The Second Annual International Law Office Client Choice Awards

October, 2006 - Santiago, Chile

For immediate release

On September 19 2006 the International Law Office (ILO) was proud to host the second
annual Client Choice Awards ceremony in Chicago. The prestigious ceremony was attended
by 120 managing and senior partners representing the nominated firms – with just one
exclusive winner in each of 34 jurisdictions. This year’s winners are listed below.
These international awards are the first and only to focus on the full spectrum of client service
and customer care. This unique approach, together with ILO’s unrivalled presence among law
firm clients globally, was reflected in the response to the survey from which the winners were
shortlisted. Over 1,100 individual assessments by corporate counsel of law firms with which
they had worked in the past 18 months were polled. This clearly demonstrates, as Alan
Dunlop, VP and general counsel at the Hess Corporation, noted in his opening address, that
"the Client Choice awards bypass the marketing gloss to show which firms are actually
delivering real value to their clients, day in, day out - which, in the end, is what the people on
both sides of the relationship really want". By taking part in the survey, respondents
expressed their wish to reward, and therefore encourage, firms for their excellence in client
service.
The criteria for the awards focused on law firms’ ability to add real value to their clients’
business above and beyond the other players in the market. The firms were assessed on the
following criteria: quality of legal advice; value for money; commercial awareness; effective
communication; billing transparency; tailored fee structures; depth of team; response time;
sharing of expertise; and use of technology.

The Winners:

Argentina Bruchou, Fernández Madero, Lombardi & Mitrani
Australia Allens Arthur Robinson
Austria Preslmayr Attorneys at Law
Belgium Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Brazil Demarest & Almeida Advogados
Canada Ogilvy Renault LLP
Chile Carey y Cía
China Baker & McKenzie LLP
Czech Republic Salans
Denmark Bech-Bruun
Finland Roschier Holmberg Attorneys Ltd
France Gide Loyrette Nouel
Germany Shearman & Sterling LLP
Hong Kong Lovells
India Amarchand Mangaldas
Ireland A&L Goodbody
Italy Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners
Japan Asahi Koma Law Offices
Mexico Basham Ringe y Correa SC
Netherlands Allen & Overy LLP
New Zealand Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
Norway Wiersholm, Mellbye & Bech Advokatfirma AS
Poland Salans
Portugal Abreu Cardigos & Associados
Russia White & Case LLC
Singapore Rajah & Tann
South Africa Bowman Gilfillan Inc
Spain Clifford Chance
Sweden Advokatfirman Vinge
Switzerland Lenz & Staehelin
UAE Clyde & Co
UK Herbert Smith LLP
USA Latham & Watkins LLP
International Baker & McKenzie LLP

Contact Information:
Tom Gillett,
Research Manager
Tel: +44 20 7234 0606
Fax: +44 20 7234 0808
email: [email protected]
www.internationallawoffice.com

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