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Why Vietnamese Investors Want an “AV Preeminent” Rated Attorney in Their Corner

A NOTE FROM JOSE:

When LatourLaw Vietnam opened, I took a few of our awards and plaques to our Saigon office in order to make it look and feel more like our own home office in Miami.  Since then, many of our clients have seen the Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” plaques I’ve been awarded over the years and asked me what they mean.  Since first LatourLaw was first awarded this highest among professional honors, we’ve won it again every single year.  I wanted to tell you a little bit about it and, most importantly, why any Vietnamese investor making big family migration decisions is best served by hiring a law firm that is “AV Preeminent”.

The “AV Preeminent” rating is awarded to less than ten percent of all attorneys across the United States, and is the highest rating offered by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Martindale-Hubbell states as follows:

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review 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. Martindale-Hubbell representatives conduct personal interviews to discuss lawyers under review with other members of the Bar. A compilation of these opinions from various sources is necessary to form a consensus, and lawyers under review are sometimes asked to provide professional references to assist with the process. In addition, confidential questionnaires are sent to lawyers and judges in the same geographic location and/or area of practice as the lawyer being rated. Members of the Bar are instructed to assess their colleague’s legal ability and general ethical standards.

There are two components to each Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating:

1. Legal Ability Ratings- 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, Peer Review 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

2. 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 A lawyer will not receive a Legal Ability Rating unless he or she has been endorsed for a “V.”

When both categories of Peer Review Ratings are confirmed at the highest possible level, a lawyer receives an AV Rating, showing that he or she has reached “the height of professional excellence.“  

THAT’S why I’m proud to be AV rated, and why Vietnamese investors looking for the best lawyers should seek out AV Preeminent attorneys to represent them!