
  • Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant, but should focus on why the result demonstrates the excellence of your department.
  • For each case, please include a case number and jurisdiction.
  • PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information submitted will be considered on-the-record and included in the evaluation process.
  • Note: If your client was represented by more than one firm, please specify your firm's role.
  • In your submission, please name someone at your firm whom we may contact with questions.

Please submit additional information on:

  • The size of your firm's litigation department in D.C. and firmwide as of June 1, 2023. Please specify number of partners, associates and others.
  • The percentage of your entire firm represented by the litigation department in terms of lawyers.
  • Three to four client references per specialty practice area, including phone numbers or e-mail addresses.
  • Describe your firm's biggest litigation loss in the past two years, with names of opposing counsel.
  • A brief description of three upcoming matters for your firm. 600 words maximum.

Write an essay explaining why your firm should be a finalist in this specialty area.

  • Essay should be no longer than 900 words.
  • Tell us why you should win. Factors we're looking for include importance and difficulty of the matters handled; the quality of opposing counsel; ingenuity and diligence.

Government Relations / Lobbying

This award recognizes attorneys who have achieved outstanding results in full-service lobbying and public policy initiatives. Attorneys and their firms have successfully launched and concluded legal representation for companies, associations or other organizations to effectively shape federal government actions and / or legislative efforts.

Describe up to 3 lobbying initiatives that demonstrate your department's excellence in this specialty. 1500 words maximum.

  • The projects and tangible results must have occurred between Jan. 1, 2022 and June, 1 2023.
  • Each result must have been achieved by lawyers while they were members of your firm based in your DC office. Do not include results achieved by lateral hires when they were working for a different firm.
  • For each result, please include the names of clients, lead partners and government entities, as well as contact information for all involved whenever possible.
  • Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant, but should focus on why the result demonstrates the excellence of your department.
  • For each case, please include a case number and jurisdiction.
  • PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: All information submitted will be considered on-the-record and included in the evaluation process.
  • Note: If your lobbying initiative included more than one firm, please specify your firm's role.
  • In your submission, please name someone at your firm whom we may contact with questions.

Please submit additional information on:

  • The size of your firm's government relations department in D.C. and firmwide as of June 1, 2023. Please specify number of partners, associates and others.
  • The percentage of your entire firm represented by the litigation department in terms of lawyers.
  • Three to four client references per specialty practice area, including phone numbers or e-mail addresses.
  • Describe your firm's biggest lobbying loss and victory over the last two years.
  • A brief description of three upcoming matters for your firm. 600 words maximum.

Write an essay explaining why your firm should be a finalist in this specialty area.

  • Essay should be no longer than 900 words.
  • Tell us why you should win. Factors we're looking for include importance and difficulty of the matters handled; bipartisanship; ingenuity and diligence.

D.C. Lifetime Achievement

The National Law Journal is seeking nominations for our Lifetime Achievement Award. This award will honor an attorney's career-long accomplishments and impact on the national legal community. We are looking to honor nominees based in D.C. Honorees will be recognized at the NLJ awards dinner in November in Washington, D.C.

Requirements

  • In a brief description (400 words or less), please summarize why you think this nominee deserves this award.
  • Please include a brief resume/bio (limit: 2 pages) of the nominee's career highlights.
  • Please include the names of two references, including one that is not in the nominee's law firm or company, who can speak to the candidate's impact.

GC Impact 

This award recognizes chief legal officers who, through their effective leadership, had significant accomplishments in 2022. As just a few examples, such accomplishments may include growing the legal department's head count or expanding the scope of its duties; significantly reducing legal spend or successfully completing a major undertaking such as a corporate merger or acquisition. We're looking for dynamic leaders who have partnered with their companies and with their outside counsel to find ways to add value and to transform their legal departments from cost centers to business units. Nomination will require a 300-500 word nomination. Full nomination questions will be available on the awardsforce portal.

Crisis Management and Government Oversight 

This award recognizes firms that have guided clients through government proceedings in Washington, D.C. This includes responding to federal investigations or enforcement actions launched by agencies such as the Department of Justice or the Securities and Exchange Commission, or preparing a client to provide testimony to Congress on a topic lawmakers are considering taking action on.

Appellate Hot List

Nominations are now open for The National Law Journal's annual "Appellate Hot List." This special report highlights law firms that have handled exemplary appellate matters. 

Potential nominees must be able to point to at least one significant appellate win since January 2022 and possess an impressive appellate track record overall. A "significant win" means prevailing before the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal appeals court, or a state court of last resort when an important legal principle was at stake or the stakes were high, financially or otherwise.

Nominations should include: A short description of the firm's overall appellate track record (800 words maximum) and the specific case or cases to be considered for the  submission (5 pages maximum.) Please include an explanation of the firm's contribution to particular cases (i.e. presented oral arguments, drafted briefs, contributed amici arguments cited by the court) relative to significant co-counsel; and a list of the principal attorneys on a case, with their contact information included.

The deadline for nominations in all categories is July 14, 2023. For more information about the event and the nominations process, please visit the event site.

If you have any questions, please contact Recognition Events desk manager Pearl Wu at [email protected].