Ince & Co has opened its thirteenth office in Marseille while the firm’s senior partner predicts a 15% year-on-year increase in turnover for 2016/17.
The firm had a disappointing 2015/16 financial year, with revenue down 4% from £79.4m to £76.2m. The results followed an 8% drop in turnover the year previous from £86.7m, which was the worst income drop of all the UK’s top 100 law firms in 2014/15.
Ince’s new office in Marseille opens with the hire of two partners, shipping lawyers Fabien d’Haussy, who joins from his own law firm ECD advocates and solicitors, and Laurianne Ribes, who also established her own firm in 2015.
D’Haussy regularly advises large French shipping companies on cargo claims and is also active in yachting matters while Ribes specialises in shipping and transport law, with a reputation for disputes.
Ince senior partner Jan Heuvels (pictured) said: ‘2016 has been a year of growth and investment for Ince & Co. The investment that we are making in our business has started to have a positive impact on our bottom line and we are projecting a 15% year-on-year increase in turnover by financial year end.’
Over the past 18 months the firm has brought in 14 laterals across its network.
The firm opened in Cologne in October last year with the hire of two partners, including CMS’ former insurance group head Stefan Segger and Eva-Maria Goergen.
Ince’s Singapore venture, Ince Law Alliance, hired three more lawyers in November and appointed a new managing director to its Singapore team as it looked to rebuild its Asia offering. In October 2015 the practice was hit hard by the departure of Ince’s Singapore managing partner Richard Lovell and Incisive Law managing director Mohan Subbaraman, who both quit for Reed Smith.
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk
Read more on Ince in the cover feature: ‘Ports in a storm’
