Continuing its consistently impressive organic growth, South East heavyweight Stevens & Bolton has posted a 9% hike in turnover to a new high of £26.8m, as the firm maintains its climb up the Legal Business 100.
Profit per equity partner, meanwhile, also hit a record high in 2017/18, increasing by 25% from £330,000 to £411,000. The results mean the Guildford-based firm has secured consecutive growth for the last seven years, with heightened activity in corporate, employment and pensions all contributing.
In addition, major disputes in the aviation industry have boosted the firm’s figures, according to managing partner Richard King, as have client wins in the insurance and construction sectors. He added that the firm is now looking for similar growth during the next financial year after a strong start to the summer.
‘There’s been a strong growth in corporate and lots of M&A activity. Our employment group has really taken an upturn, which is very encouraging, and the infamous GDPR has contributed to that.’
King has been at the helm of the national firm since May 2017, when he succeeded Ken Woffenden following the completion of his five-year term. Currently the partner headcount at Stevens & Bolton stands at 42, with 150 lawyers in total, with the firm also announcing today a promotion round that saw construction and engineering specialist Kimberley Eyssell and corporate tax lawyer Jamie Crawford made up to partner.
‘We are always looking to expand further, particularly on the corporate side – we feel there’s room for recruitment there,’ added King.
Earlier this month the firm, which was named National/Regional firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards in 2016, also announced it was advising long-standing client Seal Software on its acquisition of the US-based legal analytics firm Apogee Legal.
thomas.alan@legalbusiness.co.uk
