Sidley, Skadden, Jones Day top Fortune 1,000

Sidley Austin, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Jones Day have retained their positions as the favoured counsel to the US's leading corporations, according to new research.

The annual survey of client satisfaction within Fortune 1,000 companies by BTI Consulting Group reveals that just 21 firms dominate primary relationships with the US's largest listed companies.

Sidley topped the list for 2006, relegating last year's winner Skadden to second place, while Jones Day retained its third-place ranking.

Sidley jumped up one spot to lead the rankings after recording the most overall primary relationships and client recommendations.

Sidley also came top of the list for overall client satisfaction, ranking alongside Davis Polk & Wardell, Goodwin Procter and King & Spalding.

Meanwhile, Skadden ranked second in the overall rankings, after topping the list of 'go-to' firms (firms that clients turn to in troubled times).

However, the New York heavyweight also received a reprimand from clients dissatisfied with the Skadden service for the second year in a row.

Six other firms were also reprimanded for the second year running. They were: Baker & McKenzie, Cravath Swaine & Moore, Kirkland & Ellis, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, Morrison & Foerster and Shearman & Sterling.

Clifford Chance remained the highest-ranked UK-based firm, ranking in the survey's second tier 'power player' category - an improvement on the third tier 'contender' category last year.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was meanwhile categorised as a 'celebrity' firm, applauded for its client satisfaction despite lacking a large number of primary client relationships within the Fortune 1,000.

Linklaters and Allen & Overy also made appearances in the survey, listed alongside the majority of firms as 'suitors' - those firms with a minimum number of primary relationships.