Chambers releases the research schedule for the new edition of Chambers Latin America every year in July, including deadlines for every practice area in every jurisdiction in the region, plus Central America and the Caribbean.

1. Why is the date 2 years from now?!

Yes, unfortunately the first thing to do is getting used to the dysfunctional time warp that is the Chambers research + production timeline. As a Chambers researcher, you give up on knowing what year it really is. As a consultant, I try to pretend it makes sense. I guess it does:

For unexciting reasons related to production times for each of the 6 guides published by Chambers, every guide has a different publication date that sets the preceding research timeline. Since Chambers Latin America is published quite late in the year (September), the company decided to make the title forward looking. And as the guide takes just over a year to produce, you end up having to start the research process practically 18 months before the title becomes accurate.

So even though the 2018 guide has not been published yet (it will be available in September 2017 – watch out!), you need to start preparing for the far-sounding 2019 edition now. Easy as.

2. Who do I talk to?

You don’t really need to talk to anyone. If you follow the 2 simple steps: prepare, submit, prepare submit, prepare submit, etc. you can get through the research cycle without ever speaking with a Chambers team member. If you don’t know what to submit, follow the Guidelines provided on the website (see here).

If you still want to speak to someone, aim your communications at the right person in the team. To make sure you receive a quick reply (and don’t accidently irritate anyone), target your message. Research questions should be sent to the researcher assigned to your practice area*. I strongly suggest you read the Guidelines first and don’t ask questions that could be answered by reading it, as that will almost certainly irritate many people. Complaints about current rankings should be sent directly to more senior members of staff. If you just need log in details to submit your documents, email Enquiries directly and spare the research team. (Have I mentioned I was a researcher? Believe me, you want to keep them on your good side)

The main thing to keep in mind is that, much like your time, the time of researchers and editors at Chambers is a valuable resource that you shouldn’t overuse, so keep your communications meaningful and strategic.

3. How strict are the deadlines?

Short answer: Deadlines are strict and you always benefit from following them. The end.

Long answer: Researchers will sometimes allow for firms to submit information past the deadline (especially submissions) but your firm and lawyers will always benefit from submitting information on time as it guarantees the maximum amount of time to get feedback from your clients. The end.

*Researcher names and contact details have not been announced yet but will be revealed over the next couple of weeks.