U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have rated Shipman one of the Best Law Firms in 34 practice areas in a metropolitan area. The firm received these high rankings based on positive rating by clients and peers for the quality and breadth of its legal experience. Achieving a tiered ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" signals a "unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and regional-based scale. All three tier rankings represent the highest-level feedback a firm can receive and demonstrate the best in the legal industry across the United States."

The firm garnered 24 Tier 1 distinctions in three metropolitan districts in the following practice areas:

Hartford
Banking and Finance Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Criminal Defense: General Practice
Education Law
Employment Law - Management
Health Care Law
Labor Law - Management
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation - Tax
Litigation - Trusts & Estates
Municipal Law
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law

New Haven
Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
Municipal Law

Stamford
Litigation - Real Estate
Real Estate Law

The firm also earned the following Tier 2 honors in 9 areas of law:

Hartford
Commercial Transactions/UCC Law
Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Equipment Finance Law
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

New Haven
Land Use & Zoning Law
Mergers & Acquisitions Law

Stamford
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

The firm earned Tier 3 honors in the New Haven region in the area of Litigation – Real Estate.