(image) LOUISVILLE, Ky.—U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have released their 2014 “Best Law Firms” rankings. Stites & Harbison, PLLC, places among the top 50 law firms surveyed in the total number of metropolitan rankings. The firm’s overall results include 107 metropolitan rankings, up from 89 in the 2013 release, from clients in Atlanta, Ga., Lexington and Louisville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, DC, metro areas. This year, the firm also gained another National Tier 1 ranking to now include three: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Trademark Law.

Achieving a high ranking is a special distinction that signals a unique combination of excellence and breadth of experience.

“We are extremely pleased about the progress Stites & Harbison has made in the ‘Best Law Firms’ rankings in the four years the survey has been in existence,” said Ken Sagan, chairman of Stites & Harbison. “Despite increasing competition, our rankings have continued to grow each year. These results would not have been possible without the support of our clients. We look forward to continuing this success in future rankings.”

Best Law Firms Statistics:

• Law firms were evaluated and ranked through a combination of hard data, peer reviews and client assessments.
• The 2014 rankings are based on the highest number of participating firms and highest number of client ballots on record.
• More than 11,700 law firms were ranked in 120 major legal practice areas.
• The rankings incorporate 4.9 million evaluations of individual leading lawyers.

The national first-tier rankings will be featured in the first edition of the “Best Law Firms” Legal Issue; national and metropolitan first-tier rankings will be featured in the “Best Law Firms” General Counsel publication. The rankings are also available online at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.