Methodology

Our research begins with a readership survey of in-house counsel subscribers to Lexology, and we also gather feedback at several international in-house counsel events. Clients are asked to rate individual lawyers and law firms on the following client service criteria: quality of legal advice, commercial awareness, industry knowledge, strategic thinking, billing transparency, tailored fee structures, value for money, responsiveness, effective communication, clarity of documentation, sharing of expertise, appropriate staffing, project management, use of technology, loyalty and ethics. To ensure that the results cannot be influenced, law firms are not informed when this initial round of research is conducted.

Our research is used to draw up shortlists by country and work area, and shortlisted candidates are then invited to submit up to five client referees. The research team conducts follow-up interviews and additional research where necessary. While based on thorough and coherent research, the results remain the subjective views of the Client Choice team.