Each year, Super Lawyers — an organization that maintains a directory of the nation’s most distinguished attorneys — recognizes the top lawyers in each state. This year, Dawn K. Gull was awarded the Super Lawyer designation for the 15th straight year.
The award is based on an attorney’s professional achievements and reputation among their peers, and candidates go through a rigorous selection process. Being named a Super Lawyer even once is a great honor, and her multiple years on the list are a testament to Ms. Gull’s experience and dedication to her clients.
What Makes a Super Lawyer?
Super Lawyers is a directory founded by Thomson Reuters. It’s intended to help those looking for high-quality legal representation to find lawyers across a range of practice areas.
Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, so the multi-phase selection process is designed to identify attorneys who are exceptionally well-rounded. Super Lawyers doesn’t disclose exactly how factors are weighted, but selection is based on 12 key indicators:
- An attorney’s position within their firm
- Verdicts and/or settlements won
- Transactions
- Honors and awards
- Representative clients
- Special licenses and certifications
- Involvement with the bar and other professional associations
- Pro bono activity and other kinds of community service
- Employment and education history
- Lectures and publications
- Experience
- Other notable achievements
Peer evaluations also factor significantly in the process. In order to be considered, attorneys must be nominated by a peer or discovered through Super Lawyers independent research. Those who receive the highest point totals based on the 12 evaluation factors above are part of the Blue Ribbon Panel, where candidates rate and evaluate other attorneys within their practice area.
In order to keep results fair, a representative number of attorneys from small, medium, and large firms are included in the final selection.
Making the List Since 2005
Before she was named a Super Lawyer, Ms. Gull was selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2005 to 2007. Candidates for the Rising Stars list go through the same selection criteria as those for the Super Lawyers list, but consideration is limited to lawyers who are either under 40 years of age or within their first 10 years of practice.
Ms. Gull was named to the Super Lawyers list beginning in 2010, and 2024 marked her 15th year as a Super Lawyer. However, the Rising Stars and Super Lawyers lists aren’t the only ones she’s made. Super Lawyers releases a number of other lists for top-ranking attorneys every year. In 2021 and 2022, Ms. Gull was named to the Top 50: Pittsburgh Super Lawyers list, and in 2021, she made the Top 50: Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list.
Working Toward a Brighter Future
Since she began practicing law in 1996, Ms. Gull has dedicated her life to helping families in Allegheny and Butler counties navigate some of the most challenging times of their lives. We’d like to congratulate Ms. Gull and thank all of our clients for choosing our firm!