Eversheds has identified 15 key clients it wants to build stronger relationships with as part of a push towards improved client relationship management.

Lloyds TSB and Tyco are among relationships pinpointed by the UK top 10 law firm, with other core clients indentified in the financial institutions, energy, aerospace and technology sectors.

Business development managers have been appointed for each industry sector as part of the drive to improve client relationship management.

The programme is being run by Eversheds' head of key account management, Anwen Mcdonnell, who was charged with building a team made up of business development managers.

In addition to Mcdonnell, who has worked at Xerox and Oracle, there are eight business development managers who have come from companies including Ernst & Young and Thomson Reuters. Eversheds is looking to ultimately expand the programme to its top 100 clients.

The firm has also launched a Dragons' Den style competition, paying its lawyers for ideas to improve its client management systems. Three lawyers were awarded approximately £7,000 each for their ideas.

A shortlist of four ideas was put to a panel of six FTSE 100 general counsel to judge. Ideas included an IT platform to improve client communications and a timer to help keep a track of fee estimates against budget.