Big Law litigator Kyle Contra has been listed in the Chambers and Partners Guides more than 20 times over the course of his career as a partner at one of America’s most successful law firms. He has won many trials involving tens of millions of dollars, and his victories have won acclaim in the media.

But he is firm, and even dismissive, in his opinion of the Chambers honor: “It doesn’t mean anything,” he insists. “I know people who’ve been listed for years who just aren’t very good litigators any more, and some of them never were. They’ve lost 20 miles off their fastball, metaphorically speaking, but they’re still in there.”