RecognizedFirm launches to help law firms improve rankings submissions

RecognizedFirm, a new agency founded by rankings strategist Evyan O'Keefe and the founders of sister agency 9Sail, launched today in New York to help law firms navigate legal directories and industry rankings. The firm aims to turn submissions into a more strategic process for firms trying to hold or improve their visibility.

Why it matters: - Legal directories and rankings shape how clients and peers evaluate law firms. - RecognizedFirm is designed to help firms move beyond maintaining rankings and toward improving them. - The agency targets a process that is often opaque and high-stakes for legal marketers.

What happened: - RecognizedFirm launched today as a new agency focused on legal directories and industry rankings. - The agency was co-founded by Evyan O'Keefe, who serves as Founding Partner and Co-CEO, and the founders of sister agency 9Sail. - The launch was announced in New York.

The details: - RecognizedFirm says its work centers on the gap between submissions that look strong internally and the way editors and researchers at major legal publications actually evaluate them. - O'Keefe brings more than 15 years of experience on both sides of the rankings process, including in-house work at mid-sized firms and agency-side submission strategy. - Her in-house marketing background includes roles at firms in New York, Chicago and Atlanta. - The agency says it will pay particular attention to firms and niche practice areas that are often overlooked by other agencies. - RecognizedFirm launches with support from 9Sail's founders, giving the agency existing infrastructure and institutional knowledge from day one. - O'Keefe has spoken on legal rankings strategy at the AIJA International Association of Young Lawyers Congress and the Legal Marketing Association's Southeast Region. - O'Keefe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Auburn University. - RecognizedFirm serves law firms and attorneys across the market, from small and mid-sized firms to the AmLaw 100. - More information is available at recognizedfirm.com.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects growing demand for specialized help in a part of legal marketing that can affect both reputation and business development. - By pairing rankings expertise with a team already built through 9Sail, RecognizedFirm is positioning itself as a more mature launch than a typical startup agency. - The focus on how publications actually review submissions suggests the agency is selling process knowledge as much as execution.

What's next: - RecognizedFirm will now compete for firms that want to improve outcomes in legal rankings rather than simply submit materials on time. - The agency's early test will be whether its rankings-specific positioning converts into clients across firm sizes and practice areas. - O'Keefe's public speaking history suggests the agency may lean on education and thought leadership as part of its growth strategy.

The bottom line: - RecognizedFirm is entering the legal marketing space with a narrow but potentially valuable pitch: better rankings results through a clearer understanding of how legal directories actually work.