Law firm website winners and losers

The Intendance Fast 50 – the industry-standard benchmark for law firms’ websites – was published in early May. Addleshaw Goddard, one of the biggest losers in last year’s Fast 50 survey, this year topped the rankings with its brand-new site, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Linklaters, Maclay Murray & Spens and last year’s winner, Wragge & Co.

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. Addleshaw’s win demonstrates an admirable turnaround from its performance last year.

The Winners
Last year’s overall winner, Wragge & Co, once again wins in the content category but loses a few points on design. Linklaters has the best website within the magic circle and shares the Marketing winning position with Addleshaw Goodard, but as in 2006, it falls down on usability. SJ Berwin’s slick, attractive site once again wins the design category. Maclay Murray & Spens has an excellent website with no outstanding weaknesses, but it falls just short of the winning mark. Wedlake Bell excels in the usability category but does not build on this advantage by making its website attractive in other ways.

The Losers
The survey also reveals that some of Britain’s most respected law firms – including Macfarlanes; Weightmans; HBJ Gateley Wareing; Dickson Minto; and Withers – have websites that give a generally poor impression, turning off clients and making these firms appear unattractive to graduates and lateral hires. The very worst law firm website, which belongs to Holman, Fenwick & Willan, is scheduled for replacement.

“This year’s findings reveal a blistering pace of improvement in the quality of law firms’ websites over the last 12 months,” says James Tuke, head of Intendance Research. “Last year’s runner-up, Simmons & Simmons, has long had an excellent website – one that has won numerous awards over the years and has been regularly cited as an example of excellence.”

“In 2006, its 80% overall rating was very nearly enough to claim overall victory, yet Simmons’s creditable 75% in this year’s survey barely keeps the firm in the top ten. Eight other firms have overtaken this bellwether of excellence and ten more law firms are snapping at its heels.”

Published on: 30-05-2007