Linklaters is expanding a client relationship review programme that will see the magic circle firm use former partners to gauge how well the firm is managing its dealings with clients.

The programme is set to be extended across Linklaters' entire client base after early trials saw the firm conduct research with small groups of core clients.

Former capital markets partner Stephen Edlmann, banking partner Fiona Rice and real estate partner Alexandra Marks are all working on the project part time after taking consultancy roles with the firm following their departure from the partnership. The initial pilot ran with three clients and was expanded in mid-2009 to around nine additional clients.

The firm declined to name any of the clients involved so far; however, at least two financial institutions are thought to have been on the list. Linklaters counts Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, JP Morgan, Vodafone and BP among its roster of core clients.

London corporate partner Roger Barron has been running the project since the summer, with clients being asked for feedback on both their existing experience with Linklaters as well as the potential of expanding the relationship to new areas of work.

He told Legal Week: "We wanted to have a good look at our client relationships, both established and new, and really drill down into them so we can understand our clients' needs better, make new contacts and work more collaboratively with them. We found that former partners were the ideal people to do this as they can be objective while also being sufficiently knowledgeable about the firm."