Client Service and Deep Skill Set Key to an Elite Brand, Andrew Humphrey Tells Law360

Law360's coverage of the BTI Brand Elite 2014: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms report from The BTI Consulting Group highlighted FaegreBD's rankings on three top lists and included comments from FaegreBD Managing Partner Andrew Humphrey.

"I view our brand as being derivative of client service," Humphrey told Law360 regarding FaegreBD's inclusion on the list of firms with elite brands. "We're not out there to sell a brand—we're trying to differentiate ourselves based on client service." The article, "GCs Name Most Elite Law Firms," noted that FaegreBD is the highest-ranked newcomer on the Brand Elite list, at No. 11.

Law360's article, "8 Firms That GCs Say Are Worth the Price Tag," noted that FaegreBD was ranked among the top five "Value Leaders," firms making changes in the client experience to add value. Humphrey said FaegreBD had leveraged its recent merger to increase its value by offering new talent and skill sets from both legacy firms, improving project management and focusing on listening to clients. "If you can understand your client's business, industry and challenges, you can provide much better client service, and that's what's driving value," Humphrey said.

Integrating talent from the two firms has been key to increasing value, Humphrey added. "It takes time to get to know your colleagues in that area and to get to know their experience in order to really robustly and enthusiastically recommend them to clients," he said. "I think that is picked up by clients, who are saying, 'Wow, they have a broader skill set and an ability to help us in a deeper way than they did before.'"

FaegreBD was also listed as one of the 12 firms general counsel most frequently recommend and short-list in "The 12 Firms GCs Won't Stop Talking About."