Chambers Global 2026, the renowned guide published by Chambers and Partners ranking leading law firms and legal practitioners worldwide, has released its latest results.

This ranking serves as the prelude to the European guide and reflects the high level of competitiveness within the legal sector to position among the most prominent firms globally.

In this context, our partner María Sol Rubio provides her analysis and perspective on this year’s results in statements to Cinco Días.

Chambers Global anticipates developments later consolidated in the european guide

“In Spain’s case, the publication of the global guide typically attracts additional interest because it anticipates developments that are subsequently consolidated in the European guide, scheduled this year for 19 March”.

The 2026 edition of the Chambers and Partners global guide confirms a significant expansion of the directory both in terms of ranking volume and geographical scope. Overall, the number of recognised departments or organisations increased from 13,756 in 2025 to 15,061 in 2026, an increase of approximately 10%.

A similar trend is observed among individually ranked lawyers, rising from 29,840 to 32,962 professionals (+10.5%). The Up-and-Comers / Associates to Watch category also recorded substantial growth, increasing from 2,522 to 3,016 rankings (nearly 20%), reflecting enhanced visibility for emerging talent within the international legal market.

One of the most significant developments in this edition is the consolidation of the Global General Counsel ranking, now in its second edition, which expands the number of recognised professionals by region and, for the first time, incorporates submissions presented directly by in-house legal teams themselves. In Europe, 97 in-house counsel are recognised, of whom 12 belong to legal departments of companies headquartered in Spain or operating from Spain, including senior legal executives from groups such as Santander, Telefónica, Iberdrola, Repsol, BBVA and CaixaBank. This development reinforces the growing international visibility of Spain’s corporate legal market.

In Spain, publication of the global guide is particularly relevant because it often foreshadows movements later reflected in the European guide, due for release on 19 March. The current edition introduces moderate positional changes but expands certain categories, broadening the competitive landscape and enabling new entrants to reach the upper ranking bands.

Among the most notable milestones is Bird & Bird’s promotion to Band 1 in Intellectual Property, alongside its leadership position in the mid-market Corporate/M&A category, for example.

Structural evolution of the global legal market

Significant changes are also visible in traditionally established practice areas. Energy and Natural Resources, for instance, expanded from two firms ranked in Band 1 to six in this edition, evidencing increased competition within a strategically important sector.

More broadly, firms maintaining dominant positions in the top bands in Spain continue to comprise a stable core of international firms and leading domestic practices -including A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Cuatrecasas, Garrigues, Linklaters and Uría Menéndez- which retain strong rankings across multiple key practice areas such as Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets, cross-border disputes, and Project Finance.

Taken together, the 2026 data reflect a broader guide with expanded coverage of professionals and practice areas, alongside a growing emphasis on both emerging talent and in-house legal departments. These trends point to a structural evolution of the global legal market and of the recognition criteria applied by international legal directories.

You can read the full article in Cinco Días, here.