Thomson Reuters announces 2013 Rising Stars, top attorneys in a wide range of practice areas researched by an attorney-led team, dedicated to reviewing the credentials of potential candidates 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Potential candidates are researched and assigned points based on a set of pre-defined evaluation criteria.

Lawyers are asked to nominate their top-tier peers and are instructed to only nominate lawyers they have personally observed in action — whether as opposing counsel, co-counsel, or through other firsthand courtroom observation. To ensure a diverse and well-balanced list, the research staff considers factors such as firm size, practice area and geographic location.

Munsch Hardt attorneys recognized by Thomson Reuters, as "2013 Rising Stars" include:

• Nolan C. Knight - Environmental Litigation
• Jay H. Ong - Insolvency, Restructuring & Creditor’s Rights
• Davor Rukavina – Insolvency, Restructuring & Creditor’s Rights
• Devon D. Sharp - Business Litigation
• Glenn P. Valentine – Real Estate

The Thomson Reuters’ research team confirms all nominees are properly licensed and in good standing with the state licensing agency. Point totals from the general survey and research process are then added to arrive at a final tally. Lawyers are then ranked by point totals, and those with the highest point totals are named to the Rising Stars list. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to this list.