The Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) sent almost 23,000 surveys to commercial lawyers for WirtschaftsWoche. The largest group is made up of lawyers specializing in corporate and employment law, each with more than 5,000 participants, and the smallest, medical law, with 450 lawyers from 115 law firms. A total of 25 subject areas were evaluated. A total of 75 lawyers from 52 law firms made it into the ranks of the Legal All Stars. First, the lawyers of the recognized law firms were asked regarding the most renowned competitors in their field. A jury of in-house lawyers, professors, litigation financiers and consultants then voted on the list, weighted law firms and lawyers and made additions.