A Martindale-Hubbell alternative for international law firms
What Martindale does well, where Global Law Lists differs, and how to choose.
Photo: Олег Мороз / Unsplash
Martindale-Hubbell is one of the oldest names in lawyer listings, with peer ratings that US lawyers have used for generations. If your practice is outside the United States, or your clients are, you may want a network built around cross-border work. Here is what Martindale does well, where Global Law Lists differs, and how to choose.
What Martindale-Hubbell is
Martindale-Hubbell traces back to 1868 and today belongs to Internet Brands, as part of the Martindale-Avvo network alongside Avvo, Lawyers.com, Nolo, FindLaw and Super Lawyers. The network states that it reaches over one million lawyers.
Its best-known feature is the Peer Review Rating (AV Preeminent, Distinguished and Notable), based on reviews by practising attorneys and judges in the United States and Canada. Martindale says basic profiles are free and that peer reviews are complimentary.
How they compare, as each states it
| Attribute | Global Law Lists | Martindale-Hubbell |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2024, Thimphu, Bhutan | 1868 (Martindale's first lawyer listing); now owned by Internet Brands |
| Focus | International legal network: firms in 240+ jurisdictions, cross-border referrals | Lawyer listings and peer ratings, strongest in the United States and Canada |
| Size (as each states) | 141,000+ law firms, 175,000+ locations | Martindale-Avvo network of over one million lawyers |
| Basic listing | Firms in our records listed at no cost; a managed, verified profile comes with membership | Free basic profile |
| Quality signal | Verification of member firms and lawyers (licence, identity, standing; re-checked yearly) and evidence-based rankings by jurisdiction and practice area (first edition December 2026) | Peer Review Ratings by attorneys and judges (AV Preeminent and others) |
| Paid options | Membership plans with verification, badges, featured placement and referrals | Marketing products sold through Martindale-Avvo |
| Where it is stronger | Coverage of small and mid-size jurisdictions; verification shown on member profiles; free editorial rankings by jurisdiction | Brand age; established peer-rating system; consumer traffic from its sister sites |
Where Martindale-Hubbell is stronger
- History and recognition
More than 150 years in the lawyer-listing business, and an AV rating that US lawyers and clients recognise.
- A structured peer rating
Ratings come from attorneys and judges who score legal knowledge, analytical ability, judgment, communication and experience. We do not offer a peer rating of that kind.
- Consumer reach in the US
Sister sites such as Avvo, FindLaw and Nolo bring a large flow of US consumers.
Where Global Law Lists differs
- Built for cross-border work
Firms in Bhutan, Fiji, Barbados or Zambia sit in the same network as firms in London or New York, and enquiries travel between them. See the law firms by country for what that looks like in practice.
- Verification for members
We check bar standing, identity and proof of practice before a member profile is verified, and repeat the check every year, as set out in our verification methodology. Listings that have not been claimed are compiled from public sources and are not verified.
- Rankings by jurisdiction and practice area
Our Global Law Awards place firms in five bands for each jurisdiction and practice area, on evidence and confidential references; the first edition publishes on 15 December 2026. Being ranked is free and cannot be bought.
Which should you use?
If most of your clients are US consumers or US companies who check AV ratings, keep your Martindale profile up to date: it is free to start. If your growth depends on clients and referring firms in other countries, add a verified profile in an international network. Many firms do both. Our guide to listing a firm internationally covers the main options. Compare plans on the membership page, or read the comparison with Chambers and The Legal 500.
Common questions
01Is Martindale-Hubbell free?
Martindale says a basic profile is free and peer reviews are complimentary. Paid marketing products are sold through Martindale-Avvo.
02Who owns Martindale-Hubbell?
Martindale-Hubbell is part of the Martindale-Avvo network owned by Internet Brands, together with Avvo, Lawyers.com, Nolo, FindLaw and Super Lawyers.
03What does AV Preeminent mean?
It is the highest Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, given on the basis of reviews by other attorneys and judges of a lawyer's legal ability and ethical standards.
04Is Global Law Lists a replacement for Martindale-Hubbell?
Not for everyone. It is an alternative or a complement for firms whose work crosses borders: an international legal network with verified member profiles, cross-border referrals and free, evidence-based rankings.
05Can a firm outside the US appear on Global Law Lists without paying?
Yes. More than 141,000 firms are listed from our records at no cost to them, and being ranked is free. Managing your own profile, verification and referrals come with membership.
Sources, checked 11 October 2026
- Martindale-Avvomartindale-avvo.com/
- Martindale-Hubbell, Ratings and reviewsmartindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/
- Martindale-Hubbell, Update your profilemartindale.com/update-profile/
- Wikipedia, Martindale-Hubbellen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martindale-Hubbell
- Global Law Lists, Methodologygloballawlists.org/verification-methodology
A verified profile in an international network. Free to be ranked.
Check whether your firm is already listed, then decide whether a managed, verified membership profile is worth it for you.