Legal Week has embarked on a search to find the world's most trusted legal advisers by asking more than 1,000 GCs to name their go-to partners.

The research is being undertaken by Legal Week's research arm, Legal Week Intelligence, as part of its annual client satisfaction survey.

In the survey, respondents are asked to identify the firms they instruct and rate them against a range of criteria, including the quality of their legal and commercial advice, value for money and speed of service. This year, for the first time, GCs will also be asked to identify their favourite partners.

The results will be published in November in the annual Client Satisfaction Report, which is now in its 11th year.

Last year, the top international firm was Taylor Wessing, with RPC top in the City firms category and Shoosmiths top among national firms. Davis Polk claimed 1st place in the US category and DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr first among African firms. In Asia, King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin beat other global rivals with Asian practices to claim first place.

Nearly 1,400 clients took part in the survey including representatives from 70% of the FTSE 100.

This year the law firm rankings will be supplemented by a roster of partners who have received the most individual citations.

The six highest-rated partners will also be shortlisted in a new Client Partner of the Year category at the British Legal Awards, which take place at Old Billingsgate market on on 27 November 2014, with the winner to be announced on the night.

The initiative recognises the growing importance of client relationship partners as legal departments seek to build closer relationships with fewer law firms in an effort to reduce their legal bills.

Speaking at the Legal Week Corporate Counsel Forum last week, Philip Bramwell, Group GC of BAE, said the relationship between advisers and their clients had changed significantly during his career.

"When I started, law firm partners used to motor straight past legal departments because the relationships were with senior executives and particularly chairmen…. It is more diverse now and I think most law firms recognise that it is in-house counsel who are going to make those selection decisions."

Bramwell praised law firms for the way they managed client relationships and said client partners acted as an important bridge between his legal department and the law firms it instructs.

He added: "I still believe it is a relationship-based activity between law firms and legal departments – it is not purely transactional."

To participate in the Client Satisfaction Survey, click here. For more details about the Client Satisfaction Report call James Mayer on +44 2073169042 or email [email protected].