We are very proud to announce that Reinhard von Hennigs, partner at our BridgehouseLaw Charlotte office, has been named to the 2013 North Carolina Rising Star List by Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers launched the Rising Stars for the first time in 1998 to honor the top up-and-coming attorneys in each state. Reinhard von Hennigs has received this honor for the second year in a row.

In order to be eligible for the Rising Star designation (in contrast to the Super Lawyer List), the attorney has to either be under the age of 40, or in practice for ten years or less.

The Rising Stars are selected through a multiphase rating process, which includes peer nominations as well as third party research. The evaluation process includes 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. According to Super Lawyers, the objective is to “create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.”

The decision making process is based on a point system:

1. A candidate pool is created through peer nominations or identification by the research department. 
2. The Super Lawyers’ research department evaluates each candidate based on 12 indicators: verdicts and settlements; transactions; representative clients; experience; honors and awards; special licenses and certifications; position within law firm; bar and or other professional activity; pro bono and community service as a lawyer; scholarly lectures and writings; education and employment background; and other outstanding achievements. 
3. During the final selection the candidates are divided into groups, according to firm size. The lawyers with the highest total points from each of these four categories are selected. 

While each year up to 5 percent of attorneys in North Carolina are named to the Super Lawyer List, only about 2.5 percent make it onto the Rising Star List.

To learn more about the selection process, please click here.