The Chambers & Partners Europe Guide 2025 has launched, providing a detailed analysis of the legal landscape across Europe. With rankings spanning 44 jurisdictions, the guide is an essential resource for identifying top law firms and legal practitioners.
This year\’s research, conducted between May and November 2024, reflects changes in the European legal sector, including emerging trends and new ranking categories.
Key figures from the chambers europe guide 2025 research process
The rankings are based on extensive independent research, which includes:
- 10,500 submissions reviewed
- 12,600 research calls conducted
- 3,150 hours of research completed
- 1,431 unique law firms ranked
- 13,060 individual lawyer rankings
In addition, the guide received almost 178,000 referee submissions, an increase of 6% from the previous year, ensuring that rankings reflect genuine market feedback.
Expanded rankings and new categories
The Chambers Europe Guide 2025 introduces new ranking tables and sub-tables, reflecting increased engagement from law firms and referees. Notable additions include:
Austria
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Spain
Portugal
Turkey
Key market trends in the Chambers Europe Guide 2025
The Chambers Europe Guide 2025 highlights several trends shaping the legal landscape:
- Digitalisation and legal tech
- Increasing adoption of AI-powered legal tools
- Law firms exploring new technologies and developing in-house solutions
- Concerns around data privacy, security, and ethical implications of AI
- ESG compliance and renewable energy
- Growing regulatory pressure on ESG requirements
- Rise in climate change litigation and greenwashing cases across Europe
- Increased interest in ESG-related investment and corporate governance
- Growth in specific jurisdictions
- Spain saw an 8% increase in ranked departments, with 11 new firms debuting
- Romania saw a 6.3% rise in newly ranked lawyers, particularly in corporate M&A
- Benelux, Austria, and Switzerland saw growth in ESG litigation and AI-related cases
- Distressed M&A and Employment Law
- Increased focus on corporate restructuring following economic downturns
- Lawyers anticipate more distressed M&A transactions and mass dismissals
Recognition for emerging talent
The guide continues its commitment to recognising up-and-coming legal professionals. This year, over 550 younger lawyers gained new rankings, and the guide saw 819 Up-and-Coming rankings and 320 Associate to Watch and Star Associate rankings.
Looking ahead: Chambers Europe 2026
Submissions for the Chambers Europe 2026 guide are now open, with the next deadline set for 26 April 2025. View the full research schedule here, and referee rules in the upcoming research cycle here.
For the 2026 edition the research period will run from May to November. New practice areas will be covered, including Restructuring & Insolvency and Tax.
Research into the legal markets of Russia and Belarus will continue to be suspended
For further details on the 2026 research cycle and referee rules, visit Chambers Europe.
Preparing a submission for the Chambers Europe Guide?
The Chambers Europe Guide 2025 ranks the world’s leading lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel across 200+ jurisdictions. Rankings are based on the most thorough, independent research in the legal industry.
Are you thinking of preparing a submission, but don’t know where to start?
We understand the complexities of legal directory submissions and the importance of securing a Chambers ranking. And, if you don’t have the time, or just don’t know where to begin with preparing a submission, we can step in.
Contact us today to schedule a chat. Or, if you’d like more information on the legal directories process, take a look at the resources in our Directories Hub.
