About Us
asialaw is essential reading for corporate executives, in-house counsel and anyone with a professional interest in the legal services market in the Asia region. A team of knowledgeable writers based in the region researches, writes and edits the guide to the leading regional and domestic law firms in the Asia.
On this page you will find an overview of asialaw research and links to more information on this website. See our research timeline and deadlines for 2026 here.
For awards methodology, click here.
Asialaw Research Timeline 2026
The following schedule outlines key dates for asialaw's market consultation process. All dates are subject to adjustment as needed.
- February 27: Research cycle begins
- March 12: Research methodology webinar
- April 10: Submission deadline (firm submissions and client referees)
- April - June: Firm interviews
- May - June: Survey period (client feedback and lawyer surveys open)
- July - August: Research analysis and editorial review
- October: Online launch of asialaw 2026
The results of the research, combined with our detailed knowledge of the legal market, ensures that asialaw is invaluable and easily accessible as a business tool for our readers – your clients – in their search for detailed information on the region’s law firms.
Key facts about the directory are:
- Published online in October each year, asialaw provides law firm recommendations and editorial analysis of 28 sectors and practice areas in 20 jurisdictions in the region.
- asialaw 2026 will be the 31st annual edition of a publication which reports on the most important matters, transactions and disputes in the region and provides a succinct and authoritative guide to the leading law firms and some of their key individuals.
- As the only guide that focuses exclusively on regional and domestic law firms in the region, the publication provides unrivalled depth about its market.
- Our research process is extensive and widely respected. Short, targeted questionnaires allow firms to give us information about their work highlights.
- Analysing this information along with extensive interviews with practitioners and clients enables our research team to build up a clear picture of the market.
- From this research we produce ratings of recommended, highly recommended and outstanding firms and practice areas, complemented by our market leading editorial, which contains extensive analysis of the key players and deals, as well as quotes from leading clients
asialaw Leading Lawyers
asialaw Leading Lawyers identifies outstanding private practice legal professionals – divided into Elite practitioners, distinguished practitioners and rising stars as well as senior statesman in the same 14 practice areas and 14 industry sectors across 20 jurisdictions listed here. The publication is the result of an extensive research process that includes 1) law firm submissions 2) interviews and surveys with house counsel and private practitioners 3) independent research from our Asia based editorial team.
The criteria we consider include:
- The most significant cases and deals in the past 12 to 18 months
- Who were the lawyers that led and assisted in these cases/deals
- Who do these lawyers consider to be their peers and why
- How do their clients rate the lawyer's legal advice and quality of service
Categories
Senior Statesman
Senior figures with strong track records who are still influential in the market.
Elite practitioner
True leaders of their field, these lawyers have an outstanding track record and are recognised as the standout performers in their country or practice area.
Distinguished practitioner
Lawyers who are highly regarded by their peers and possess a strong record and positive client feedback. These are lawyers that lead deals/cases.
Rising Star
'Ones to watch' lawyers who are building their reputations in the market and have the potential to become one of the leading lawyers in near future. These are lawyers that assisted on deals/cases.
Notable practitioner
Proven to be active in the market with positive feedback from peers and clients.
Sectors, practice areas and jurisdictions
We research, analyse and rank firms across 28 sectors and practice areas
Sectors that we cover:
Aviation and shipping - Banking and financial services - Consumer goods and services - Energy - Industrials and manufacturing - Infrastructure - Insurance - Materials - Media and entertainment - Mining - Oil and gas - Pharmaceuticals and life sciences - Real estate - Technology and telecommunications
Practice areas that we cover:
General business law (covers all practice areas in smaller jurisdictions) - Banking and finance - Capital markets - Competition/antitrust - Construction - Corporate and M&A - Dispute resolution - Regulatory - Intellectual property - Labour and employment - Investment funds - Private equity - Restructuring and insolvency - Tax
Jurisdictions covered:
Brunei - Cambodia - China - Hong Kong SAR - India - Indonesia - Japan - Kazakhstan - Laos - Macau SAR - Malaysia - Maldives - Mongolia - Philippines - Singapore - South Korea - Sri Lanka - Taiwan - Thailand - Vietnam
asialaw is based on extensive consultation with the market. Our research material, which our team of experienced writers based in the region collects, is from four main sources: questionnaires, partners, clients and independent research. See here for more detail.
We produce tables ranking firms in Outstanding, Highly Recommended and Recommended tiers for the relevant sectors and practice areas. Our research analysts add editorial commentary on all of the firms ranked. The tables are a list of the best firms in each of the sectors and practice areas, according to our research. The ranked firms might also offer services in sectors and practice areas other than those they have been ranked in and the total number of firms listed will vary by jurisdiction.
Using our content
The contents, and arrangement thereof, on this website and print publication are protected by intellectual property and other related rights. You may quote from our editorial, but please attribute as follows: ‘asialaw ’. Please get in touch with our publisher for our latest logos.
asialaw does not endorse or approve any particular firm or practitioner listed and accepts no liability in connection with the use of any listed firm or practitioner. asialaw will not be liable for any damages or loss whatsoever, direct or indirect, arising from the use of or in connection with any content on this website or in the handbook.
asialaw is part of the Legal Benchmarking Group.
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About Our Research
asialaw's rankings are based on comprehensive market research at no cost to participating firms. We encourage participation from all firms across Asia to ensure our coverage provides an accurate overview of each jurisdiction's legal market.
Our experienced regional editorial team gathers information through four key channels:
1. Firm Submissions
- Detailed questionnaires covering significant matters
- Information on key personnel and client relationships
- Practice area developments
- Client referral lists
2. Market Feedback
- In-depth interviews with leading practitioners
- Evaluation of previous rankings
- Assessment of market developments
3. Peer review insights
- Client Intelligence
- Comprehensive client interviews
- Online feedback surveys
- Client satisfaction metrics
- Service delivery assessment
4. Independent Research
- Analysis of Legal Benchmarking Group's proprietary data
- Market news monitoring
- Industry developments tracking
Rankings and Awards:
- Submission review
- Partner interviews
- Client feedback collection
- Market research analysis
- Editorial assessment
- Final rankings compilation
Leading Lawyers Recognition:
- Practitioner surveys
- Peer feedback
- Client testimonials
- Track record evaluation
- Final selection
Assessment Criteria
- Rankings reflect cumulative analysis of all data points
- Top-tier recognition requires exceptional market reputation
- Client service excellence is a key determining factor
- Team strength and practice depth are critically evaluated
Submission of materials does not guarantee inclusion in rankings or editorial coverage. Final decisions are based on:
- Quality of work examples
- Market feedback
- Client testimonials
- Overall practice strength
For awards consideration, we evaluate:
- Landmark matters
- Innovation in service delivery
- Community engagement
- Professional leadership
- Corporate social responsibility initiatives