The Client Service A-Team: Ranking The Biglaw Superheroes Of Client Service (2023)
Which firms are among the best of the best?
Which Biglaw firms are most beloved by general counsel for their superior client service? If that seems like it was a steep hill to climb during the roller coaster of a year that was 2022, that’s because it was. The BTI Consulting Group set to find out which firms handled the task with ease with its latest ranking, the Client Service A-Team. In case you’re unfamiliar with this ranking, it measures the top 30 law firms corporate counsel identify as delivering the very best in terms of client service. (This year, because midsize firms really excelled while under fire, the ranking that now covers the Client Service 30, the Client Service 100, and the Client Service 200.)
To compile the ranking, BTI Consulting spoke with more than 350 in-house decision-makers who were asked to name firms that excelled in 17 different client-service-related activities, seven of which reigned supreme above all overs, including: mobilizing resources quickly, fielding the absolute best team, quickly assessing the situation, a commitment to help, delivering value for the dollar, client focus, and understanding the client’s business.
So, which firms are considered the best of the best when it comes to client service? Per BTI Consulting, the firms that made the latest top 30 ranking performed 70% better than the typical firm in terms of client service. As the ranking notes, “client service stalwarts continue to invest relentlessly [in client service] — no matter how well they do. They are convinced they can do better.”
Here are the top 10 firms that made the Client Service A-Team, whose names were mentioned most often across all categories:
1. Kirkland & Ellis
2. Ogletree
3. Jones Day
4. McGuireWoods
5. Gibson Dunn
6. DLA Piper
7. Littler
8. Ropes & Gray
9. Mintz
10. King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis is the new leader of the pack, kicking Jones Day out of the top spot after a six-year stint there. Law360 (sub. req.) has additional details:
According to Michael Rynowecer, president of BTI Consulting, Kirkland secured the No. 1 spot due to its hard work and commitment to delivering the best client service and experience.
“They’re one of the firms that really brings not just legal skills, but their clients say they bring business understanding and business savvy and business intelligence and new approaches,” Rynowecer said.
If attorneys at your firm make more of an effort to better understand your clients’ businesses, then you may find your place of work on this list next time around. Congratulations to all 30 firms that made it to the highest ranks of the Client Service A-List. You’ve proven yourselves to be outstanding when it comes to making corporate clients happy, and that’s worth celebrating.
Clients Single Out Law Firms Delivering the Best Client Service — By Name [Mad Clientist / BTI Consulting]
Kirkland & Ellis Ranks As Top Client Service Firm [Law360 (sub. req.)]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
