HOUSTON, November 19, 2009 -- In an annual survey of corporate counsel at Fortune 1000 and large companies released this week, Baker Botts L.L.P. earned a No. 3 ranking in the "Best of Class" category of the 2010 BTI Client Service 30.

The firm was recognized as "Best of the Best" by survey participants in five of the 17 categories used to compile the rankings: deals with unexpected changes, handles problems, helps advise on business issues, legal skills and understands the client's business.

The BTI Consulting survey is an annual analysis of client service by 240 general counsel and c-level executives. Survey participants define the 17 activities used to select and evaluate outside counsel.

Baker Botts "provides consistently high levels of client service, as evidenced by the the firm's status as one of just 10 firms in the Top 30 to enjoy a position on this elite list for 6 of the past 9 years," the commentary accompanying the firm's profile in the survey results stated. "Baker Botts improves performance this year in 11 of the 17 activities."

Corporate counsel who participated in the survey "recognize Baker Botts' superior expertise and breadth of services as distinct strengths." They also appreciate "the firm's stellar management skills and emphasis on delivering value to its clients."

Michael B. Rynowecer, president of BTI Consulting, told Law360 -- the Web-based publication that released the survey this week -- that the results "paint a picture of which firms have been able to keep up with clients' changing needs and expectations, despite hurdles posed by the economy and a changing legal industry."

"The top firms provide more value-added information to clients," he added. "They also have good client feedback systems, where they are getting information from clients on a real-time basis, and anticipating their clients' needs. The top firms are very client-focused. Generally speaking, the approach of putting clients first is not partner-specific, but done across the board, and that is actually fairly unusual."

IP Department chair Bart Showalter told Law360 that "client service was a principal focus of the firm's two most recent strategic plans, including one completed this year. We collect feedback from clients both informally, as part of client team meetings throughout an engagement, and formally, through client interviews with senior lawyers who are not necessarily part of the client team."

Maria Boyce, partner in charge of the firm's Houston office, told Law360 that Baker Botts spends a great deal of time trying to understand a clients' business inside and out, both in terms of the issues a company has to deal with now and the issues that might arise in the future. That often means providing specialists that can deal with complex matters, and having specialists in different fields work together, she said.

"On complex tax matters, our corporate lawyers and our tax lawyers will routinely team up," she said. "In intellectual property disputes, our patent lawyers will team up with our litigators to make sure we have people who are highly knowledgeable working on the case."

Baker Botts is the only Texas-based firm included in the Top 5 of the BTI Client Service 30. It is important to note that results vary from year-to-year because the survey is based on interviews. In the 2009 BTI Client Service Survey, for instance, the firm ranked No. 13.

Law360 coverage of the 2010 BTI Client Service Survey results is available here.

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About Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P., dating from 1840, is a leading international law firm with offices in Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Palo Alto (California), Riyadh and Washington. With approximately 800 lawyers, Baker Botts provides a full range of legal services to international, national and regional clients. For more information, please visit www.bakerbotts.com.

Media Contact
Michael Cinelli
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713.229.1764 (office)
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mike.cinelli@bakerbotts.com