MIAMI, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland & Knight has received national first-tier rankings in 22 practice areas in the 2012-2013 U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® "Best Law Firms" guide. The firm also received first-tier rankings in several key metropolitan areas.

The "Best Law Firms" rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys in their field. This year's results feature more than 10,000 law firms ranked nationally in one or more of 80 practice areas and by metro or state in 118 practice areas.

Clients were asked to provide feedback on firm practice groups, using a scale of 1 (weakest) to 5 (strongest), addressing expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm. Firms were then ranked in tiers, with Tier 1 including firms with the highest scores. The national first-tier rankings will be featured in U.S. News & World Report's Money issue on November 20.

This year, Holland & Knight achieved the second most Tier 1 metropolitan rankings of any firm nationwide. The firm also leads with the most Tier 1 rankings in the state of Florida.

Additionally, due to its impressive overall performance in the rigorous evaluation process, it was named the "Law Firm of the Year" in the area of real estate. With more than 240 lawyers and professionals, Holland & Knight's Real Estate Section is one of the largest of any U.S. law firm.

National First-Tier Rankings

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Corporate Law
• Employment Law - Management
• Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television
• Environmental Law
• Equipment Finance Law
• Information Technology Law
• International Trade and Finance Law
• Labor Law - Management
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Banking & Finance
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Environmental
• Litigation - First Amendment
• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Litigation - Tax
• Native American Law
• Real Estate Law
• Trademark Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Metropolitan First-Tier Rankings

Atlanta

• Commercial Litigation
• Government Relations Practice
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Boston
• Commercial Litigation
• Education Law
• Employment Law - Individuals
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Chicago

• Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television
• Government Relations Practice
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Real Estate Law
• Trademark Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Jacksonville

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Real Estate Law
• Tax Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Los Angeles

• International Trade and Finance Law
• Litigation - Tax
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Trusts & Estates Law

Miami

• Appellate Practice
• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Compliance Law
• Corporate Governance Law
• Corporate Law
• Criminal Defense: White-Collar - Governmental Investigations
• Criminal Defense: White-Collar - Litigation
• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Employment Law - Management
• Environmental Law
• International Arbitration - Commercial
• International Trade and Finance Law
• Labor Law - Management
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Banking & Finance
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - First Amendment
• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Litigation - Securities
• Litigation - Tax
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Tax Law
• Transportation Law

New York City

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Corporate Law
• Equipment Finance Law
• Information Technology Law
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Labor & Employment
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Orlando

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /
• Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Corporate Law
• Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Banking & Finance
• Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - Land Use & Zoning
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Portland

• Trusts & Estates Law

San Francisco

• Equipment Finance Law
• Securitization and Structured Finance Law

Tallahassee

• Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Appellate Practice
• Commercial Litigation
• Environmental Law
• Government Relations Practice
• Health Care Law
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - Environmental
• Litigation - Tax
• Tax Law
• Water Law

Tampa

• Antitrust Law
• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /
• Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Governance Law
• Corporate Law
• International Trade and Finance Law
• Litigation - Banking & Finance
• Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Litigation - Eminent Domain & Condemnation
• Litigation - ERISA
• Litigation - Mergers & Acquisitions
• Litigation - Securities
• Litigation - Tax
• Litigation - Trusts & Estates
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Public Finance Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Securities Regulation
• Tax Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

Washington, D.C.

• Arbitration
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /
• Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Corporate Law
• Environmental Law
• Government Relations Practice
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Environmental
• Litigation - First Amendment
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Mediation
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Native American Law
• Private Equity Law
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts & Estates Law

West Palm Beach

• Corporate Law

About Holland & Knight LLP:  Holland & Knight is a global law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Bogota, and Mexico City. The firm is among the nation's largest law firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com

SOURCE Holland & Knight LLP