Martindale-Hubbell undertakes to learn what other lawyers think about a particular attorney by conducting an opinion survey, also called a "Peer Review Study."  It then rates the attorney based on the responses.  The firm's founder, Timothy C. Karen, is rated AV.   The A in this rating means that other attorneys say that Mr. Karen is "Very High to Preeminent" in his field.  The V means that other attorneys think that Mr. Karen has "very high ethical standards."

According to Martindale-Hubbell, "an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. A lawyer must be admitted to the bar for 10 years or more to receive an AV rating."