McGuireWoods is among a handful of law firms named to BTI’s Most Recommended Law Firms list — a rare and prestigious distinction based on unprompted responses from top corporate counsel willing to bet their reputations when recommending specific firms to their peers.
In its report released June 9, 2016, BTI Consulting Group lists McGuireWoods as one of only 25 law firms that have appeared on the list for more than five consecutive years. The list is based on BTI’s independent survey of 322 senior legal decision makers at large and Fortune 1000 companies with $1 billion or more in annual revenue.
A look at the Most Recommended list over a longer period, however, puts McGuireWoods in even more elite company. The firm has made the list each of the 15 years since BTI began its Annual General Counsel Survey, one of just 11 firms to do so.
Among the 25 firms cited in this year’s report as having made the list five times or more, McGuireWoods is one of 16 that also made the 2016 BTI Client Service A-Team, a yearly survey of legal decision makers’ assessments of firms that deliver the best client service. McGuireWoods ranked sixth out of more than 300 elite firms, marking the 10th time the firm made the “Client Service 30” list.
The results of the Most Recommended survey affirm McGuireWoods’ culture of providing unsurpassed client service, innovative business-minded solutions, and a deep understanding of clients’ businesses and markets.
“We are very grateful to enjoy this level of trust and support from clients we value so deeply. It’s gratifying to see our uncompromising commitment to our clients recognized by their willingness to recommend us to others,” said Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods.
Peer-to-peer client recommendations are difficult to earn and exceedingly valuable, putting those firms on the fast track to forging additional close client relationships and new business. According to BTI, only 40 percent of the clients surveyed are willing to recommend their primary law firm to a peer.
The survey also showed that the dominant reason clients cite for recommending firms to their peers is superior client service. Sixty-four percent listed it as the distinguishing characteristic of firms they recommend, five times more than expertise, the second most-cited reason.