Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, signifying professional excellence.

Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, Signifying Professional Excellence

Donald D. Vanarelli has been awarded an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell

Attorney Donald D. Vanarelli has been awarded an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, an acknowledgment that he has achieved the highest level of professional excellence. From the Martindale-Hubbell website: “For more than 130 years, lawyers have relied on the AV Preeminent rating when searching for their own expert attorneys. The Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. This rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence. It is achieved only after an attorney has been reviewed and recommended by his peers and members of the bar and the judiciary.”  The “AV Preeminent” rating is awarded to fewer than 5% of all lawyers across the United States.

The “AV Preeminent” designation signifies that Don has been rated by judges and fellow attorneys as having attained the highest level of professional excellence in two areas: legal ability and ethical standards. The Legal Ability rating is based on an evaluation of professional performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of 1 (the lowest) to 5 (the highest). These areas are:

  1. Legal Knowledge – Familiarity with the laws governing the lawyer’s specific area of practice(s);
  2. Analytical Capabilities – Creativity in analyzing legal issues and applying technical knowledge;
  3. Judgment – Demonstration of salient factors that drive the outcome of a case;
  4. Communication Ability – Capability to communicate persuasively and credibly; and,
  5. Legal Experience – Extent of experience in the lawyer’s specific area of practice.

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. Only those lawyers who are rated “Very High” by their peers in General Ethical Standards can achieve the “AV Preeminent” ranking.

The “AV Preeminent” rating is a nationally-recognized acknowledgment of Don’s accomplishments and skills as an attorney, and places him among the elite practitioners in the country. Our law firm congratulates Don on this significant professional achievement.