Acritas, which carried out the research, said that the Freshfields success reflects the amount of high-value work it does as well as its concentration in M&A. Linklaters came 4th, followed by Clifford Chance, Baker & McKenzie and DLA Piper. Acritas CEO Lisa Hart Shepherd said: ‘Clients are much more willing to try new options, led by the need for specialist expertise and the drive for value. This is putting those firms which are clear about their market positioning at a considerable advantage.’ Source: The Lawyer