Slaughter and May has held on to the top spot for total London stock market clients according to the first quarterly adviser data of 2015 from data provider Adviser Rankings.

The magic circle outfit advised a total of 122 stock market clients in the three months to 3 February, up one from the final quarterly report of 2014.

The firm's 34 FTSE 100 clients, which included Diageo, Centrica and Unilever according to Adviser Rankings' listings, had a combined market capitalisation of £590bn.

Pinsent Masons, which came in second place for total number of stock market clients, also gained one client, nudging up to a total of 102.

Stephenson Harwood and Howard Kennedy, the two biggest fallers, both dropped six clients, falling from 10th to 13th and from 15th to 20th respectively.

The data awards a single point for a confirmed client relationship, be it a sole or joint appointment.

On the AIM front, Pinsents held on to top spot with 62 clients, up two from November 2014. These included the likes of Faroe Petroleum, Trinity Exploration and Production and AB Dynamics.

Squire Patton Boggs entered the rankings for the first time, in 20th place with 21 clients.

When it comes to FTSE 100 companies, the magic cricle still dominates the adviser table however. Slaughters came out on top again with 34 clients, followed by Linklaters with 31, Freshfields with 25 and Allen & Overy with 21.

Slaughters also topped the consumer goods sector adviser list with nine clients, while Freshfields led in consumer services, holding steady on 24 clients.

The financials sector was dominated by off shore firm Carey Olsen on 61 clients, a lead of 10 over Slaughters. Covington & Burling extended its lead at the top of healthcare by taking on one extra client, up to a total of 11.

Pinsents had the most industrials and oil and gas clients, and was tied first in technology with DLA Piper and Taylor Wessing.