Success for SMB Publishing team in this year’s legal directories

The SMB publishing team has received the top accolade in both legal directories for 2025. Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners are two leading independent directories that rank law firms by carrying out their own independent research. SMB have been ranked in both for many years but this is the first year that the publishing department has achieved the number 1 rank in both. This is an incredible achievement by the entire team. The team were already ranked number 1 in Legal 500 since 2019. Described by Chambers as “having so many talented lawyers there” it is unsurprising that the team has moved to the top band.

Department head Martin Soames also retained his top number one ranking in both directories. Martin is highly ranked in Chambers UK: “a highly experienced publishing lawyer who maintains a vibrant publishing practice”. He is described as “a go-to practitioner for pre-publication publishing matters’: ‘he’s a speedy, careful, meticulous reader. He’s calm in a crisis and offers very balanced, measured advice”. Previous recommendations note that he gives “brilliant libel advice: succinct, cost-efficient, often entertaining and genuinely diligent”. Chambers commends his “invaluable insight into the media industry. Clients value his skill in assessing risk and negotiating his way through seemingly unwinnable situations.” Martin is also ranked in the Defamation/Reputation Management category for Chambers and Partners.

Thank you to all of the clients and peers who spoke so highly of the team to achieve this prestigious position in both directories.