Legal directories strategy & support

Strategic support for Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 submissions

At GFC, we don’t believe in mass-produced submissions. Our approach is different: we give law firms the strategic insight, polish, and training they need to get real results in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.

We’re not a high-volume provider. Instead, we act as your troubleshooting partner — fixing strategy, messaging, and referee issues — while also helping BD teams and partners take greater ownership over the process.

Whether you need a sharp one-off audit, expert guidance on your in-house draft, or full end-to-end support, we tailor our approach to your team’s needs.

  • Expert audit and feedback

    We review your submissions in depth and pinpoint exactly what’s working — and what’s holding you back.

  • Strategic guidance

    From messaging and matter selection to positioning and narrative, we help you align every element with what directories value most.

  • Collaboration with your team

    We don’t just deliver recommendations — we work alongside your partners and BD team to build confidence and capability.

  • Referee analysis & recommendations

    We assess the strength of your referee list and advise on selection, rotation, and tactics to boost response rates.

  • Practical next steps

    You’ll walk away with a clear, actionable plan to strengthen future submissions and improve rankings year after year.

Service options

Audit

Your expert starting point for better submissions. A strategic review of a recent submission to show what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve.

What’s included:

  • Review of one recent submission (Chambers or Legal 500)

  • Written report with 10+ tailored recommendations

  • 25-minute feedback call to walk through insights

  • Suggestions to strengthen internal processes

Optional add-ons:

  • Training session for partners or BD

  • Upgrade to Light Touch or Full Support with partial fee rebate

  • Multi-pack pricing for firms preparing across practices

Best for: Firms seeking clarity and strategic direction before investing further.

Light touch

You draft, we shape and strengthen it. We guide your team to produce stronger submissions with expert review and polish.

What’s included:

  • Education session on writing effective submissions
  • Kick-off and scoping meeting to align on key messages and cases
  • Review and edit of the full draft submission
  • Strategic suggestions on matter order and individual highlights

 

Best for: Firms managing submissions internally but wanting external expertise to sharpen impact.

Full Support

End-to-end guidance and delivery. Comprehensive support from first draft through to submission and post-publication.

What’s included:

  • Everything in Light touch

  • Redrafting of all matter highlights

  • Drafting support for team profiles, individual bios, and feedback sections

  • Strategy for leading individuals and referee selection

  • Submission upload (Chambers & Legal 500)

  • Interview briefing notes

  • Referee response analysis and proactive referee management

Best for: Firms without in-house BD teams, or those needing comprehensive strategic and delivery support.

Working with Gemma transformed our approach to making submissions to the legal directories. She brought a holistic perspective to the selection and presentation of the firm’s mandates, drove a structured and well-organised timetable that ensured we were prepared in good time, and applied insights gained from her long experience working for the directories to ensure that our submissions focussed on the key points to highlight our firm’s expertise in each relevant practice area.
Jonathan PaganPartner, Enyo Law
Gemma has worked with our practice for the last two years to assist us in preparing for directory submissions. She has been knowledgeable, clear, kind and positive and, through her flexible availability and competent assistance, we have been successful in our preparations and aspirations. This has been a manageable process thanks to Gemma’s support.
Richard HighamDirector, Carlsons Solicitors

Why choose GFC?

Strategy first

We don’t just edit submissions — we shape the strategy behind them. From messaging and matter selection to individual positioning and referee planning, every recommendation we make is designed to strengthen your long-term rankings, not just this year’s result.

A true partner, not an outsourcer

Working with us is a collaboration. We become an extension of your team — challenging assumptions, spotting missed opportunities, and helping you make smarter decisions about where and how you show up in directories.

Long-term value over short-term fixes

Our goal is to make your BD and marketing teams stronger and more confident, so that each cycle becomes smoother, more efficient, and more impactful. 

Designed to build internal capability

Training and knowledge transfer are part of our process. We don’t just deliver polished documents; we show your partners and BD teams how to approach directories strategically so that improvements stick long after we’ve stepped back.

With a team that includes two former Legal 500 researchers and a former lawyer, we bring both strategic insight and practical support — giving your submissions the edge without draining internal time or energy.

Ready to transform your directory submissions into stronger rankings?

A stronger directory presence starts with the right strategy. Let’s talk about how we can make your next submission your most successful yet.
Let’s Talk

Author