The partners at Manuel & Thompson have been awarded an “AV rating” from the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review. This is the highest rating, bestowed only upon attorneys who have been found to possess both the highest ethical standards and elite legal ability.
For more than 140 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been the trusted authority on legal professionals in the United States of America. Their attorney/law firm ratings give those seeking legal counsel an objective review of an attorney’s legal ability and ethical practice, allowing clients to choose a respected and able attorney.
Martindale-Hubbell ratings are established by attorneys for attorneys and “clearly indicates a demonstration of the highest professional and ethical standards.”
An integral part of Martindale-Hubbell’s service to the legal community is the Lawyer Rating system, which evaluates lawyers and law firms in the U.S. and Canada based upon peer review. The Martindale-Hubbell Ratings system is based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary, including both those who are rated and those who are not.
Legal Ability Ratings take into consideration the standard of professional ability in the area where the lawyer practices, the lawyer’s expertise, and other professional qualifications. If a lawyer’s practice is limited or specialized, Ratings are based on performance in those specific fields of law.
Legal Ability Ratings are:
C – Good to High
B – High to Very High
A – Very High to Preeminent (Manuel and Thompson’s rating)
General Ethical Standards Rating – The General Ethical Standards Rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities.
The General Recommendation Rating is:
V – Very High (Manuel and Thompson’s rating)
A lawyer will not receive a Legal Ability Rating unless he or she has been endorsed for a “V.” When both categories of Ratings are confirmed, a lawyer receives a CV, BV or AV Rating.
An AV Rating (like that earned by Manuel & Thompson) shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.
