Clients tell firms to bill and entertain more often

Clients prefer to be billed monthly and deem corporate entertainment an important factor in assessing their relationships with law firms, according to a survey carried out by London commercial firm Campbell Hooper.The firm received detailed responses from 40 companies, including non-clients and ranging from small businesses to blue-chips.Some 84% of respondents said they preferred to discuss bills with lawyers before receiving them, while 60% said they would prefer to be billed on a monthly basis - most corporate firms bill quarterly or less frequently at present.More than two-thirds (71%) said they wanted a partner as the point of contact on files, rather than an assistant, while 68% said they wanted on-line access to their files; 56% preferred to leave messages with secretaries rather than voicemail, 78% wanted to be updated on legal issues with newsletters, and 71% wished to attend legal seminars.Surprisingly, 58% said they consider corporate entertainment to be important to building relationships with law firms.

A Campbell Hooper spokeswoman said she was unsure whether the respondents meant huge bashes, activities such as shooting days, or lunches.The firm carried out the survey as part of an internal consultation exercise, which ended in a recent conference for assistants and partners held at the Berkeley Hotel in London.The consultation is the first carried out for a law firm by Ciaran Beary Consultants, which usually works for manufacturers and corporations, including Guinness and Renault.Campbell Hooper chief executive Jeremy Dutton said: 'A consultant who is an outsider is uncluttered by the same pre-conceptions under which we as a profession sometimes labour; he can bring a refreshing viewpoint and help us get to the fundamentals of good management.'The firm will take action on the consultation in the new year.Jeremy Fleming