| Seyfarth Shaw | Stand-out | Client service model | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Using the Six Sigma management process to revamp the firm's business model in a way that is unique to the profession. In some cases, the firm has been able to reduce fees by 30 per cent. |
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| Bryan Cave | Stand-out | Structural approach to innovation | 8 | 7 | 7 | 22 | Creating teams dedicated to improving process and innovation. One of them, the client technology group, develops technology solutions. |
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| Axiom | Stand-out | Managed services | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Employing an advanced process and technology-based efficiencies to improve legal functions or workflows. |
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| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton | Stand-out | Regulatory reform initiative | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | A customised interactive database that tracks financial regulatory reform for clients, is customisable and meets a pressing business need. |
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| Crowell & Moring | Stand-out | Alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | Wholesale adoption of AFAs that encompasses 25 of the firm's top clients, representing a third of its revenue in 2010. |
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| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe | Stand-out | Talent model; alternative fees and innovative client relationships; alternative metrics; global operations centre | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 | An overall approach to being innovative, the firm has tried to become more efficient, manage its people and clients better and has attempted to measure success differently. |
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| Fenwick & West | Highly commended | “Flex” | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | The technology licensing practice offers experienced attorneys the opportunity to become part of their clients' legal teams to help with fluctuations in resourcing requirements. |
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| Paul Hastings | Highly commended | Providing market intelligence in the commercial lending sector | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | Addressing the lack of data in secured loan transactions, built a database to identify market issues for clients. |
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| Seyfarth Shaw | Highly commended | Facilitating a multinational transaction for Royal Bank of Canada | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | Brought the use of Six Sigma to its client's transactions, thereby transforming the bank's experience of legal services. |
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| WilmerHale | Highly commended | Alternative fee arrangements | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | One of the first to go to market with a comprehensive AFA programme, the firm has instituted a “matter management” programme. It stresses relationships, strategy and team management alongside billing arrangements. Some 15 per cent of the firm's fees are now under AFAs. |
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| Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati | Highly commended | Supporting west coast business | 7 | 6 | 6 | 19 | Through information technology tools such as the term sheet generator and document automation through to its entrepreneurs college, the firm supports its clients through cutting costs and training. |
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| Davis Polk & Wardwell | Commended | Regulatory tracker and hub | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | One of the first tools invented by law firms to meet the Dodd-Frank Act changes, the firm's hub offers services to clients on a fixed-fee basis. It is complemented by reports that track the progress of the rule makers. |
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| Dechert | Commended | Project management cost-cutting initiative | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Prompted by clients, the firm has begun to change the way it strategises, budgets and communicates. It is developing value-based fee structures. |
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| Dewey & LeBoeuf | Commended | Mock mergers and acquisitions negotiation programmes, M&A forums, in-house training sessions | 6 | 7 | 5 | 18 | Offering training and business development, the firm is pioneering a new form of commercial education to law students, while also training in-house legal teams in Silicon Valley. |
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| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US | Commended | Using the downturn | 6 | 7 | 5 | 18 | Taking advantage of the downturn to hire talent and expand its US footprint, the firm is inventing global products for clients while also using process maps to deliver better efficiencies. |
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| Kenyon & Kenyon | Commended | Emergency rebranding services | 5 | 6 | 7 | 18 | A systematic workflow and staffing model that expedites the corporate name change clearances for companies. |
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| Latham & Watkins | Commended | Practice support services team | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | A multi-disciplinary team, created to support the litigation department, offering tools, technologies and consulting services to achieve clients' goals cost-effectively. |
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| Seyfarth Shaw | Commended | Cross-border business model for employment law services | 5 | 6 | 7 | 18 | An integrated service that crosses 140 countries and offers clients a single point of contact for complex employment requirements. |
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| Allen & Overy | Commended | Online system to track global regulatory reforms | 6 | 6 | 5 | 17 | A portal that works through a strong visual content to help financial institutions stay on top of changing regulations in the US and overseas. |
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| Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft | Commended | Response to Dodd-Frank Act and Consumer Protection Act | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | Rated by clients, the firm's securities and futures analysis helps clients see the thinking behind the regulators’ decisions. |
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| Shook, Hardy & Bacon | Commended | Helping clients manage legal budgets through the Tyco model | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | One of the first to actively help clients control litigation costs through its work for Tyco, which has now been rolled out to other projects and across practice areas. |
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