2 May 2008
Intendance Awards announce the winners and losers among law firms’ websites for 2008
The Intendance Fast 50 winners were announced at last night’s Intendance Awards at Quadrant Chambers in London. Guest of honour, Cherie Booth QC, presented the overall winner Allen & Overy with their award. The report is the industry-standard benchmark for law firms’ websites, and has been split into three parts this year to reflect its growing remit.
Published annually, the Fast 50 survey subjects the websites of Britain’s 50 most successful law firms to rigorous scrutiny in four categories – Content, Design, Usability and Marketing. Allen & Overy were the overall winners, and the winners in the design category.
Now in its 7th year, the Fast Fifty is renowned throughout the legal sector as the benchmark survey of law firm website excellence. The report assesses the websites of the 50 fastest growing solicitors’ firms (by turnover) from The Lawyer UK Top 100 in 2007, giving a detailed analysis of how law firms present themselves online with an overall percentage score derived for each website.
“By its very nature, the online world is quick to evolve”, says James Tuke, head of Intendance Research. “The survey shows how law firms are striving to keep up with the changes inherent in Web 2.0, and how new technology can help them combine offline and online strategy. James added, "the ability to speak directly to a client, a potential recruit or any other stakeholder, is the holy grail of any commercial website.”
Each website was independently assessed by at least two reviewers and rated on a total of 88 criteria with the scores being weighted using a system of importance based on the reviewers’ extensive experience of website analysis in a number of professional service sectors.
Highlights from the awards include Allen & Overy being highlighted as having the best website in the legal sector and a site most likely to win business. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Fladgate Fielder were identified as having the worst website in the report, but since converting to Fladgate LLP, a new site has been launched.
Special mention was also made of the best graduate and corporate social responsibility (CSR) microsites, which were both by last year’s overall winner Addleshaw Goddard.
The most improved law firm website is from Withers. The firm was among the last five in 2007, but has moved up to be 13th overall this year.
The Category Winners
Content: Freeth Cartwright won this category on the back of their comprehensive and sophisticated range of quality content and its client-orientated nature, from online services to cutting-edge blogs
Usability: Mishcon de Reya came out top here through their simple yet functional site. Cross-referencing is particularly impressive, with users being able to access many different types of information from one page
Design: Allen & Overy won impressively due to a website that manages to be inviting, subtle and professional. Effective use of colour, font sizes and shading breaks the monotony of text-heavy pages, making content easier to assimilate
Marketing: Nabarro were the clear winners in this category thanks to their strong branding, which was communicated clearly and cleverly throughout the site
The Top 25
Allen & Overy
Nabarro
Freeth Cartwright
Herbert Smith
Mischon de Reya
Field Fisher Waterhouse
Linklaters
SJ Berwin
Trowers & Hamlins
Clifford Chance
Pannone & Partners
Irwin Mitchell
Withers
DLA Piper
Ward Hadaway
Taylor Wessing
Dickinson Dees
Morgan Cole
Weightmans
Speechly Bircham
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Mills & Reeve
Brodies
DWF
Clarke Willmott
For further information on The Intendance Award winners or a sample of the report, please visit www.intendance.com
