Hanukkah is right here, Christmas is almost upon us, and everybody within the authorized occupation is able to ring within the New 12 months, so it’s lastly time to disclose the six finalists for our seventeenth annual vacation card contest. However first let’s give shout-outs to some honorable mentions (click on on every agency’s identify to see its card):
1. Armond Wilson: Yet one more unbelievable card “a few of the cleverest IP litigators within the universe” — this agency was gunning for its third honorable point out in a row, and right here it’s! Impressed by the beloved Charlie Brown Christmas Particular, this card options agency founder Michelle Armond channeling Lucy to dispense IP litigation assist.
2. Capua Legislation: This card comes full with some stereotypical lawyerly edits that you have to see for your self to have just a little chuckle.
3. Diaz Commerce Legislation: “Who even heard of a tariff earlier than 2025?! Customs attorneys have actually been by way of the wringer this yr. Someway they nonetheless discovered the time to place collectively this epic vacation card.” A card that includes Santa attempting to get round tariffs? Say much less!
And now, the six finalists, in alphabetical order. Once more, click on on every agency’s identify to view its card. Please observe that almost all of those playing cards have SOUND, so that you would possibly wish to flip your hold forth or down, or use headphones. Explanatory feedback come from agency representatives except indicated.
1. Butler Snow: After successful this competitors in 2023 and 2024, this agency is again with one more memorable vacation card. Are you able to say threepeat? From the nominator: “This yr we got down to reply a few of the most urgent vacation authorized questions. For those who’ve ever questioned whether or not or not you would sue somebody for providing you with one other fruitcake, or for those who’ve ever considered utilizing municipal bonds to finance a vacation parade, then we’ve acquired you coated!”
2. Davis Wright Tremaine: “Created in partnership with world-renowned Rube Goldberg machine expert-builder Zach Umperovitch, this Finish-of-12 months movie showcases a {custom} chain-reaction machine designed to transition by way of all 4 seasons. Crafted and filmed by DWT Studios, the piece displays the agency’s spirit of innovation and connection — capturing the story of a yr by way of movement, precision, and collaboration.” Don’t look away from this extremely fascinating vacation video card, you would possibly miss one thing!
3. Fish & Richardson: Our nominator wonders, “Does navigating the holidays ever really feel as tough as fixing a fancy math or science downside?” To not fear, as a result of this IP agency has your again. “As an IP agency the place 85% of our authorized workers have a STEM diploma, our vacation card lightheartedly acknowledges that every of us should name upon our internal scientist to navigate this season! The graphics assist the message by that includes math equations, laptop algorithms, and chemistry formulation on a blackboard background. Whereas the sq. root of a snowman stays one of many nice unsolved equations of our time, we have been fortunate to have the ability to name upon a number of of the 115 Ph.D.s at our agency to validate the actual equations and formulation!” (There actually are some difficult formulation featured on this card, and Fish is really fortunate to have workers available who can determine them out.)
4. Larson • King: From our nominator: “For a few years the agency has pushed the boundaries with their vacation playing cards. The 2025 greeting highlights this yr’s Depraved-mania with a authorized twist. Be part of Elf-aba as she journeys to Saint Paul for authorized help from a well-known face. That includes parodies resembling What’s This Pleading? (What’s This Feeling?), My Lawyer and I (The Wizard and I), Litigate (In style), and Defending Legality (Defying Gravity). The agency loved creating the parody of the songs to show them into authorized converse. The music and vocals have been custom-created for this video by a neighborhood Minneapolis producer.” Now a 12-time vacation card contest finalist, this agency is in it to win it with Depraved authorized aptitude. This card is just “thrillifying”!
5. Legislation Workplace of Andrew L. Gradman, APC: This nominator has been staring on the tax code for a lot too lengthy, and he had to determine find out how to make it enjoyable once more. “Most sections of the Inside Income Code are three- or four-digit numbers. For those who stare at these lengthy sufficient (as I do), you start to see calendar dates. When you do, you may’t get it out of your head. My hope was that possibly, if I made a calendar the place every date honors a corresponding Inside Income Code part, I’d be capable to transfer on.” Try this intelligent calendarfull of “tax holidays” that solely a real tax professional might love.
6. Lowenstein Sandler: AI hallucinations acquired you down? This agency is aware of find out how to immediate its approach proper out of that. Our nominator notes: “By playfully simulating an AI-chatbot change, Lowenstein Sandler’s 2025 vacation card delivers heat needs with a contemporary, humorous contact that additionally illustrates the agency’s decades-long fame on the forefront of tech. It highlights the agency’s forward-looking outlook, its management in advising purchasers on the productive and compliant use of AI, and its personal use of AI to boost effectivity and technique. Mixing authenticity, appreciation, and tech-savvy creativity, we predict it stands out as a intelligent vacation greeting.”
Now it’s time for our viewers to vote. We’ll hold the polls open by way of WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. (Jap time). This offers you ample time to marketing campaign on your decide over the vacations (however please, don’t cheat).
Because of all of the entrants and nominators, good luck to the finalists, and pleased holidays to all! Above the Legislation is pleased to have fun vacation cheer with you!
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be happy to e mail her with any suggestions, questions, feedback, or critiques. You may comply with her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join together with her on LinkedIn.
