Browne Jacobson has, for the second year in a row, posted a rise in turnover of over 10% with the firm generating £58.9m in the 2014/15 financial year – up 17% from last year’s £50.2m
The 17% increase came from an increase in workload spread across the firm’s offices. Manchester saw the fastest growth with a 73% increase in workload, though was closely followed by London with 61% while Exeter recorded 40% and Birmingham and Nottingham also saw their work done rise by 12% and 11% respectively.
The extra revenues come as the firm surpassed the 100-partner mark this year. It latest promotions round made up seven new partners with five in Birmingham and a further two partners in Nottingham, taking the total to 103. Overall headcount stands at 787 employees who, due to a firmwide performance award scheme introduced in 2010, will recieve a 5.5% exceptional award.
Also this year, in January, current managing partner Iain Blatherwick was rewarded with a further three year term with the partnership unanimously re-electing him. As well as overseeing the firm’s rapid turnover growth, his tenure has included the opening of new offices in Manchester and Exeter, plus a new London office at 6 Bevis Marks.
Blatherwick, said: ‘We have had one of our strongest years ever, comfortably exceeding the targets we set ourselves at the start of the year. There have been many highlights during the year but unveiling our new London office, investment in Birmingham and becoming the first UK law firm to achieve a three star Investors in Customers rating particularly stand out as ones that we are immensely proud of. We thrive on delivering excellent client service and these three alone speak volumes about our commitment to delivering the highest quality legal service we can for our clients.’
The £58.9m represents the fifth year in a row in of record results for the firm and consolidates the strong growth shown in 2013/14 when it generated £50.2m – up 11.5% from £45m in 2012/13.
michael.west@legalease.co.uk