Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer gained sufficient new listed company
clients this quarter to qualify overall for the solicitors
rankings, and in so doing introduced some fresh air
to a largely established order.
Freshfields'
total clientele of 4.5 UK listed company clients was
enough to earn it 12th place in the key ranking of
solicitors firms by their total number of stockmarket
clients. At the other end of the ladder, the top rung
was retained by Eversheds, whose net gain this quarter
of three new clients consolidated its lead. Last quarter's
runner-up, Slaughter and May, retained that spot,
but this quarter has to share it with Ashurst Morris
Crisp. Ashurst's consistent client gains have to be
a source of concern to Slaughter; on current form,
Ashurst could be alone in 2nd place by the time next
quarter's rankings are computed.
Freshfields
also put in a good showing in the other 'size' table,
clients making the most profit, entering at number
eight. The podium places were largely unchanged, with
Linklaters & Alliance maintaining its lead over
Slaughter and May. However, last quarter's third-placed
Norton Rose fell two rungs to 5th, to be replaced
by a resurgent Ashurst Morris Crisp.
Clifford
Chance continued its long-standing dominance of the
two 'growth' tables, with Norton Rose taking the runners-up
spot in each. The fastest growing client table saw
a strong showing by new entrant Freshfields, in at
number three; the firm also managed a creditable eighth
place in the ranking of client with the fastest increasing
earnings.