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UK 2OO ANNUAL
REPORT 2010
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TLS_001_UK200_cover_dis:TLS_001_UK200_cover_dis 20/8/10 14:01 Page 1
TLS_002_UK200_10_di s : TLS_002_UK200_10_di s 18/ 8/ 10 09: 06 Pa ge 1
THE UKS largest 200 law firms are toughening up. For as long as
there have been lists of revenue, profit and numbers of lawyers, firms
have claimed they are being run as efficient businesses.
In the past the sheer fat on the bone at most firms has told a
different story. But the headcount reductions seen in the past couple
of years suggest that at least some of the realities of corporate life have
finally reached a bunch of businesses used to clearing upwards of 40 per
cent profit on their activities. The measures many firms have taken to
cut costs, and the wider implications of that cost-cutting, is the theme of
this years book.
The changing profit margin is just one of the thousands of numbers
in this years The Lawyer UK 200 Annual Report. But what is even more
critical than statistics is context. For the first time we are including
individual profiles of each of the UKs top 200 firms independent editorial
that includes detail on remuneration, equity structure, geographical
locations and core practice areas.
This is by some way the most comprehensive and exhaustive round-up of
the UKs largest firms the main actors in a UK legal market that has never
been more competitive, recession or no recession.
The game is changing. These are the players.
Methodology At the start of the summer The Lawyer sent a
questionnaire requesting financial and headcount data to almost 300
firms. Most answered every question. This year we have identified firms
that refused to divulge headline total revenue and average profit figures.
Nine firms in the top 100 and just three in the second 100 refused to
divulge the key results. For the first time we have also named the barristers
chambers where figures have been estimated. We believe transparency cuts
both ways.
Headcount figures are averages of the 2009-10 financial year. Net profit is the
money available for distribution to full equity partners only, and differs from
the total profit available to all classes of partner, a proportion of which is
booked as a cost.
Matt Byrne, features editor
Contents
The Lawyer|UK 200|3
Editor Catrin Griffiths Features editor Matt Byrne News editor Margaret Taylor Senior reporters Katy Dowell , Luke McLeod-Roberts Reporters James Swift , Gavriel Hollander,
Andrew Pugh Lawyer 2B Editor Husnara Begum 020 7970 4644 Reporter Corinne McPartland Group production editor Damian Lawrence Deputy production editor Vanessa Lawrence
Senior sub-editor Stephen Godson Art editor Marion Francis Web sub-editor Kirsty Wright Recruitment advertising manager Jamie McGregor Recruitment sales Elizabeth Owen-Pam,
Shilpa Suthar, James OGorman Display sales Richard Edwards Business development Philippa Schlaefli International sales director Mark Doyle International sales manager
David Freeman CPD/events Mita Versani Lawyer 2B sales manager Mark Philbrick Senior conference producer Gareth Wilson
Publisher TheLawyer.comDavid Hall Publishing director Libby Child
Email: forename.surname@thelawyer.com
The Lawyer is published weekly by Centaur Media plc, St Giles House, 50 Poland Street, London W1F 7AX. Switchboard 020 79704000. For circulation and subscription enquiries: 020 7292 3716,
email lawcirc@centaur.co.uk. ISSN 0953-7902. THE LAWYER IS PRINTED ON 100 PER CENT RECYCLED PAPER
4 Introduction
12 The bar
18 International
Sectors
22 Corporate
24 Banking and finance
26 Real estate
28 Litigation
Profiles
30 The big four
36 Five to 100
73 101 to 200
Tables
89 Profit per equity partner
90 Net profit
93 Cost per lawyer
94 Revenue per partner
97 Revenue per lawyer
100 UK 200 100 to 200
102 UK 200 one to 100
UK 2OO ANNUAL
REPORT 2010
TLS_003_a ug_uk200_c ont e nt s _e d 26/ 8/ 10 14: 56 Pa ge 3
Introduction
4|The Lawyer|UK 200
FIRST, a surprise. Although the total revenue generated by the UKs
200 largest law firms fell by 676m last year, a 4 per cent drop to
14.94bn, these firms still generated more fees last year than they
did at the height of the boom in 2007-08.
That year the top 200 posted a total turnover of 14.84bn. The
year before, the first year that The Lawyer began tracking the top
200, the total was just 13.53bn, nearly 10 per cent lower than it
was at the end of 2009-10. Indeed, the five-year increase since
2005-06 was 10.4 per cent.
It is a similar story when the focus shifts to the top 100 largest
firms. Last years total revenue was 13.73bn, 667m and 4.6 per
cent down on 2008-09. Compared with the boom year of 2007-08,
however, there is virtually no difference (94m or 0.6 per cent)
between the two totals. For all the talk of the dire straits facing the
UK legal market, that is some performance.
Over five years the story of the UKs top 100 is even more
dramatic. In 2005-06, a year after The Lawyer christened the term
silver circle to describe a bunch of high-rolling, high-earning
private equity-led firms capitalising on the corporate boom, such as
Ashurst, Macfarlanes and SJ Berwin, the top 100 generated
10.88bn. Since then, despite the recession, the total has grown by
26 per cent (and if it is truly surprising statistics you are after, then
how about this: the firm that put on most revenue over the past five
years was DWF, which posted an 111 per cent bump, from 33.9m
to 71.5m, closely followed by Bird & Bird, up by 109 per cent, from
96.7m to 201.8m).
So the demise of Halliwells notwithstanding it is by no means
all doom and gloom out there. But as readers of The Lawyer often
like to point out, building revenue is not usually the problem. Profit
is what counts.
Profit of doom
Here there are signs of stress. The total net profit among the top
100 shrank significantly last year when compared with the height
of the boom. That year, 2007-08, the top 100 generated a total
profit of 4.79bn. Last year that had dropped by 13.4 per cent to
4.15bn, a figure that was also down on 2008-09 (4.16bn) and
2006-07 (4.26bn). You would have to go all the way back to 2005-
06 (3.57bn) to find a year when the top 100 made less profit than
it did last year.
Indeed, a snapshot of the top 100s average profit per equity
partner (PEP), that oft-disparaged metric, is even more illustrative.
Although it rose by 3.7 per cent last year, from 402,000 to
417,000, PEP at the largest 100 UK firms remained some way
short of the boom years 497,000 and also a way off the figure in
2006, when it was 482,000.
But then, if ever there was a year in which the value of PEP as a
guide to a firms financial health was undermined, it was surely
2009-10. This was the year of the double-digit bounce, largely the
result of it reflecting a recovery from the lowest of low ebbs.
At times during this years financial reporting season it seemed
that, if you were not posting hefty PEP increases, you were either in
the wrong market or you were Halliwells.
This summer a succession of firms posted PEP increases that
bordered on the farcical. One after another firms including LG,
Shoosmiths, Blake Lapthorn and Travers Smith queued up to
trumpet rises of 50, 60 and even 70 per cent (the highest The
Lawyer spotted was Scottish firm Burness, where PEP was up by
94 per cent).
These results provided plenty of ammunition for those who claim
it is a devalued indicator. As more than one law firm partner and
legal market commentator pointed out, the astronomical rises in
PEP figures were more often than not due to nothing more than the
fact that said figures had been so dire the year before.
The final cuts
But they were also due to the extreme measures firms had been
taking to get back on track, namely cutting costs. This is the flip side
to these, at first sight, impressive returns to form.
So how to judge a firms performance in this most turbulent of
periods? And what has been the impact on a battered profession of
the most ruthless period of cost-cutting in living memory?
It is widely accepted that the only way to assess a firms
performance accurately is to consider a range of indicators. Or, as
Clifford Chance managing partner David Childs memorably
put it earlier this year: Use a dashboard of metrics to review
performance, including revenue, PEP, RPL [revenue per lawyer]
and RPP [revenue per partner], and other important measures,
such as client retention, client wins and so on.
But if anything can be relied upon as predictable and certain at law
firms, it is costs. Costs are harder to fudge than PEP. They are even
harder to change. They are all but fixed except for headcount, the only
variable that can be adjusted with any degree of rapidity and one that
at most firms accounts for around 60 per cent of total overheads.
Consequently, over the past couple of years most firms have been
taking full advantage of that fact.
Even so, only 60 of the 93 firms for which The Lawyer has costs data
stretching back five years posted reductions in their total costs last
year. Over five years 81 of the 93 saw their costs increase in line with
the overall growth of their businesses, with the expansionist DWF and
Bird & Bird seeing the greatest increases in costs (127 per cent and 122
per cent respectively) out of the top 50.
Clifford Chances total partner count down
by 75; PEP up by 27 per cent
Chopping
and changing
Despite excelling in
fee generation, a tough
recession has been
characterised by client
power and law firms clawing
their way into the black
via outsourcing, merging
and squeezing their staff to
the max. By Matt Byrne
TLS_004_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 26/ 8/ 10 14: 59 Pa ge 4
Only Hammonds from the top 50 saw a costs reduction over five
years, with total overheads dropping by 6 per cent, from 101.4m in
2006 to 95.4m last year. Good news perhaps for its prospective
merger partner Squire Sanders & Dempsey.
But what is astonishing is the firm that has reduced its costs the
most Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The magic circle firm,
which last year generated 3.1m per day, slashed 132m out of its
overheads during 2009-10, from 684m to 552m.
Of course, what really matters is which firm saw the biggest
reduction in total cost proportionately. And that firm, slashing its
costs bill by 19 per cent, is Freshfields.
According to the firms chief executive Ted Burke, this stunning
performance was helped in part by Freshfields disproportionately
large European practice and the depreciation of the euro.
Around half of our revenue and costs are in euros, Burke says.
Other than that Burke struggles to pinpoint a single silver bullet
solution to his firms record cost-cutting.
Weve outsourced some services and looked hard at our internal
spend, and we were very careful about new hiring, Burke adds.
Like all firms weve been pressured to be more efficient and to
adjust to difficult conditions. But we started preparing for the
downturn well in advance, as early as 2007, and that helped a lot.
As part of that Freshfields formed an 10-member operations
executive two years ago chaired by Burke, which monitors and
manages any capital expenditure above 200,000.
This growth has been really helpful in bringing a more disciplined
approach to major expenditures, explains Burke.
The Lawyer tracked the UKs four largest firms performances over
five years, monitoring costs growth versus turnover and headcount.
Three statistics immediately leap out: the 15 per cent and 19.6 per
cent reduction in partners and equity partners respectively at
Freshfields since 2005-06; and the 25 per cent increase in equity
partners at Linklaters over the same period, the result of the latters
decision to head back towards an all-equity partnership.
What is also remarkable about Freshfields figures is that last year
it was the firm that reduced headcount the least of the four.
Freshfields cut total lawyer numbers by just 5 per cent, in contrast
with 7 per cent at Allen & Overy (A&O), 8.5 per cent at Linklaters
and 11 per cent at Clifford Chance (the latter firm reduced its total
partner numbers by a similar proportion, again the highest of the
quartet).
Almost as surprising as Freshfields posting the biggest reduction
in costs last year is the gap between it and the firm that posted the
smallest change, A&O. Between 2008-09 A&O managed a costs
reduction of just 39m.
So while all four have improved, A&O reduced its costs as a
proportion of turnover by just one percentage point last year despite
its restructuring.
In contrast, Freshfields and Clifford Chance both cut proportional
costs by five percentage points between 2008-09 and last year, the
former without the benefit of any major restructuring during the
past two years.
Clifford Chances figures, like Linklaters, show that both firms
took the hit of the restructuring, but also managed to improve the
bottom line by reducing costs in spite of a reduction in overall
turnover at both firms.
Super savers
A&O global senior partner David Morley defends his firms position
by pointing out a few other headline stats.
Introduction
The Lawyer|UK 200|5
8 per cent total headcount reduction
at Freshfields, from 5,038 to 4,653;
partner numbers remained static at 444
111 per cent five-year turnover growth
at DWF, from 33.9mto 71.5m
The table on page 10 shows the
firms with the top 30 margins in
the UK. These are the firms that
were most successful last year in
keeping a lid on costs.
Everyones favourite pensions
boutique Sacker & Partners
heads this years top 100 margins
list at 53 per cent, one place and
one percentage point ahead of
Slaughter and May, which
maintained a 50 per cent-plus
margin despite a dip in average
profit per equity partner last year,
and ahead of Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer (although
the latters 52 per cent margin is
one off the pace, it steals the total
net profit crown with 589m,
81.8m ahead of Linklaters).
All 30 of these firms posted a
margin of 30 per cent or above, a
measure that has long been the
traditional mark of a top-tier
commercial practice. So far the
worst recession in living memory
appears to have done little to
affect that headline statistic.
The 30-somethings
McGrigors
headcount in Belfast
increased from 10
to 100 thanks to
its October 2009
merger with
LEstrange & Brett
177 the number of days it took Freshfields
to clear its costs in 2009-10
TLS_005_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 01 Pa ge 5
Introduction
6|The Lawyer|UK 200
We had the largest increase in turnover over the period of the four
firms [43 per cent], we have the largest number of offices [36, com-
pared with Clifford Chances 29, Freshfields 28 and Linklaters 26]
and we had the largest increase in the number of lawyers. Also our
fees per fee-earner showed the second-highest increase at
29 per cent.
Despite that growth the cost savings achieved by A&O and the rest of
the magic circle reflect the cuts that have been taking place throughout
the UK legal market over the past two to three years. Longer, if the
increased efficiencies looked for by outsourcing are factored in.
Weve been outsourcing document production to India for seven
or eight years its as old as the hills, says Morley.
Freshfields Burke agrees. Outsourcing isnt as new as some would
have you believe, he says. I remember US law firms outsourcing
cleaning, reproduction and so on as early as the 1980s. What is truly
different is the increased momentum to outsource certain types of
legal services.
Whats interesting now, agrees Morley, is that outsourcing is
beginning to lap up against the shore of legal services.
As he confirms, this recent trend towards legal process outsourcing
(LPO) is also being driven by the increasing expectations of clients
for greater efficiencies. Or to put it another way, a recognition that
the conditions that have long applied to law firms clients and the
rest of UK industry also apply to them.
Law firms have been cushioned from market forces that
apply to other industries, argues Eversheds managing partner
Lee Ranson. Until now they didnt have to do it. Look at the profit
margins there were so many firms with margins of 35 per cent or
more. Thats unheard of in the vast majority of industries.
Now those margins are attracting the attention of rivals rivals
without law firms historical hang-ups that could happily cut a
swathe through the market.
Couple that with increased competition and an oversupply of
lawyers, and the conditions are ripe for change, adds Ranson, who
insists that cost-saving was not the primary driver for his firms
decision to outsource much of its back office services to Accenture
(the Eversheds boss says international expansion and best practice
were two of the three key imperatives, along with saving money).
Cutting costs is very important, but its not the only driver,
emphasises Ranson. If it was wed have come up with another
solution. Accenture isnt cheap.
Human blights
The increasingly hard-nosed approach to the provision of legal
services the industrialisation of the law, if you like has
another cost, of course: human.
Along with the ranks of support staff fired during redundancy
programmes or cut adrift as firms outsource to the subcontinent,
hundreds of lawyers have lost their jobs during the recession. If
outsourcing, and increasingly LPO, become widely accepted as
tools to increase efficiency across the market, this is a trend that
is sure to accelerate.
DAYS TO PROFIT 2009-10
R A N K F I R M TURNOVER (M)
DAILY
REVENUE (M)
TOTAL
COSTS (M)
DAYS TO
PROFIT
Slaughter and May 439.5 1.20 211.4 176
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 1,141.0 3.13 552.0 177
Linklaters 1,183.0 3.24 675.8 209
Travers Smith 72.0 0.20 41.7 211
Macfarlanes 92.4 0.25 54.0 213
Dundas & Wilson 61.0 0.17 35.7 214
Allen & Overy 1,050.0 2.88 662.0 230
Ashurst 293.0 0.80 189.7 236
Burges Salmon 60.7 0.17 40.3 242
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 60.0 0.16 39.7 242
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 81.5 0.22 54.9 246
Watson Farley & Williams 80.2 0.22 54.7 249
Wragge & Co 96.2 0.26 65.8 249
Taylor Wessing 177.9 0.49 121.6 250
Ince & Co 86.3 0.24 60.4 255
Norton Rose 307.0 0.84 214.7 255
Lovells 542.0 1.49 382.0 257
Stephenson Harwood 91.9 0.25 64.6 257
Clifford Chance 1,197.0 3.28 847.0 258
LG 64.9 0.18 46.1 259
94 per cent the PEP rise at Burness,
from 157,000 to 305,000, on a turnover increase of 5 per cent
TLS_006_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 08 Pa ge 6
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The likelihood is that, over the coming months and years, more
firms will follow the lead of CMS Cameron McKenna, Eversheds,
Pinsent Masons and others that have embraced outsourcing. Throw
the implementation of the Legal Services Act (LSA) into the mix
next year, paving the way for new business structures and external
investment, and you have a market that is on the cusp of a
potentially brutal new era most of it driven by cost-saving.
Although there are currently signs of life in certain transactional
markets and recruitment levels are slowly kicking back into gear, the
widespread layoffs have left their mark. Morale among lawyers
buffeted by layoffs, frozen salaries and long hours is said to be at an
all-time low.
It is a situation not helped by the sky-high PEP increases posted
by several firms this year. Mark Brandon of Motive Legal
Consulting says the true impact of the volatility has not yet
been felt.
Theres a feeling that bridges have been burnt and that partners
Introduction
8|The Lawyer|UK 200
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1 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 1,141.0 552.0 684.0 583.0 496.0 449.0 -132.0 -19.30 103.0 22.93
2 Shoosmiths 90.0 79.0 93.4 91.0 78.7 60.9 -14.4 -15.42 18.1 29.72
3 Dundas & Wilson 61.0 35.7 41.7 44.5 38.4 31.8 -6.0 -14.39 3.9 12.26
5 Linklaters 1,183.0 675.8 784.4 729.0 631.0 560.0 -108.6 -13.84 115.8 20.67
6 Simmons & Simmons 251.0 192.5 221.8 196.2 172.7 159.0 -29.3 -13.21 33.5 21.06
7 Charles Russell 63.2 51.8 58.9 53.5 46.5 42.4 -7.1 -12.05 9.4 22.16
8 Clifford Chance 1,197.0 847.0 955.0 868.0 796.1 720.6 -108.0 -11.31 126.4 17.54
9 Pinsent Masons 206.0 160.0 179.0 159.0 143.0 126.8 -19.0 -10.61 33.2 26.18
10 Hammonds 118.0 95.4 106.1 104.7 98.3 101.4 -10.7 -10.08 -6.0 -5.91
11 Withers 92.7 72.0 79.7 69.8 60.4 51.6 -7.7 -9.66 20.5 39.67
12 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 81.5 54.9 60.0 55.1 49.2 52.0 -5.1 -8.50 2.9 5.57
13 Nabarro 113.8 83.3 91.0 86.9 74.8 70.3 -7.7 -8.46 13.0 18.49
14 SJ Berwin 171.0 132.0 144.0 141.7 121.0 96.0 -12.0 -8.33 36.0 37.5
15 Taylor Wessing 177.9 121.6 132.4 120.4 102.0 90.4 -10.8 -8.16 31.3 34.58
16 Wragge & Co 96.2 65.8 71.1 74.6 67.3 60.3 -5.3 -7.45 5.5 9.12
17 Burges Salmon 60.7 40.3 43.5 43.4 38.8 33.7 -3.2 -7.36 6.6 19.44
18 Ashurst 293.0 189.7 204.1 187.8 148.8 122.9 -14.4 -7.06 66.8 54.3
19 Eversheds 355.2 285.1 305.4 310.0 280.8 257.0 -20.3 -6.65 28.1 10.93
20 Halliwells 67.0 67.0 71.2 67.0 58.6 42.4 -4.2 -5.90 24.6 58.01
21 Allen & Overy 1,050.0 662.0 701.0 569.0 523.8 466.0 -39.0 -5.56 196.0 42.06
22 Denton Wilde Sapte 167.5 136.1 144.0 124.0 118.9 114.6 -7.9 -5.49 21.5 18.76
23 Slaughter and May 439.5 211.4 222.7 196.1 209.1 185.5 -11.3 -5.07 25.9 13.96
24 Norton Rose 307.0 214.7 225.6 198.3 156.7 147.7 -10.9 -4.83 67.0 45.36
25 Travers Smith 72.0 41.7 43.5 44.8 40.1 35.0 -1.8 -4.14 6.7 19.14
26 Trowers & Hamlins 89.4 75.0 77.6 64.2 55.8 45.5 -2.6 -3.35 29.5 64.83
27 LG 64.9 46.1 47.5 46.5 43.2 42.3 -1.4 -2.95 3.8 8.98
28 Lovells 542.0 382.0 390.4 326.3 289.0 263.3 -8.4 -2.15 118.7 45.08
29 Macfarlanes 92.4 54.0 55.1 57.2 50.2 44.7 -1.1 -2.00 9.3 20.80
30 CMS Cameron McKenna 214.4 168.7 172.0 152.8 133.0 119.1 -3.3 -1.92 49.6 41.64
Top 30 firms by per cent cost reduction, 2009-10
14,938m
total revenue of UK 200
13,728m
total revenue of UK 100
4,150m
total profit of UK 100
30.2 per cent
average margin of UK 100
417,000
average PEP of UK 100
TLS_008_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 09 Pa ge 8
Introduction
The Lawyer|UK 200|9
dont get it, claims Brandon. They see their assistant resource base
as being infinitely malleable. But theres been a step change in morale,
the glue is going, and although firms have kept the utilisation rates
high, assistants are saying theyre suffering because theyre working
weekends with a pay freeze while partner profits are back up.
Eversheds Ranson is enough of a realist to admit that the human
cost of redundancies is significant.
Theres been a big impact, he says. This is an industry unused
to this type of scenario. Most lawyers are used to making money
and the recessions been a big cultural shock, a big impact on the
morale within the profession. But Halliwells has given the whole
market a real shock. It showed the consequences of not doing it
right are real. If you dont get it right, everybody loses their job.
Not everyone is convinced this necessarily means an all-out
embracing of new business models, however. Wragge & Co senior
partner Quentin Poole believes there is a danger that the major cost
savings generated by layoffs and outsourcing programmes may be a
knee-jerk reaction to what could be a temporary situation.
It may be that some elements of pricing or supply and demand
will never come back, agrees Poole, but you have to be careful not
to go too far down the track of sacrificing the delivery of quality in
an attempt to save costs. Were already seeing some banks bringing
some of the things theyve outsourced back on shore. I dont know if
outsourcing is high-risk, but its certainly risky.
The difference being
No one of course knows the extent to which the legal market will
change, although most agree that there are at least some elements of
change that are permanent.
Ive spoken to three general counsel in the past couple of weeks,
who each told me the genies out of the bottle, says Pinsents dispute
resolution head Nigel Kissack, the man behind his firms South
African outsourcing venture. They know they can negotiate on fees,
and theres always going to be at least one firm on their panel or in
their immediate orbit that will blink and give away good work for
stupid money. Theyre holding the whip hand. Its going to be pretty
tough to come back from that.
A&Os Morley believes the changes are a mix of cyclical and
structural. But what will not go away, he adds, is the increased
competition, and from that flows everything else.
Everythings a function of competition, adds Morley. The LSA,
non-lawyers entering the professions, Indian and Chinese law firms
coming into the UK market its all competition. I say bring it on.
All for one
In that context, here is another thought. If this years reporting season
was characterised by the double-digit PEP rise, then this year has been
Despite all that has been written
about lawyer redundancies, only
one category of headcount shows
a reduction in 2009-10 from
where it was five years ago
support staff.
In every other category
total staff, full equity partners,
fee-earners, qualified lawyers
or all classes of partner the
numbers have grown over five
years, even if the year-on-year
figure from 2008-09 shows a
reduction.
But the cuts in support staff
clearly indicate the pruning that
has been going on across the UK.
The biggest drop came last year,
when a total of 3,762 positions
disappeared (in 2006-07 there
were 994 more support staff
positions than last year).
Take Allen & Overy. The firm
has cut its lawyer to support staff
ratio over the past five years from
0.95 to 0.81.
Thats a very dramatic change
in absolute numbers, says the
firms senior partner David
Morley. If you think that there
are around 2,500 lawyers and
2,000 support staff, then that
cut means around 300 people.
Its a quiet revolution.
Pull support
Burke: Freshfields large European
offering came to the rescue David Morley, Allen & Overy
3.1m the amount
Freshfields turned over each day last year
Allen & Overy 230 days to profit in 2009-10
The average CPL among the UK top 100 dropped by
3 per cent, from 241,000 to 234,000, during 2009-10
TLS_009_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 1/ 9/ 10 10: 24 Pa ge 9
10|The Lawyer|UK 200
characterised by the transatlantic merger. Whether consummated
(Hogan Lovells) or still flirting (SJ Berwin and Proskauer Rose),
there have been more public deals and talks than in any recent year.
It is hard not to read this as another form of efficiency hunting by
firms particularly second-tier City or national players that are
under the cosh from spoilt-for-choice clients.
If I was at one of those firms Id be asking, Dear God, how am I
answering the question, whats different about us?, says one
regional managing partner. Theyve managed to get away with
being good all-rounders because theres been so much demand in
the market. Now theres far more supply than demand and prices are
appalling. Its very difficult to compete on price with the nationals
and the non-price sensitive work goes to the magic circle. Whats the
way out? I believe thats one of the reasons why youve been seeing so
much talk about US mergers, because if all else fails firms think
thats the get out of jail free card. Its not.
Structural integrity
The questions over firms futures, including new cost-saving meas-
ures, are no longer hypothetical. The story of Optima Legal Services,
which blazed a three-year trail into alternative business structure
territory until the Solicitors Regulation Authority finally put a block
on its association with Capita this summer, is sure to be repeated
legally, this time once the LSA comes fully into force next year.
Firms are already changing. But they are on the cusp of far
greater change.
R
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=1 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 1,141.0 52 47 51 50 49
=1 Slaughter and May 439.5 52 56 59 50 42
3 Linklaters 1,183.0 43 40 44 44 40
=4 Macfarlanes 92.4 42 44 48 51 50
=4 Travers Smith 72.0 42 33 45 49 49
6 Dundas & Wilson 61.0 41 37 41 37 40
7 Allen & Overy 1,050.0 37 36 44 41 37
8 Ashurst 293.0 35 32 42 46 43
=9 Burges Salmon 60.7 34 32 36 37 38
=9 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 60.0 34 33 33 34 35
11 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 81.5 33 31 33 35 35
=12 Taylor Wessing 177.9 32 30 35 37 37
=12 Watson Farley & Williams 80.2 32 33 37 39 41
=12 Wragge & Co 96.2 32 31 41 40 40
=15 Ince & Co 86.3 30 30 33 36 37
=15 Lovells 542.0 30 26 32 32 34
=15 Norton Rose 307.0 30 28 33 33 30
=15 Stephenson Harwood 91.9 30 31 31 30 25
=19 Clifford Chance 1,197.0 29 24 35 33 30
=19 LG 64.9 29 21 31 35 36
=21 Clyde & Co 192.0 28 25 30 31 32
=21 Mills & Reeve 67.3 28 26 28 28 27
=21 Olswang 91.0 28 25 30 32 31
=24 Nabarro 113.8 27 28 39 39 34
=24 Speechly Bircham 58.4 27 21 26 26 27
26 Herbert Smith 449.9 26 26 35 33 34
27 Addleshaw Goddard 167.5 25 26 33 35 32
=28 Osborne Clarke 83.7 23 24 32 33 31
=28 Simmons & Simmons 251.0 23 24 32 31 30
=28 SJ Berwin 171.0 23 22 34 36 38
Margins 2006-10
240,000-1.6m Gordons equity spread
3.3m the amount Clifford Chance generated each day last year
Introduction
TLS_010_a ug_uk200_i nt r o_e d 1/ 9/ 10 10: 26 Pa ge 10
Flexible, professional courses
to enhance your career
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1 Crown Office Row, Temple, London EC4Y 7HH Contact: Senior Clerk, Matthew Phipps
T 020 7797 7500 F 020 7797 7550 E mail@1cor.com
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T 01273 625 625 F 01273 698 888 E clerks@1cor.com
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TLS_011_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 11: 05 Pa ge 1
The Bar
12|The Lawyer|UK 200
OVER the past decade the bar has successfully rid itself of its
slightly fusty image, emerging from the wilderness years when the
economy boomed and litigants were few and far between with
renewed professional direction.
So, having dusted themselves down, the UKs top 30 chambers are
using the countercyclical revenue they have raised in the past couple
of years to invest in new talent and help secure their futures. They
are also examining how best to compete in a post-Legal Services Act
(LSA) environment.
The question now for the bar is how to embrace the next decade
of change without losing the traditions that have helped to make it
unique and keep clients coming back.
Attracting talent
In 2009-10 the total revenue generated by The Lawyers bar top 30
increased by 6 per cent, from 750.6m to 797m. This is a slower
rate of growth than in the previous year, when revenue grew by 13.6
per cent from 661m to 750.6m. But this slower growth disguises
the fact that many sets are using their increased revenues to invest
in people and processes.
In July, The Lawyer reported that Blackstone Chambers, Essex
Court, Maitland Chambers, One Essex Court, 3 Verulam
Buildings and Wilberforce Chambers, all sets that have seen
revenue increase, posted 100 per cent retention rates for their newly
qualified (NQ) barristers (The Lawyer, 15 July).
Leading sets have been busy gearing up for a whole new
series of challenges, varying from law firms seducing
the best talent to making the most of the opportunities
presented by the Legal Services Act. By Katy Dowell
Barometric pressure
Rank
2009-10
Rank
2008-09 Chambers
2009-10
turnover (m)
2008-09
turnover (m)
Per cent
change
Revenue per
barrister (k)
Chambers
contributions (%)
1 1 Brick Court Chambers* 42.5 41.5 2.4 598 10.00-11.00
2 3 One Essex Court* 41.5 38.5 7.8 610 11.00
3 2 Essex Court Chambers* 40.4 38.8 4.1 531 11.00
4 4 Fountain Court* 40.1 36.8 8.9 636 13.00
5 6 Blackstone Chambers* 38.5 33.0 16.7 464 16.00-17.00
6 6 Wilberforce Chambers* 37.6 33.0 13.9 767 **13.5
7 5 No5 Chambers 36.3 36.1 0.5 197 0.5-15.00
8 9 3 Verulam Buildings* 34.1 29.9 14.0 568 9.00
9 8 39 Essex Street 33.6 30.4 10.5 430 22.00
10 11 7 Kings Bench Walk* 31.7 27.8 14.0 674 10.00-12.00
11 10 Maitland Chambers* 30.1 28.5 5.6 485 13.5
12 12 20 Essex Street* 27.2 25.7 5.8 544 11.00-12.00
13 13 3-4 South Square* 27.0 25.0 8.0 600 11.00-12.00
14 15 4 Pump Court* 24.8 23.7 4.6 468 14.00
15 16 Keating Chambers* 24.7 23.5 5.1 484 16.00
16 20 Quadrant Chambers 24.4 21.9 11.4 497 13.4
17 17 Serle Court* 23.8 22.7 4.9 466 17.00
18 18 4 New Square 22.5 22.4 0.4 321 11.00
19 19 Landmark Chambers 22.0 22.2 -0.9 314 16.00
20 22 Exchange Chambers 21.7 18.8 15.4 160 12.00
21 21 Kings Chambers 20.1 19.1 5.2 225 10.45
22 24 One Crown Office Row* 19.1 17.4 9.7 192 16.00
23 23 Outer Temple Chambers 18.2 18.0 1.1 252 15.00
=24 30 Matrix Chambers 17.2 13.6 26.5 257 17.5
=24 27 7 Bedford Row 17.2 15.8 8.9 202 16.00
26 25 Monckton Chambers 17.0 17.2 -1.1 340 14.00
27 26 11KBW 16.7 16.3 2.3 354 16.00
28 28 4-5 Grays Inn Square 16.0 14.6 9.5 296 14.00
29 NE*** 3 Paper Buildings 15.9 13.5 17.8 118 20.5
30 29 Hardwicke 15.8 13.9 14.0 190 18.25
* Estimated figures; **Includes payment of members professional in
Bar top 30 by turnover, 2009-10
TLS_012_a ug_uk200_ba r _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 18 Pa ge 12
The Bar
The Lawyer|UK 200|13
Number
of tenants
(silks)
Number of
female
tenants (silks)
Total
number
of clerks
Total
number
of staff
71 (35) 11 (3) 13 22
68 (24) 12 (1) 11 15
76 (35) 8 (2) 14 22
63 (29) 13 (2) 9 12
83 (32) 22 (4) 8 30
49 (23) 10 (2) 10 8
184(21) 60 (1) 27 38
60 (18) 11(0) 11 11
78 (27) 23(2) 15 26
47 (19) 10 (2) 15 8
62 (18) 11(2) 8 22
50 (17) 10(0) 9 9
45 (19) 7 (1) 4 20
53 (19) 9 (0) 8 19
51 (20) 14 (4) 9 22
49 (12) 9 (0) 14 8
51 (15) 7 (1) 8 12
70 (19) 19 (2) 7 28
70 (20) 12 (2) 10 10
135 (16) 31 (1) 11 32
89 (10) 19 (1) 10 14
99 (21) 38 (7) 13 23
72 (14) 16 (0) 10 22
67 (17) 22 (4) 12 32
85 (18) 22 (3) 15 7
50 (10) 12 (1) 6 16
47 (17) 15(1) 10 14
54 (15) 11 (1) 8 17
134 (10) 43 (0) 26 9
83 (5) 27 (0) 17 28
onal indemnity insurance premiums up to 5m from central expenditure; ***New entry
With fewer students looking for seats at the bar, sets are keen to
invest in the next generation to help secure their futures. One Essex
Court demonstrated this when in August 2009 it set a precedent at
the Inns of Court by raising pupillage salaries to 60,000 for the
October 2010 intake. The announcement started a trend, with
Wilberforce raising pupillage salaries to 48,000 from 40,000
and Essex Court upping salaries to 55,000.
With increased competition for talent, chambers fear losing future
stars of the bar to higher-paying law firms. US firms in particular
have set new standards in NQ salaries, with Bingham promising
100,000 to new lawyers and Debevoise & Plimpton, a firm
known for preferring its in-house advocacy team to the bar, offering
93,250.
What those at the top of the commercial and chancery hierarchy
want to attract is an excellent set of junior advocates who will
produce the next Jonathan Sumption QC (Brick Court Chambers),
Lord Pannick QC (Blackstone) or Lord Grabiner QC (One Essex
Court).
We see ourselves as being at the top of the market, recruiting the
best people year-on-year, and we understand what they refuse when
they come here, One Essex Court senior clerk Darren Burrows tells
Turnover: 42.5m
Tenants (silks): 71 (35)
Chambers contributions: 10-11 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 598,000
Leading cases:
#Office of Fair Trading v Abbey National & Ors (Bank
charges litigation)
Jonathan Sumption QC, Mark Hoskins QC, Jemima Stratford
QC and Sarah Love
#Colour Quest v Total/Chevron (Buncefield litigation)
Jonathan Sumption QC and Alan McLean QC
#Fiona Trust and Holding Corporation & Ors v Yuri Privalov
& Ors (Fiona Trust litigation)
Andrew Popplewell QC
#Boris Berezovsky v Roman Abramovich
Helen Davies QC
#BSkyB v Ofcom
James Flynn QC, David Anderson QC, Helen Davies QC and
Mark Hoskins QC
Turnover: 41.5m
Tenants (silks): 68 (24)
Chambers contributions: 11 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 610,000
Leading cases:
#Digicel & Ors v Cable & Wireless
Lord Grabiner QC, Edmund Nourse and Cornall Patton
#Boris Berezovsky v Roman Abramovich
Laurence Rabinowitz QC, Richard Gillis QC, Simon Colton,
Sebastian Isaac, James Edelma and Nahali Shah
#Colour Quest v Total/Chevron (Buncefield litigation)
Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Lord Grabiner QC
#Tullet Prebon plc & Ors v BGC Brokers & Ors
Jeffrey Onions QC
#CPC Group Ltd v Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment
Company (Chelsea Barracks litigation)
Lord Grabiner QC, Neil Kitchener QC and Alexander Polley
2 One Essex Court
1 Brick Court Chambers
Top 10 sets
Sumption
TLS_013_a ug_uk200_ba r _e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 44 Pa ge 13
The Bar
The Lawyer. Theres increasing competition for those people.
Leading silks accept that having a top-heavy set with too few
juniors can have an adverse effect on the mix of work coming into
chambers.
For example, Fountain Court recognises that a broader mix of
instructions is important to give junior members exposure to the
courts. That mix of work is essential to help keep the coffers topped
up in quieter times.
People look at us and see us on the top cases, but we cant survive
on that alone we need the other work too, comments Fountain
Court director of clerking Alex Taylor.
Fountain Court has just had its most successful year to date,
with the set posting a revenue of 40.1m. In recent years it has
overhauled its clerking function in an effort to shrug off its stuffy
image and build a reputation in the City for being businesslike.
The top four sets all broke through the 40m barrier last year.
Brick Court increased its member count from 68 to 71 as revenue
increased by 2.4 per cent to 42.5m; One Essex Court added two
members over the year as revenue increased by 7.8 per cent to
41.5m; while Essex Court, which kept its membership steady at 76,
increased revenue by 4.1 per cent, from 38.8m to 40.4m.
Outside the magic circle the top 10 sets have seen greater revenue
growth, reflecting increased demand for skilled advocates from a
broader range of chambers.
For example, Wilberforce celebrated a record year, finding its
expertise in pensions litigation well sought after. With a turnover of
37.6m and 49 tenants (including 23 silks) the set recorded the
highest average revenue per barrister (RPB) of 767,000.
There are plans for Wilberforce to grow over the next 12 months,
including the opening of an overseas base to accommodate demand
for offshore advocacy skills.
Getting in on the act
While those at the top of the pile are sticking to their traditional
frameworks, others are considering the implementation of the LSA
and how best to move forward.
One innovation is the introduction of the ProcureCo model, a
structure intended to provide the bar with an effective method of
responding to cuts in public spending and increased competition.
The ProcureCo model has been described by the chair of the Bar
Council Nick Green QC as a model procurement company for the
bar that can be used now, giving sets increased flexibility in bidding
for work in new and existing areas of practice as well as in areas
where they face increased competition.
Outer Temple Chambers, which posted a revenue increase of 1.1
per cent, from 18m to 18.2m, went live with an international
ProcureCo mode branded Outer Temple International (OTI) in
February (The Lawyer, 22 February). Initially OTI will operate as a
not-for-profit company, but the aim is for the set to turn it into a
shareholding organisation.
Weve had to seek legal advice, draw up documents, work out the
relationship between OTI and Outer Temple and agree new roles
and responsibilities, says practice director Christine Kings. This is
useful for other business structures we may want to set up. It also
allows those who want to expand and develop international
practices to make decisions and allocate funding without having
to get agreement from the rest of chambers, which reduces the
likelihood of tensions.
According to Outer Temple, the biggest challenge is moving
chambers forward in unison when not all members are benefiting
from ProcureCo. This is a problem facing all sets wanting to invest
in new structures.
There is though a degree of scepticism surrounding the new
framework.
What happens when our members want to get work from another
set. How will the other members feel about that? asks one senior
practice director. And what does it mean for clerks organising
barristers work?
Nevertheless, according to the Bar Council there has been
widespread interest in alternative structures, if only to help sets
Turnover: 40.4m
Tenants (silks): 76 (35)
Chambers contributions: 11 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 531,000
Leading cases:
#Fiona Trust and Holding Corporation & Ors v Yuri
Privalov & Ors (Fiona Trust litigation)
Steven Berry QC, Graham Dunning QC, Nathan Pillow, David
Davies, Simon Bryan and Jern-Fei Ng
#The Kosovo Case
Professor Malcolm Shaw QC, Professor Vaughan Lowe QC
and Amy Sander
#CPC Group Ltd v Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment
Company (Chelsea Barracks litigation)
Joe Smouha QC and David Foxton QC
Turnover: 40.1m
Tenants (silks): 63 (29)
Chambers contributions: 13 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 636,000
Leading cases:
#Boris Berezovsky v Roman Abramovich
Michael Brindle QC
#Digicel v Cable & Wireless
Stephen Rubin QC and Rupert Allen
#Clydesdale Financial Services & Ors v Smailes & Ors
Tim Dutton QC and Bridget Lucas
#Colour Quest v Total/Chevron (Buncefield litigation)
Richard Handyside QC
#Administrators of Lehman Brothers International
(Europe) v Lehman Brothers Finance SA & Ors
Michael Brindle QC and Nick Yeo
3 Essex Court Chambers
4 Fountain Court
(l-r) Dutton, Taylor, Brindle
14|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_014_a ug_uk200_ba r _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 21 Pa ge 14
3PB is one of the largest sets in the UK with over 130 barristers offering teams of experts in a wide variety of specialist fields.
Our inclusion in this years Lawyers UK Top 30 Bar Listing affirms our pre-eminence and recognises the quality of service
we deliver to our clients. For its strength and depth and geographical spread 3PB is consistently chosen by professional clients
and by members of the Bar. Size does matter.
Our commitment and focus is on each clients particular needs, so no matter how large or small a problem, we provide an
individual advisory and advocacy service to match your specific requirements.
Specialist areas of expertise include:
Friendly, professional clerks operate from modern well-equipped offices to ensure that professional and lay clients expectations
are met. 3PBs size ensures it can arrange meetings and conferences at locations and venues to suit.
For further information please contact the appropriate Practice Group Clerk, as detailed on our website, or telephone 020 7583
8055 to speak with a clerk.
ADR, mediation and ENE Employment and discrimination
Asset Forfeiture Family
Clinical negligence Personal injury
Commercial Professional Negligence
Construction Property and Chancery
Crime Sport
DOES SIZE MATTER?
London Bournemouth Bristol Oxford Winchester
www.3pb.co.uk
Our business is complex
commercial chancery litigation,
offering cross-disciplinary and
specialist expertise as
advisors and trial lawyers
7 STONE BUI LDI NGS, LI NCOLN' S I NN, LONDON WC2A 3SZ
TELEPHONE +44 (0)20 7406 1200 FAX +44 (0)20 7406 1300
cl er ks@mai tl andchamber s. com www. mai tl andchamber s. com
For fur ther information please contact
our Senior Clerks Lee Cutler or John Wiggs
Maitland may be the leading commercial
chancery set in the country but you are just
as likely to see its members in the commercial
courts as the Chancery Division
Commercial Dispute Resolution, Chambers UK 2010
thoroughly commercial in their outlook,
very responsive and user - friendly
Leading Sets, Chambers UK 2010
TLS_015_UK200_10_di s 26/ 8/ 10 14: 38 Pa ge 1
tender for the increasing amount of block contracts that have come
onto the market.
Matrix Chambers, which has deep roots in public law work,
posted its strongest year to date, with its revenue up by 26.5 per
cent, from 13.6m to 17.2m. The sets model is aligned more
closely with that of a law firm than a traditional chambers. It sees
the LSA as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Making the most of the LSA, our model means we can have a
number of businesses, argues Matrix chief executive Lindsay Scott.
Scott suggests this could mean those working in criminal law
might be able to take block bookings and charge project fees, while
commercial barristers continue to use the hourly rate.
Each area would have its own profit margin and the overheads
might be different, she adds.
The next wave
If the past decade has been about the modernisation of the bar, the
next decade will bring about its diversification. The demand for
expertise from independent advocates will ensure the survival of
leading sets if they have the right mix of barristers.
But there are other sets that will want to change their structures
to embrace opportunities presented by the LSA, and it is this that
will drive the next wave of change in the profession.
The Bar
16|The Lawyer|UK 200
Turnover: 38.5m
Tenants (silks): 83 (32)
Chambers contributions: 16-17 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 464,000
Leading cases:
#RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund (Re Northern
Rock)/SRM Global Master Fund v Commissioners of Her
Majestys Treasury
Michael Beloff QC, Lord Pannick QC, John Howell QC,
Javan Herberg, Tom de la Mare, Claire Weir, Ben Jaffey and
Iain Steele
#R (Binyam Mohamed) v Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs
Dinah Rose QC, Pushpinder Saini QC, Tom de la Mare, Ben
Jaffey, Tom Hickman and Tristan Jones
#National Grid plc v Gas and Electricty Markets Authority
Monica Carrs Frisk QC, Brian Kennelly and Tristan Jones
#R v Morley, Chaytor, Devine and White
Lord Pannick QC and James Segan
5 Blackstone Chambers
Rank
2009-10
Rank
2008-09 Chambers
Number
of silks
2009-10
Number
of silks
2008-09
Number
of juniors
2009-10 Silk-junior ratio
=1 2 Brick Court Chambers 35 32 36 1:1
=1 5 Essex Court Chambers 35 22 41 1:1.2
3 1 Blackstone Chambers 32 33 51 1:6
4 5 Fountain Court 29 22 34 1:2
5 3 39 Essex Street 27 25 51 1:9
6 4 One Essex Court 24 23 44 1:8
7 5 Wilberforce Chambers 23 22 26 1.1
=8 5 No5 Chambers 21 22 163 7:8
=8 5 One Crown Office Row 21 15 78 3:7
=9 6 Keating Chambers 20 20 31 1:6
=9 8 Landmark Chambers 20 18
50
2:5
Top 10 sets by number of silks, 2009-10
Rose
Scott: making the most of the LSA
TLS_016_a ug_uk200_ba r _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 23 Pa ge 16
The Bar
The Lawyer|UK 200|17
Turnover: 37.6m
Tenants (silks): 49 (23)
Chambers contributions: 14 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 767,000
Leading cases:
#PNPF Trust Company v Geoffrey Taylor & Ors (Pilots
National Pension Fund)
Michael Tennet QC, Paul Newman QC, Brian Green QC,
Robert Ham QC, Michael Furness QC, Christopher Nugee QC,
John Martin QC, Jonathan Hilliard, Jonathan Evans, James
Walmsley and Emily McKechnie
#Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd and Persimmon plc
Christopher Nugee QC and Julia Greenhill
#Foster Wheeler Ltd v Hanley & Ors
Brian Green QC and Jonathan Hilliard
#easyGroup IP Licensing v easyJet Airline
Michael Bloch QC and James Walmsley
Turnover: 36.4m
Tenants (silks): 184 (21)
Chambers contributions: 0.5-15 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 197,000
Leading cases:
#Vercoe & Ors v Rutland Fund Management Ltd & Ors
Richard Jones QC and David Holloway
#R (Bard Campaign) v Secretary of State for Communities
and Local Government
Ian Dove QC, Anthony Crean QC, Chris Young and Tim
Sheppard
#Horwood v Land of Leather (in administration) & Zurich
Insurance (Toxic sofas)
Ralph Lewis QC, Gordon Wignall, Matthew Brunning, Henry
Pitchers, Richard Cooke, Katie Feeney, Jack Smyth and
Gemma Roberts
Turnover: 34.1m
Tenants (silks): 60 (18)
Chambers contributions: 9 per cent plus rent
Revenue per barrister: 568,000
Leading cases:
6 Wilberforce Chambers
7 No5 Chambers
8 3 Verulam Buildings
#Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros (AHAB) Algosaibi v
Maan Al-Sanea
Ewan McQuater QC, Stephen Phillips QC, Ali Malek QC,
Gregory Mitchell QC, Andrew Onslow QC, David Quest, Peter
Ratcliffe, Sandy Phipps, David Simpsons, Peter Cranfield and
Richard Edwards
#CRC Credit Fund & Ors v Administrators of Lehman
Brothers International (Europe) & Ors
John Jarvis QC, John Odgers and Adam Kramer
#Springwell v JPMorgan
Adrian Beltrami QC and Catherine Gibaud
Turnover: 33.6m
Tenants (silks): 78 (27)
Chambers contributions: 22 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 431,000
Leading cases:
#The Queen on the Application of London Borough of
Hillingdon & Ors v Transport for London Hillingdon & Ors
and Secretary of State for Transport (Heathrow expansion)
Nigel Pleming QC and Richard Wald
#Motto Y & Ors v Trafigura Ltd
Edwin Glasgow QC, Sean Wilken QC, Stephen Tromans QC,
Robert Jay QC, Rohan Pershad, Katherine Scott and James
Burton
#Linklaters v Sir Robert McAlpine
Richard Wilmot-Smith QC and Karim Ghaly
#Horwood v Land of Leather (in administration) & Zurich
Insurance (Toxic sofas)
Neil Block QC and Derek OSullivan
Turnover: 31.7m
Tenants (silks): 47 (19)
Chambers contributions: 14 per cent
Revenue per barrister: 674,000
Leading cases:
#Colour Quest v Total/Chevron (Buncefield litigation)
Jonathan Gaisman QC and Sioban Healy (now a QC)
#Equitas v R and Q
Alistair Schaff QC and Simon Kerr
#Wasa v Lexington
Alistair Schaff QC, Sioban Healy and Christopher Butcher QC
#American Reliance Insurance Company & Ors v Willis
Stephen Kenny QC, Gavin Kealey and Jessica Sutherland
9 39 Essex Street
10 7 Kings Bench Walk
Tony McDavid,
practice director
Ali Malek QC,
head of chambers
TLS_017_a ug_uk200_ba r _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 24 Pa ge 17
International
18|The Lawyer|UK 200
FOR A growing number of US firms, the past year has been all about
the transatlantic tie-up. When legacy firms Lovells and Hogan &
Hartson confirmed their merger plans half way through the year it
triggered a scramble on both sides of the Atlantic among firms
desperate to declare themselves the next global powerhouse.
This acceleration to consolidation has shown off the good, the bad and
the ugly side of the transatlantic merger. First the good. When Hogan
Lovells went live on 1 May it created a behemoth of more than 2,400
lawyers and 40 offices, with a combined revenue of $1.8bn (1.15bn).
Barring a catastrophe the firm is on course to overtake Allen & Overy
(A&O) in the turnover stakes in the 2010-11 year.
Teething problems
As with any marriage, the union has not been without its setbacks.
In the run-up to the merger Hogan began haemorrhaging partners
in Warsaw, Geneva and Berlin, while Lovells announced that its
Chicago office would not be part of the newly merged firm.
It has not been without its difficulties post-merger either. Since 1 May
the combined firm has been hit by several departures, including those
of former Hogan London chief Garry Pegg and ex-Beijing managing
partner Roger Peng.
But if Lovells last set of financial results is anything to go by, then joint
CEO David Harris has good grounds for optimism. In contrast with some
of its rivals in the UK top 10, global revenue for 2009-10 was up by 2 per
cent to 542m, driven largely by its success in London, while average
profit per equity partner (PEP) rose by 13 per cent to 663,000.
It is still too early to begin drawing any firm conclusions, but the
market consensus, for now at least, is that the tie-up will be a success.
And that might go some way to explaining the wave of potential mergers
subsequently mooted in recent months.
Big talks
First came the ultimately unsuccessful talks between SJ Berwin and
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe that began in April 2010. Following a
series of meetings spread over several weeks, the talks collapsed when
the US firm said it was pulling out of the discussions, with Orrick
managing partner Ralph Baxter insisting that no single issue led to the
talks breaking down.
Days later the story took another twist when it emerged that SJ
Berwin, desperate to boost its presence in the US, had set its sights on
New York-headquartered Proskauer Rose. Talks are still ongoing and
the merger looks increasingly likely, with one source describing it as a
fait accompli although some have questioned the wisdom of such a
move. While both have strong funds practices, there appears to be few
other areas where the firms complement each other.
Next up was news that Denton Wilde Sapte and Sonnenschein
Nath & Rosenthal were in advanced discussions. Unlike similar merger
talks, however, things went well beyond the stage of clandestine
meetings, and in June both firms partnerships agreed to the deal.
The new firm, SNR Denton, is set to go live on 30 September, creating
a 1,400-lawyer firm with a turnover of around $750m. According to
Dentons chairman Martin Kitchen, the new firm has set itself an
ambitious target of raising revenue to $1bn and growing lawyer numbers
to between 1,500 and 1,600 within three years.
Less successful were the on-off discussions between Mayer Brown
and Simmons & Simmons. In June 2010 The Lawyer revealed that
Mayer Brown had been in secret talks with Simmons over a move that
would have created another 1bn global firm with more than 2,400
lawyers in the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Talks appeared to break down days later, only to resume with a series of
discussions between the firms senior management teams. Then, in a
Here be giants
The past year has been notable for international mergers,
with the 1 May Hogan Lovells tie-up finishing the year in
style. Andrew Pugh looks at the motivations behind the
moves and highlights the successes and the non-starters
(l-r) David Harris and Warren Gorrell, Hogan Lovells
TLS_018_a ug_uk100_i nt _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 29 Pa ge 18
International
The Lawyer|UK 200|19
Top 30 US firms by London revenue, 2009
move reminiscent of the discussions between SJ Berwin and Orrick,
Mayer Brown and Simmons released a joint statement saying that a
combination between our firms is not the right option.
Brit fit
Looking at the performances of US firms London offices, it is not
difficult to see why some are so keen to tie up with a UK outfit. For
the majority of the top 30 US firms in London, last year was
characterised by plummeting revenues and profits. A total of 21 saw
their revenues fall. On average, revenue among the top 10 fell by 12
per cent and among the top 30 by 5 per cent.
In results that presaged the financial figures of the UK 200, almost half
posted an increase in PEP, although admittedly none reached the 70 per
cent hike achieved by Shoosmiths.
As with their UK counterparts, many US firms ramped up profits by
slashing lawyer numbers. A total of 22 of the top 30 firms reported falls
in fee-earners. Overall, lawyer numbers among the top 10 fell on average
by 14 per cent, and among the whole of the top 30 by 9 per cent.
By and large there was very little movement among the top 30 in terms
of the revenue table. Some impressive performances were achieved,
however, most notably from Bingham, which increased its revenue by
$9.8m to $40.8m, and Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, which
achieved a 44 per cent hike in turnover to $39m.
Binghams success was down to its restructuring and finance litigation
practices, which hit boom time when the recession kicked in. Paul
Hastings stepped up investment in London with the arrival of seven
partners from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and, like Bingham,
the firms strength in restructuring and insolvency protected it through
the downturn. The partner exodus from Cadwalader, which left it with
only two partners in the capital at the year-end, saw the firm fall out of
the top 30.
Firms with a strong finance focus, such as White & Case, were the
worst hit last year. Yet despite the firms revenue in London falling by 20
per cent it still maintained its position at the top of the table. This was
primarily because most its competitors fared equally poorly.
When they were interviewed in April the majority of senior partners
were confident that, by the end of 2010, the recovery would be in full
swing. Since then a change of government in the UK, coupled with the
continuing fragility of the eurozone, has helped spark fears of a double-
dip recession and has subsequently dampened their optimism a little.
Mergers will continue to be on the agenda for US firms in the coming
months, a trend highlighted by the news this August that Hammonds
and Squire Sanders & Dempsey are in talks. If Dentons chief
executive Howard Morris is correct, then the Hogan Lovells and SNR
Denton deals will be the vanguard of a period of consolidation in the
legal industry for years to come.
Rank Firm
London
revenue
2009 ($m)
London
revenue
2008 ($m)
Global
revenue
2009 ($m)
Global
revenue
2008 ($m)
Global PEP
2009 ($m)
Global PEP
2008 ($k)
1 White & Case 197.0 245.9 1,307 1,460 1.60 1.59
2 Baker & McKenzie* 190.3 184.5 2,104 2,080 1.13 0.98
3 Latham & Watkins 151.1 150.0 1,821 1,923 1.90 1.80
4 Mayer Brown 146.3 202.0 1,118 1,290 1.05 1.11
5 Reed Smith 141.1 159.0 1,013 980 1.00 0.94
6 Skadden 130.0 137.0 2,046 2,200 2.05 2.05
7 Sullivan & Cromwell 117.4 121.0 1,050 1,100 2.94 3.00
8 Dewey & LeBoeuf 110.0 125.0 914 1,030 1.60 1.57
9 Sidley Austin 101.0 107.9 1,489 1,480 1.46 1.43
10 Shearman & Sterling 99.7 113.8 801 876 1.74 1.67
11 Jones Day 86.3 85.5 1,337 1,310 0.77 0.77
=12 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 85.0 90.0 961 965 2.33 2.33
=12 Weil Gotshal & Manges 85.0 103.0 1,233 1,230 2.32 2.30
14 Kirkland & Ellis 80.8 87.0 1,428 1,320 2.50 2.55
15 Dechert 80.7 91.8 713 816 1.96 2.14
16 Debevoise & Plimpton 77.4 86.0 668 761 1.87 2.22
17 WilmerHale 58.1 49.9 941 955 1.16 1.08
18 Milbank 56.0 58.9 601 621 2.23 2.23
19 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 52.5 56.3 871 904 2.41 2.48
20 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher 51.8 51.8 995 957 1.91 1.87
21 Hogan & Hartson 49.6 52.3 864 923 1.11 1.17
22 McDermott Will & Emery 48.1 55.9 961 966 1.52 1.52
23 K&L Gates 43.4 60.2 1,034 959 0.86 0.85
=24 Bingham 40.8 31.0 860 767 1.40 1.42
=24 Davis Polk & Wardwell 40.8 40.0 782 767 2.10 2.05
26 Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe 40.5 38.0 847 835 1.36 1.32
=27 Covington & Burling 39.0 35.0 583 531 1.20 1.30
=27 Paul Hastings 39.0 27.0 889 986 1.88 1.90
29 Salans 38.3 54.3 269.5 340.8 0.82 1.04
30 Morrison & Foerster 33.7 36.3 844 911 1.14 1.10
Average exchange rate 2009 to $ 1.56953; Average exchange rate 2008 to $ 1.85518; *1 July 2009-30 June 2010
TLS_019_a ug_uk100_i nt _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 30 Pa ge 19
International
20|The Lawyer|UK 200
Top 30 US firms in London by revenue per lawyer, 2009
Rank Firm
Revenue
per lawyer
2009 ($m)
Revenue
per partner
2009 ($m)
Number
of lawyers in
London 2009
Number
of lawyers in
London 2008
Number of
partners in
London 2009
Number of
partners
in London
2008
1 Sullivan & Cromwell 1.57 6.18 75 75 19 21
2 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 1.38 4.77 40 40 11 10
3 Milbank 1.37 4.67 41 41 12 13
4 Davis Polk & Wardwell 1.24 5.83 33 33 7 8
5 Skadden 1.20 4.64 108 108 28 27
6 WilmerHale 1.16 4.84 50 50 12 12
7 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 1.12 5.31 76 76 16 17
8 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher 1.08 2.73 48 48 19 18
=9 Kirkland & Ellis 1.02 2.45 79 79 33 27
=9 Latham & Watkins 1.02 3.22 148 148 47 39
11 Dechert 1.00 2.78 81 81 29 32
12 Bingham 0.97 2.72 42 42 15 11
13 Shearman & Sterling 0.92 3.84 109 109 26 24
=14 Dewey & LeBoeuf 0.89 2.56 123 123 43 46
=14 McDermott Will & Emery 0.89 0.89 54 54 26 36
=14 Weil Gotshal & Manges 0.89 3.86 96 96 22 23
17 Sidley Austin 0.86 2.66 118 118 38 41
=18 Covington & Burling 0.78 2.44 50 50 16 13
=18 Paul Hastings 0.78 3.90 50 50 10 7
20 Debevoise & Plimpton 0.70 4.30 110 110 18 17
21 Hogan & Hartson 0.68 2.61 73 73 19 17
22 White & Case 0.65 3.13 301 301 63 73
23 Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe 0.63 2.03 64 64 20 25
24 Morrison & Foerster 0.62 1.69 54 79 20 20
25 Baker & McKenzie 0.61 2.24 314 290 85 85
26 Reed Smith 0.57 1.37 248 247 103 106
27 Mayer Brown 0.53 1.46 275 275 100 109
28 Jones Day 0.45 1.88 190 190 46 47
29 Salans 0.44 1.20 88 92 32 34
30 K&L Gates 0.34 0.78 126 126 56 59
An anticipated uptick in commercial
litigation, particularly in the financial services
arena, has seen several US firms expand or
launch litigation teams in the City over the
past year.
One of the most ambitious has been US trial
outfit Kobre & Kim. It opened its London
office in the summer of 2009 and remained
under the radar until April, when it launched a
recruitment drive with the high-profile
capture of Serle Court silk James Corbett QC.
Corbett give the firm an English law
capability for the first time; and a
month later he was joined by Fladgate
litigator Simon Cullingworth and Enterprise
Chambers barrister Tim Prudhoe. Further
arrivals are expected at the firm, which
specialises in cross-border financial
services litigation, in the coming months.
US litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel
Urquhart & Sullivan was another firm to step
up its activity in the City. Growing in London
is central to founding partner John Quinns
strategy and he has not ruled out doubling or
even trebling the firms workforce in the
capital. This strategy was underlined with the
capture of rising star Alex Gerbi, a partner
from Olswang.
In November 2009 Sidley Austin launched
its London dispute resolution practice, again
in the hope of capitalising on an upswing in
commercial litigation as a result of the
economic downturn. As with Kobre, the firm
is targeting the area of cross-border financial
services regulation.
Another firm that revealed its interest in
London was US securities class action outfit
Labaton Sucharow, which began raising its
profile in the UK in a bid to pick up clients in
the pension funds arena.
Not everyone shares the Americans
optimism. One UK-based recruiter, who has
seen several US firms fail in their bids to open
bases in the UK, told The Lawyer: In America
they make bucketloads of cash from litigation.
A star litigator in the US can bill tens of
millions of dollars and gain a big following of
clients.
British lawyers dont have that same kind of
following. US firms think that, when they hire
a British litigator, they ll bring lots of clients
with them, but that doesnt happen and then
their plans fall apart. Its a different ball game
to the US.
US litigation practices in London
TLS_020_a ug_uk100_i nt _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 31 Pa ge 20
www. conyersdi l l . com
Mul t i mi l l i on dol l ar deal s don t
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Qui ck answers regardless of t i me zone.
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TLS_021_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 18 Pa ge 1
Corporate
22|The Lawyer|UK 200
FOR THE UKs top corporate practices, 2009-10 was very much a
case of plus ca change, plus cest la meme chose, with dealflow still in
decline and competition for the work as tough as ever.
Revenues across the top 20 firms dropped by an average of just over
4 per cent, with total fees across all practice areas also dropping by
that amount. But whereas last year brought with it some drastic
action from City firms, the feeling this time around is that things may
finally be picking up.
Its definitely better than last year, says Allen & Overy (A&O)
London corporate head Richard Browne. Over the course of the
past 12 months its been tough and the markets been down
substantially, but theres more happening now.
Leaders of the pack
It is no surprise to see that the magic circle, along with Slaughter and
May, monopolised the few big deals that did see the light of day.
Clifford Chance and Slaughters took the honours by acting on the
years standout deal, Krafts hostile acquisition of Cadbury. Clifford
Chance rainmaker Guy Norman led for Kraft and also acted for Bab-
cock on its 1.3bn takeover of VT Group. Slaughters M&A chief
Stephen Cooke led the defence for Cadbury. However, with private
equity not making the comeback that some were predicting, Clifford
Chance still saw its corporate revenue fall by more than 6 per cent.
Against levels of activity in the market we were pretty pleased
with our performance, says global corporate head Matthew Layton.
Weve had a raft of good deals across the network.
Slaughters, meanwhile, could not match last years performance,
aided by a healthy slew of Government work on the back of
the banking crisis. It too lost ground on its rivals, although A&Os
12 per cent drop-off was the most alarming among the big five.
Linklaters extended its lead at the top of the table, with its
corporate revenue dropping by only 1 per cent. A prize role acting
for Lloyds Banking Group on its record-breaking 13.5bn rights
issue helped Linklaters stay on an even keel following last years 14
per cent fall. Jeremy Parr led the capital-raising exercise before
stepping up to fill David Barnes shoes as global head of corporate.
In contrast to Slaughters, Linklaters reaped the rewards from the
continuing fallout from the financial meltdown of 2008, courtesy of
its relationships with Lloyds and RBS.
Best of a bad crunch
Despite suffering a 6 per cent year-on-year fall, Freshfields
Bruckhaus Deringer can justifiably claim to have had the best
recession of all the leading corporate lights. It is the only firm to
have increased corporate revenue since 2007-08.
Global corporate head Ed Braham believes that the continuing
absence of deals is acting as a differentiator for the best firms.
Its been a horrible market in which weve more than held our
own, he says. Wed probably say we took market share.
Braham highlights the firms European spread as key to keeping the
corporate practice on track. A German and French team landed a role
for Daimler on its three-way tie-up with Renault and Nissan, while
partner Ian Frost led the international group acting for Springer
Science & Business Media on its sale to private equity house EQT.
The struggles of the mid-market continued, with firms either
consolidating after a poor 2008-09 or suffering a delayed dip.
SJ Berwin steadied the ship after its disastrous performance the
previous year. Its 1.5 per cent fall is a sound performance considering
its emphasis on a thin private
equity market. Corporate
chief Steven Daviss work
for Apax Partners on the
600m investment by China
Investment Corporation even
bagged The Lawyers Corpo-
rate Team of the Year gong.
This years biggest fallers
were Addleshaw Goddard,
Norton Rose and Simmons
& Simmons, all of which
posted double-digit corporate
drops.
Norton Rose did win a role
acting for France Telecom
on one of the biggest Euro-
pean deals of the year,
last Septembers T-Mobile-
Orange merger, but still saw
revenue fall by 10 per cent.
Theres been lots of pric-
ing pressure and a squeeze
on the mid-market, said
head of corporate Tim
Marsden. We can expect to
see the magic circle push
into the areas where were
strong.
Herbert Smith and Lovells
were both widely seen as
having solid if unspectacular
years. But the gap to the big
boys remains as large as ever.
Rank Firm
Corporate
turnover
2009-10 (m)
Corporate
turnover
2008-09 (m)
Per cent
difference
Per cent
of total
turnover
Number of
corporate
partners
Revenue per
corporate
partner (m)
1 Linklaters 449.5 454.3 -1.1 38.0 199 2.26
2 Freshfields 399.0 424.7 -6.0 35.0 147 2.71
3 Clifford Chance 347.1 370.0 -6.2 29.0 169 2.05
4 Allen & Overy 315.3 360.0 -12.4 30.0 155 2.03
5 Slaughter and May 228.5 247.0 -7.5 52.0 55 4.15
6 Herbert Smith 199.8 202.2 -1.2 44.0 122 1.64
7 Lovells 162.6 159.3 2.1 30.0 123 1.32
8 DLA Piper 139.4 146.2 -4.0 24.0 153 0.91
9 Eversheds 127.8 124.0 3.1 36.0 133 0.96
10 Norton Rose 107.4 119.3 -10.0 35.0 101 1.06
11 CMS Cameron McKenna 107.2 105.0 2.1 50.0 60 1.79
12 Ashurst 87.9 87.3 0.7 30.0 71 1.24
13 Simmons & Simmons 85.0 105.2 -19.2 34.0 92 0.92
14 Denton Wilde Sapte 70.4 71.3 -1.3 42.0 75 0.94
15 Taylor Wessing 70.0 71.4 -2.0 40.0 90 0.78
16 SJ Berwin 59.8 60.7 -1.5 35.0 63 0.95
17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 53.5 52.2 2.5 28.0 58 0.92
18 Macfarlanes 50.4 54.5 -7.5 55.0 31 1.63
19 Clyde & Co 42.2 40.7 3.7 22.0 38 1.11
20 Addleshaw Goddard 40.2 48.5 -17.1 24.0 51 0.79
Reasons to be cheerful?
Although the corporate practices of the top 20 firms suffered
an average fall in revenue, by the end of the year things were
pretty much the same as before. By Gavriel Hollander
T
op 20 corporate performances, 2009-10
TLS_022_a ug_uk200_c or por a t e _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 33 Pa ge 22
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24|The Lawyer|UK 200
ALL FINANCE practices had a difficult 2008-09, when they bore
the brunt of restructuring, but 2009-10 saw a distinct pick-up in the
finance market.
Although capital markets was volatile, Allen & Overy (A&O)
pulled in one of the choisest structured deals of the year with its
representation of Lloyds Banking Group on its 2.47bn residential
mortgage-backed securitisation (RMBS) issue the first RMBS
issuance since the credit crisis (February 2010). Elsewhere, banking
(where, like Clifford Chance, A&O had made deep cuts, particularly
on the leveraged finance side) had a stormer. With some 499m in
total revenues, A&O was pulling in 2.33m per partner and was
involved in a number of major deals for both sponsors and lenders.
A standout deal saw partner George Link advising the banks on
the 1.7bn (1.4bn) Springer Science & Business Media debt
refinancing, which led to one of the biggest European buyouts of
2009, with a secondary sale from Candover and Cinven to EQT.
Structurally, the mezzanine market may have frozen over, but high-
yield was going great guns despite a hiccup in the latter part of the
financial year following the Greek crisis. A&Os move to recruit high-
yield specialist Kevin Muzilla from Milbank saw the firm catching the
trend early and benefiting. One of his first deals in January was to
advise Manchester United on its 500m bond issue (Latham acted
for the banks). The hire of Muzilla to bolster A&Os issuer side was
echoed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer this July when it hired Gil
Strauss from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett straight into the equity.
The arrival of high-yield as a dominating force within finance
underlines the changing transactional landscape for banking lawyers.
In the pink
Linklaters, which had been buoyed in the previous year by the
mammoth Lehman Brothers administration, polished up its
mega restructuring credentials with its roles for RBS and for Lloyds
on the Governments asset protection scheme, but continued to be
visible on a series of more conventional market transactions:
partner Stephen Lucas acted for Commerzbank and RBS on the
corporate restructuring of Schaeffler Group; partner Gideon Moore
acted for the arrangers of the 690m funding of CVC Capital
Partners acquisition of Anheuser-Busch InBevs Central and
Eastern European operations (the largest new-money financing of
2009); Moore also advised ING on the debt financing of Apax
Partners 975m acquisition of Marken from Intermediate Capital
Group; and partner Nick Syson advised Nomura and Calyon on
KKRs 955m acquisition of Pets at Home from Bridgepoint.
Freshfields had a strong year in both restructurings (Four Seasons,
Zim and McCarthy & Stone) and new-money deals. Partners such
as Chris Howard and Presley Warner excelled. Freshfields lean
practice accounts for 20 per cent of total firm revenue, but only 17
per cent of total partners.
Clifford Chance put its difficult 2008-09 behind it to post some of
its best figures for three years. It grossed a total of 486m, of which
348m was banking and 138m was capital markets. Its biggest
acquisition finance deal was advising HSBC (partner Nicola Wherity)
on its 1.25bn loan to fund Reckitt Benckisers takeover of SSL.
Down a bit
Below the big four revenues at best held steady. Ashursts neat
leveraged finance team remained busy and kicked off its summer in
2009 with a role on the landmark secondary buyout of Wood
McKenzie, bought by Charterhouse from Candover for 553m.
Mark Vickers advised Lloyds, Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Nomura.
It continued to be active in the upper mid-market and saw its
turnover inch up from 63.2m to 67.4m.
Lovells, in its last year before
merging with Hogan & Hartson,
edged up by just 1m to 107m,
mainly through restructuring
work. Although the complex
structured investment vehicle
restructurings that occupied
Lovells practice in 2008-09
tapered off, the firm was
involved on the 3.5bn financial
restructuring of Pearl Group,
advising the senior syndicate
banks. Lovells acquisition
finance highlight was on Krafts
9.8bn hostile bid for Cadbury,
where it had a subsidiary role
advising Citibank, Deutsche
Bank and HSBC on the Eng-
lish law aspects of the financing.
DLA Pipers turnover of
81.3m yielded a low average
revenue per partner of
753,000 something new
banking head Bob Charlton will
be looking to improve, although
his first priority is to cohese the
national and Europe, Middle
East and Asia practices. The
firms trade, energy and project
finance practice held up well,
with work such as the Intercity
Express fleet programme.
Banking
& Finance
Rank Firm
Finance
turnover
2009-10 (m)
Finance
turnover 2008-
09 (m)
Per cent
difference
Per cent
of total
turnover
Number of
finance
partners
Revenue per
finance
partner (m)
1 Allen & Overy 499.0 492.0 1.4 48 214 2.33
2 Clifford Chance 486.0 472.0 3.0 39 216 2.38
3 Linklaters 473.0 493.0 -4.0 40 180 2.63
4 Freshfields 228.0 257.4 -11.4 20 79 2.89
5 Norton Rose 119.7 119.0 0.6 39 101 1.19
6 Lovells 107.0 106.2 0.8 19 63 1.64
7 Slaughter and May 99.0 80.0 23.8 23 33 3.00
8 Simmons & Simmons 95.0 93.0 2.2 38 71 1.34
9 DLA Piper 81.3 93.6 -13.1 14 108 0.75
10 Ashurst 67.4 63.2 6.6 23 56 1.20
11 Herbert Smith 44.8 42.6 5.4 10 30 1.49
=12 Addleshaw Goddard 38.5 34.6 11.3 23 34 1.13
=12 Denton Wilde Sapte 38.5 40.0 -3.8 23 45 0.86
14 CMS Cameron McKenna 36.4 50.4 -27.8 17 22 1.66
15 Berwin Leighton Paisner 34.4 34.6 -0.6 18 39 0.88
The biggest players enjoyed a return to form in the beleaguered
banking and finance sphere, with their mid-market rivals
looking on enviously. Andrew Pugh provides the lowdown
Top heavies
Top 15 finance performances, 2009-10
TLS_024_a ug_uk200_ba nki ng_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 35 Pa ge 24
TLS_025_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 22 Pa ge 1
Real Estate
26|The Lawyer|UK 200
PROPERTY was hit first and hardest during the financial crisis and
two years on most of the leading UK real estate practices have still
failed to bounce back.
Most practices experienced static growth or dips in revenue.
Pre-merger Lovells, the best performer of the top 20 real estate
practices during 2008-09 with a revenue increase of 5 per cent, from
45m to 47m, is a case in point. It fell by 13 per cent last year to
41m. A similar fall was felt at DLA Piper, which saw real estate
revenue slide by 14 per cent, from 87.75m to 75.53m, while
Addleshaw Goddards revenue shrunk by 13 per cent, from 34.62m
to 30.2m.
Success in the City
At first glance this is surprising given the recent activity in the
London prime real estate market. Examples include DLA Pipers
advice to Funderburk Europe 2 on the acquisition of Allen &
Overys (A&O) headquarters at One Bishops Square from Clifford
Chance client Hammerson. Also Herbert Smith and SJ Berwin
advised Al Salam Bank and Evans Randall on their joint purchase
of Addleshaws London headquarters at Milton Gate from UBS
Asset Management. The building was subsequently sold once again
to an unnamed Middle East investor.
On the lettings side Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) acted for
Oxford Properties on the letting of Watermark Place to Japanese
investment bank Nomura (one of the largest pre-lets ever to be
completed), while Lovells assisted fund manager BlackRock on its
relocation to Drapers Gardens in the City.
But despite this relatively frenetic level of activity, joint head of
Lovells legacy real estate practice Michael Stancombe points out
that high-grade City property is still a relatively narrow market
and alone is not enough to sustain revenue growth.
One firm that did experience an increase in real estate revenue was
CMS Cameron McKenna. The 7 per cent growth rate in the
property department was all the more striking because it took place
against the backdrop of an overall 11 per cent drop in firmwide
turnover. Real estate partner Mark Heighton claims this was
because of a well-hedged practice. This includes a hotels sector
focus, with deals including acting for Grosvenor on the sale of
the Hilton Hotel Liverpool to Taylor Wessing client Ability
Developments and work for Dutch entity Citizen M Hotel Group on
the redevelopment of two London hotels. The departments coffers
were also boosted by acting on the sale of retail warehouses, an area
that boomed as a result of the weight of money coming in, the fact
that its safe income and [involves] good tenants, according to
Heighton. Real estate assistance in non-core areas, such as acting
for an energy joint venture on its acquisition of sites for new nuclear
power stations, also provided a strong income line.
De-stressing news
One of the great mistakes made by commentators at the start of the
recession was the prediction that banks would flood the market with
distressed assets. Transactions such as the White Tower portfolio,
which was recently snapped up by Carlyle Group, Schroders and
Hammerson, are a rarity. While Camerons has retained a key role
since the end of the 2009-10 financial year advising Halliwells on
the carve-up of its property obligations, Heighton believes that
it will continue to be a gradual process over the next three to
five years.
The banks own so much property that it would damage the banks
themselves and prices if they flooded the market, he comments.
This is a view that Stancombe echoes, arguing that it will be a
controlled release.
Despite a challenging 2009-
10, Clifford Chance maintains
its position as having the
largest real estate practice
group, with the best real estate
revenue per partner figure of
any City practice at 2.15m. Cliff
McAuley, global practice area
leader, shares the relative
optimism expressed among his
counterparts at other firms
about the year ahead.
The past two years have been
challenging for the global prop-
erty market, but were pleased to
see activity beginning to pick
up, he says. The practice is
showing some improvement
in the developed Western
economies and, although theres
still some way to go, we expect
this upward trend will continue
over the coming year.
With his firm recently
completing its merger with
Hogan & Hartson, Lovells
Stancombe is also positive that
an upward trend is around the
corner and anticipates acting
for hotels and opportunity
funds.
Property clash
Rank Firm
Real estate
turnover
2009-10 (m)
Real estate
turnover
2008-09 (m)
Per cent
difference
Per cent
of total
turnover
Number of
real estate
partners
Revenue
per real
estate
partner (m)
1 Clifford Chance 86.0 93.6 -8.1 7.2 40 2.15
2 DLA Piper 75.5 87.8 -13.9 13.0 89 0.85
3 Eversheds 63.9 69.5 -8.0 18.0 56 1.14
4 Berwin Leighton Paisner 55.4 59.4 -6.8 29.0 43 1.29
5 Linklaters 51.3 58.2 -11.8 4.3 31 1.65
6 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 43.8 51.5 -14.9 3.8 25 1.75
7 Allen & Overy 42.0 41.1 2.4 4.0 40 1.05
8 Lovells 41.0 47.0 -12.8 7.6 24 1.71
9 Taylor Wessing* 38.0 24.5 55.2 21.4 40 0.95
10 Herbert Smith 34.2 36.1 -5.2 7.6 20 1.71
11 Nabarro 33.0 35.4 -6.8 29.0 32 1.03
12 Trowers & Hamlins 32.2 32.2 -1.2 36.0 45 0.72
13 Pinsent Masons 30.9 34.4 -10.2 15.0 39 0.79
14 Addleshaw Goddard 30.2 34.6 -12.8 18.0 30 1.00
15 Ashurst 29.3 33.1 -11.5 10.0 20 1.47
16 Denton Wilde Sapte 28.5 27.2 4.8 17.0 23 1.24
17 CMS Cameron McKenna 27.9 26.0 7.2 18.0 18 1.55
18 Wragge & Co 26.9 28.2 -4.6 28.0 33 0.82
19 SJ Berwin 25.7 29.4 -12.9 15.0 24 1.07
20 Shoosmiths 24.3 24.8 -1.8 27.0 42 0.58
*2009-10 figure is a global figure, whereas 2008-09 figure is UK only
Despite an active London real estate market,
property teams continue to suffer from hangovers
coming out of the recession. Luke McLeod-Roberts
looks back at a difficult year for the sector
Top 20 real estate performances, 2009-10
TLS_026_Aug_uk100_r e a l e s t a t e _e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 43 Pa ge 26
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TLS_027_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 25 Pa ge 1
Litigation
28|The Lawyer|UK 200
LITIGATION revenue improved across the top 15 UK practices last
year, but the long predicted litigation boom has still failed to mate-
rialise. Nevertheless, total revenue for the top practices rose by 3.9
per cent, from 1.78bn to 1.85bn, with Freshfields Bruckhaus
Deringer leading the way, posting a litigation turnover of 250.8m.
Undoubtedly the recession has prompted a rise in dispute
resolution activity, but clients are now on the hunt for value, which
means they are spreading the work around.
That should not detract from those at the top of the pile, which
have invested to build up quality global practices capable of working
at full capacity to meet demand for global legal solutions.
Big country
Having invested heavily in its US practice, Freshfields is beginning
to reap the financial rewards. The firm extended its lead over its
nearest rivals by posting an 8.1 per cent rise in turnover at the
2009-10 year-end. Freshfields litigation practice now accounts for
22 per cent of the firms 1.18bn turnover, compared with 18 per
cent at the 2008-09 year-end.
Since January 2008 Freshfields has made seven high-level lateral
hires in its US litigation practice. These include partners Marshall
Fishman from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel and Timothy
Coleman from Dewey & LeBoeuf in New York, plus Vinson & Elkins
partner Walter Stuart, who joined the Washington DC practice.
States slide
This contrasts sharply with Clifford Chance, which suffered a series
of exits from its US group last year. These included former global
litigation chief Mark Kirsch, who quit in May 2009 to join Gibson
Dunn & Crutcher along with partners Joel Cohen and Christopher
Joralemon. The firms US practice is now run from Washington DC
by Juan Morillo.
Clifford Chance is now 28 per cent behind Freshfields in terms of
litigation turnover, with 179.5m, down 5.1 per cent from 189m.
However, overall partner headcount declined by just one to 74,
meaning that revenue per litigation partner (RPLP) has fallen by 3.9
per cent, from 2.52m to 2.42m.
Main contenders
The best performance of the year in terms of growth came from
Allen & Overy, another firm that has invested heavily in its US
practice. The firm posted a 24.2 per cent jump in litigation revenue,
from 110m to 136.6m. Nevertheless, with partner headcount up
by nine to 50, RPLP rose only marginally, from 2.68m to 2.7m,
putting it behind Linklaters and Freshfields.
Linklaters may have a smaller litigation partnership at 40, but
those partners produced an RPLP of 3.24m, generating a revenue
of 129.8m, down from 130m a year earlier.
The firm is eclipsed by Herbert Smith, home to a weighty
contentious practice, which contributed 38 per cent of the firms
449.9m revenue, in terms of turnover.
Herbert Smith reported a 4.8 per cent increase in litigation
revenue, from 163m to 170.96m, with 81 partners producing an
RPLP figure of 2.31m.
Gain sayers
At the end of the next financial year the magic circle will feel the full
effect of the Hogan & Hartson-Lovells merger. At the latest year-end
Lovells 52 legacy litigation partners posted an RPLP of 2.5m, 8.2
per cent ahead of Herbert Smiths, giving it a turnover of 130.07m.
That said, the firms contentious practices in tax, real estate, IP and
employment sit outside the dispute resolution revenue stream. If
these are taken into consideration, litigation work accounted for 34
per cent of Lovells turnover, or 184.2m.
An interesting pattern is beginning to emerge, with those firms that
sit just outside the top 15 increasingly stealing a march on their peers.
Addleshaw Goddard, for instance, revealed its litigation group
turnover for the first time this year. The firm posted a disputes
turnover of 53.6m, up by 14.8 per cent from 46.7m a year earlier.
If the upward trend continues the firm is likely to break into the top
15 in 2010-11.
Similarly, Norton Rose saw a 23.6 per cent jump in its litigation
revenue, from 34.8m to 43m, and with 70 per cent of the firms
work deemed contentious, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain posted a
litigation turnover of 42m.
While litigation practices for the top 15 firms can boast
a 4 per cent average rise in revenue, there is still no
sign of the predicted boom, reports Katy Dowell
Rank Firm
Litigation
turnover
2009-10 (m)
Litigation
turnover
2008-09 (m)
Per cent
difference
Per cent
of total
turnover
Number of
litigation
partners
Revenue per
litigation
partner (m)
1 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 250.8 232 8.1 22.0 63 3.98
2 Clifford Chance 179.5 189 -5.1 15.0 74 2.42
3 Herbert Smith 171.0 163 4.8 38.0 81 2.31
4 Allen & Overy 136.6 110 24.2 13.0 50 2.73
5 Irwin Mitchell 133.5 134 -0.4 85.0 102 1.30
6 Clyde & Co 130.6 119 9.7 68.0 108 1.20
7 Lovells 130.1 122 6.6 24.0 52 2.50
8 Linklaters 129.8 130 -0.2 11.0 40 3.24
9 DLA Piper 122.0 104 17.3 21.0 108 1.12
10 Beachcroft 86.5 73 18.4 66.0 79 1.09
11 Simmons & Simmons 84.0 79 6.3 33.6 57 1.47
12 Holman Fenwick Willan 81.6 82 -0.4 81.7 78 1.04
13 Kennedys 76.8 58 32.4 87.0 125 0.61
14 Eversheds 71.0 104 -31.7 20.0 53 1.34
15 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 64.4 70 -8.0 79.0 60 1.07
Up, up and a wait
Top 15 litigation performances, 2009-10
TLS_028_a ug_uk200_l i t i ga t i on_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 44 Pa ge 28
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round meant headcount in the department remained
static, while it continued to provide around 15 per
cent of firmwide fees.
Despite a tricky corporate year there were plum roles
on two of the biggest M&A transactions of the year.
Guy Norman led on Krafts acquisition of Cadbury and
for Babcock on its less acrimonious purchase of VT
Group. Normans subsequent move to Dubai could
leave a deal-making hole in the London group.
The past financial year was bookended by two
high-profile defections to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
in the shape of private equity heavyweight Adam Signy
and funds chief Jason Glover, who left in July. Add in
the June 2010 loss of global competition head Simon
Baxter to another US raider, Skadden, and the image
persists of a firm where partners heads can be turned.
Geographically, the UK and Western Europe
suffered most, with revenues falling by 9 and 8 per
cent respectively. Despite the partner exits early in the
year, the US practice was down only slightly (3 per
cent), while Asia performed strongly and now
accounts for 10 per cent of revenue.
Clifford Chances lockstep runs from 40 to 100 points,
with equity partners taking nine years to reach the
plateau. Unlike at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and
Linklaters, the firm has retained a significant rump of
salaried partners, with one in three outside the equity.
1-4
30|The Lawyer|UK 200
Turnover (M): 1,197
Average PEP (K): 933
Equity spread (K): 451-1,130
Profit margin (%): 29
RPL (K): 463
A GLANCE at the raw numbers might suggest that
Clifford Chance enjoyed a more successful 2009-10
than any of its magic circle peers. But few believe the
figures tell the full story of a firm that has been more
recession-hit than its illustrious rivals.
In terms of turnover Clifford Chance vaulted back in
to the number one spot despite posting a manageable
5 per cent revenue drop to 1.2bn. Meanwhile,
average profit per equity partner (PEP) saw a
dramatic 27 per cent increase to reach 933,000.
Partner numbers fell last year, from 637 to 562,
but most of the cost of Clifford Chances major
restructuring operation was absorbed in 2008-09.
The leaner constitution of the firm allowed
management to take around 10 per cent out of its cost
base, equating to a saving of 108m and helping to
fuel this years surge in PEP.
Yet with fewer partners at the shop and profitability
still short of the stellar performance of 2007-08, when
partners took home an average of 1.3m, the percep-
tion endures of a firm that is struggling to keep up.
The restructuring exercise carried out by the Canary
Wharf-based outfit may not have been quite as large as
those at Allen & Overy or Linklaters, but the effect has
been to leave the firm looking as if it is still in limbo.
The strongest-performing departments over the
2009-10 year, according to the assessment of
managing partner David Childs, were finance and
litigation. Indeed, the finance practice was the only
major department to increase its turnover, even if it
did not return to the halcyon days of 2007-08.
Litigation, meanwhile, was hit at the start of the year
by the loss of a number of US partners to Gibson
Dunn & Crutcher, including former group head Mark
Kirsch. In spite of the losses a healthy promotion
Strengths
Finance remains
Clifford Chances
strong suit and there
were signs over the
past 12 months that it
was returning to its
former glories.
Litigation, under the
new leadership of
Jeremy Sandelson, is
now being touted as a
serious growth area,
particularly with Nick
Munday moving to
Moscow to garner
cross-border work
between Russia and
the UK.
Weaknesses
The firm is widely
viewed as having a
succession problem,
particularly in
corporate. A top-
heavy management
class an issue that
managing partner
David Childs has
moved to address
has created a
fee-earning vacuum
in some areas, such as
private equity. While
the firm continues to
push the concept of a
mobile global
partnership, moves
such as Guy Normans
to Dubai mean that
the City practice is
left short of some of
the big names that
clients want to see.
Clifford Chance
1
(l-r) Childs and Sandelson
300
600
900
1200
1500
Costs
Net profit
Turnover
2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-6
m
Five-year key trends
TLS_030_a ug_uk200_t op4_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 46 Pa ge 30
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1-4
The Lawyer|UK 200|33
2
Linklaters
Strengths
Linklaters true
strength can be
summed up in a single
word corporate.
Despite a diminishing
market and less
international reach
than at some of its
competitors, the firm
managed to extend
its lead at the top of
the dealmaking table.
With turnover in the
department dipping
by only 1 per cent,
it continues to be
a licence to print
money for its
partners.
Weaknesses
The perception is
that there is still
not enough revenue
being generated by
the global network,
despite moves to
counter this. There
is also a feeling in
the City that a move
towards corporate
culture needs to be
mirrored by fat profit
increases, or some
partners might begin
to look elsewhere.
Turnover (M): 1,183
Average PEP (K): 1,214
Equity spread (K): 622-1,555
Profit margin (%): 43
RPL (K): 546
AFTER only a year at the top of the revenue pops,
Linklaters has relinquished its number one position
to Clifford Chance. But despite an uncomfortable
drop-off in both turnover and profitability, the year of
consolidation clich applies in this instance, as the
firm continues to remould its partnership.
Turnover was down by 8.8 per cent to 1.2bn, while
average profit per equity partner (PEP) fell by a shade
under 7 per cent to 1.21m.
Managing partner Simon Davies says the firms
focus is more on overall profit than revenue, but
nevertheless a dip edging towards double digits is not
likely to be tolerated two years in succession.
However, PEP was pegged back by the Davies-led
move towards an all-equity partnership. While overall
partner numbers fell on a full-time equivalent basis as
the effects of 2008-09s job cuts continued to be felt,
the equity partnership actually grew over the year.
Some 93 per cent of the global partnership is now part
of the equity, up from 83.5 per cent in 2008-09.
While such a move will inevitably deflate the headline
PEP figure in the short term, Davies says it will
ultimately lead to greater cohesion. It also brings
Linklaters more into line with Freshfields Bruckhaus
Deringer, which is increasingly seen as its greatest rival.
In terms of legal work, the chief drivers behind the
falling turnover at Silk Street are the continuing lack
of activity in the mainstream M&A markets and the
firms focus on its corporate and commercial arms.
However, diversity is creeping into the practice mix.
Litigation enjoyed a second successive solid year after
its turnover leapt by almost 20 per cent in 2008-09.
In 2009-10 the practice took in just shy of 130m,
upping its share of firmwide fees to 11 per cent and
giving a revenue per partner figure of 3.24m.
On the transactional side mainstream activity
was replaced to an extent with a healthy flow of
restructuring and capital market mandates. Incoming
corporate head Jeremy Parr, who took over from
David Barnes at the end of the financial year,
celebrated his last few months as a full-time
dealmaker with the record-breaking 13.5bn rights
issue by Lloyds Banking Group, which remains as one
of Linklaters core clients.
UK revenue accounted for 43 per cent of the
firms total turnover during the year representing a
second consecutive year-on-year fall. A slow but
steady international programme has seen Linklaters
continuing to push into Brazil, where it set up a proj-
ects practice last year, and a renewed focus on Asia,
albeit with the hiccup of seeing former Asia head Zilli
Shao move to JPMorgan less than a year into the job.
The US practice continues to be something of an
enigma. It houses more than 170 lawyers, but still
does not have the profile in New York that some
in the firm would like. Despite this, its financial
performance is improving, helped by it picking up
some juicy mandates not least a role on Sanofi-
Aventiss $4bn (2.56bn) acquisition of 50 per cent of
its animal health joint venture Merial from Merck.
The firm operates a classic lockstep, with partners
joining on 10 points and adding 2.5 points a year until
reaching a plateau at 25 points.
(l-r) Davies and Parr
300
600
900
1200
1500
Costs
Net profit
Turnover
2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06
m
Five-year key trends
TLS_033_a ug_uk200_t op4_e d 26/ 8/ 10 15: 46 Pa ge 33
1-4
34|The Lawyer|UK 200
Turnover (M): 1,141
Average PEP (K): 1,406
Equity spread (K): 627-1,500
Profit margin (%): 52
RPL (K): 533
FRESHFIELDS Bruckhaus Deringer began to share the
pain of its peers in 2009-10 after putting in a stellar
performance in 2008-09. Turnover at the magic circle
firm dropped by 11 per cent, from 1.29bn to 1.14bn,
while net profit fell marginally, from 603m to 589m.
While the firms average profit per equity partner
(PEP) figure fell by 3 per cent, from 1.44m to
1.41m, it is still some way ahead of Allen & Overys
(A&O) 1.05m and Clifford Chances 933,000 and
it continues to best closest rival Linklaters 1.21m.
Geographically, Londons contribution to firmwide
revenue continued to fall, down from 35 per cent in
2008-09 (460m) to 33 per cent (426m). Europe
now accounts for around 50 per cent of revenue, with
the German practice proving particularly strong in
the past year. Choice mandates on which German
partners advised included acting for Porsche on its
merger with Volkswagen, advising a joint venture led
by Australian company Industry Funds Management
on its acquisition of German energy company
50Hertz Transmission and usurping Shearman &
Sterling to represent Daimler on its tie-up with
Renault and Nissan. Corporate remains Freshfields
largest practice group, generating 35 per cent, or
399m, of total revenue. Litigation accounted for 22
per cent, finance 20 per cent and real estate 4 per
cent. The remainder came from competition and tax.
The firm continued to build its US litigation practice,
which launched in January 2009, with the hire of
Bank of Americas former deputy general counsel and
director of litigation David Onorato and partners Mar-
shall Fishman, Timothy Coleman and Walter Stuart.
They joined from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel,
Dewey & LeBoeuf and Vinson & Elkins respectively.
Elsewhere the firm upped its partnership promo-
tions to 18 (the figure was 14 in 2008-09), relocated
London bank ing head David Winfield to Hong Kong
as Asia head of finance and hired A&O senior energy
partner Alan Rae Smith.
It was not all good news on the people front, though.
High-profile banking partners Maurice Allen and
Mike Goetz left the firm after just a year to set up the
UK arm of US firm Ropes & Gray, while Herbert
Smith poached pensions partner Dan Schaffer.
The firm saw headcount fall significantly during the
year. In 2008-09 it had 5,038 staff, but this fell by 8
per cent to 4,653 in 2009-10. In the same period its
fee-earner headcount dropped by 4 per cent and its
qualified lawyer headcount declined by 5 per cent,
while partner numbers remained static at 444.
Of the 444 partners, 419 are in the equity. Those at
the bottom of the firms 12-year lockstep were
awarded a profit share of 627,000, while those at the
top took home 1.5m. With the lockstep running
from 20 to 50 points, this means the value of one
lockstep point was 31,350, down from 32,900 the
year before. It is estimated that the 25 non-equity
partners received an average pay packet of 420,000.
Strengths
Freshfields
management,
including chief
executive Ted Burke
and joint senior
partner Konstantin
Mettenheimer,
continue to steer
the firm expertly
through exceptionally
tricky markets
while maintaining
a collegiate
culture within the
partnership. The firm
remains a corporate
powerhouse, winning
mandate after
mandate opposite
arch-rival and
corporate trailblazer
Linklaters.
Weaknesses
While Freshfields
financial performance
and client record are
outstanding, its
biggest concerns over
the coming years
concern people issues
and work-life balance.
Its obsession with
keeping both the
partnership and the
leverage ratio lean
means it is the most
vulnerable of the big
four to charges of
beasting associates.
And its tendency to
take on laterals only
from what partners
consider to be
comparator firms
may in the end be
shortsighted.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
3
(l-r) Burke and Mettenheimer
300
600
900
1200
1500
Costs
Net profit
Turnover
2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06
m
Five-year key trends
TLS_034_a ug_uk200_t op4_e d 1/ 9/ 10 16: 17 Pa ge 34
1-4
The Lawyer|UK 200|35
Turnover (M): 1,050
Average PEP (K): 1,100
Equity spread (K): 661-1,652
Profit margin (%): 37
RPL (K): 533
HAVING stripped out some 450 staff from the
business and booked the associated costs in the 2008-
09 financial year, Allen & Overy (A&O) was perhaps
the most expansionist of the magic circle firms in
2009-10, opening in new jurisdictions and making
significant lateral hires at home and abroad.
One of the firms major points of focus has been the
Asia-Pacific region and it caused ripples in the
tight-knit Australian legal market in February 2010
with its announcement that it would be launching
there.
In contrast to rival Clifford Chance, which just
flirted with alleged merger partner Malleson Stephen
Jacques two years ago, A&O went all the way with its
Australian ambitions, raiding Clayton Utz to launch
a niche banking and energy and natural resources
practice.
Not content with Australia, a week later it opened in
Qatar with a focus on high-end corporate and finance
work, adding to a credible Gulf offering in the United
Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
It also expanded its Singapore offering by merging
with local firm and former White & Case ally Venture
Law, while partner Srinivas Parthasarathy left A&Os
Singapore office to move to its Indian alliance firm Tri-
legal, thereby strengthening ties between the two firms.
This expansiveness seen across the Asia-Pacific
region was not necessarily in evidence in the firms
operations in more mature markets. It lost its entire
Milan-based employment team to local boutique
Lablaw and its Mannheim office to Quinn Emanuel
Urquhart Oliver & Hedges.
It was also hit by the departure of corporate ace Rolf
Koerfer to Linklaters spin-off Oppenhoff & Partner.
Meanwhile, in the UK, finance partner Alan Rae
Smith left for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and
leveraged finance partner Neil Caddy moved over to
Mayer Brown. However, A&O did hire in France,
Germany, the UK and the US.
The firm led on a number of sophisticated finance
deals during the year, with partners Alun Eynon-
Evans and Stephen Miller advising longstanding client
Bank of Ireland on a 3.4bn (2.79bn) integrated
debt and equity capital raising; and Vanessa Hardman
assisted Alliance & Leicester on a 1.4bn residential
mortgage-backed securitisation deal.
A&O replicated this success with a number of panel
wins, including BAA, Nationwide and Virgin Group.
The litigation department reported one of the best
performances in the market, with the departments rev-
enue growing by 24 per cent, from 110m to 136.6m.
A&O also broke new ground by outsourcing litigation
document review work to Integreon in a move that is
expected to generate a 30-50 per cent cost saving.
Under the terms of the firms lockstep, partners
enter the equity on 20 points and gain two a year for
15 years until they accumulate a maximum of 50. Last
year a point was worth roughly 33,000.
Strengths
Investment in
litigation paid off,
with substantial
growth in that
department. A&Os
reputation as a
go-to adviser in
times of crisis was
demonstrated by
the fact that it acted
on a UK Government
panel on how to
handle its stake
in bailed-out banks.
It was also lead
counsel to the
creditors of Dubai
World, which
requested a debt
standstill at the
end of 2009.
Weaknesses
The firm was left
exposed by its
reliance on financial
institutions, as
evidenced by the
disproportionate
impact of job cuts
on the leveraged
finance department
during the firmwide
restructuring.
Meanwhile, there are
questions about its
Australian operation,
including the viability
of trying to enter Asia
through the back
door, and A&O is still
considered a little
lean in the US.
Allen & Overy
4
Five-year key trends
(l-r) Senior partner David
Morley and global managing
partner Wim Dejonghe
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Costs
Net profit
Turnover
2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06
m
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5-10
36|The Lawyer|UK 200
Turnover (M): 581
Average PEP (K): 527
Equity spread (K): 225-1,500
Profit margin (%): 17
RPL (K): 250
DLA PIPER cut 37m out of its cost base over the
past financial year through a combination of
reducing headcount, deferring office moves and
tightening business development expenditure.
Around 2m was saved on air travel alone.
Nevertheless, such prudent financial manage-
ment was insufficient to stave off an 18 per cent
drop in average profit, from 645,000 to
527,000. In contrast, turnover fell by just 1 per
cent. Net profit was down by 19 per cent on 2008s
123m to 99.8m, a margin of 17 per cent.
One of the largest contributing factors to the
fall in profitability was the firms Middle East
network. Revenue for that region declined by 40
per cent from 2008s 20.5m (during which time
the firm had its best billings month ever) to
12.4m in 2009-10.
As a result the firm made a number of
redundancies and alterations to its regional senior
management. Middle East head David Church
was replaced by Abdulaziz Al-Yaqout, Alex Saleh
was moved out of the role of head of Bahrain and
Kuwait, senior partners Peter Monk and Damian
McNair were seconded to Australian alliance firm
DLA Phillips Fox and Shehzaad Sacranie, who
was billed to act as regional finance head, left the
firm after a year.
Elsewhere the picture was more mixed. Asia
grew by 21 per cent to 56.5m and Continental
Europe raised income by 10 per cent to 229m.
Strong performances were recorded in Belgium,
Germany, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands.
The UK, meanwhile, saw income fall by 8 per
cent to 284m. The UKs largest single area last
year was litigation, accounting for a fifth of
national turnover, followed by finance. The latter
area was boosted by the hire of Bob Charlton from
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as global head of
projects and finance.
DLA Pipers fixed-share partners divide up
a 25 per cent share of any profit above budget
(equity partners get the rest) and may receive a
performance-based bonus. Equity partners (on
average one more than the previous year) are
remunerated on bands worth 25,000 on a merit-
based system. While the bottom of the equity fell by
100,000 to 225,000, joint chief executive Nigel
Knowles remuneration as sole plateau partner
remained static year-on-year at 1.5m.
Turnover (M): 542
Average PEP (K): 663
Equity spread (K): 415-830
Profit margin (%): 30
RPL (K): 388
IN ITS final year as an unmerged entity, Lovells posted
an impressive set of results, with fee income rising by
2 per cent to 542m and net profit increasing by 13.8
per cent to 160m. The firm also achieved its highest-
ever average profit per equity partner (PEP), which
rose from 586,000 to 663,000, narrowly beating
the previous high of 661,000 in 2007-08 some
legacy as it morphs into Hogan Lovells.
The London office contributed 43.3 per cent of total
income, while Asia and the Middle East accounted for
9.7 per cent, Europe 42.7 per cent and the US 4.3 per
cent. The highest volume of income came from
disputes, which made up 130m of the total revenue,
representing a 1 percentage point increase on the
previous year.
Finance accounted for 19 per cent of revenue, but
that is a figure the merged firm will be looking to
improve this year.
While the number of staff dropped year-on-year
from 3,400 to 3,271, the number of partners grew
from 349 to 359. Hogan Lovells, which went live on
1 May, is estimated to have a turnover of 1.2bn
($1.87bn). That could elevate it above Allen & Overy
in terms of revenue by 2010-11.
Yet the merger has not been without its problems.
Earlier this year it was announced that Lovells
Chicago office would not be part of the merger and
there have been a series of departures across the firms
offices in New York, Warsaw, Berlin and Beijing.
However, if the merger is successful and at present
there is little to suggest it should not be it could
push Hogan Lovells into the premier league of global
law firms.
Strengths
At 162.6m of total revenue,
corporate was one of Lovells best
performers in 2009-10. The firm
landed roles on a string of
high-profile mandates, including
advising Segro on its takeover of
Brixton and Arcus Infrastructure
Partners on its purchase of failed
company Babcock & Browns 1.9bn
European infrastructure fund a
much-needed corporate platform on
which to build.
Weaknesses
Mergers are never easy, but
combining two firms the size
of Lovells and Hogan & Hartson
has already raised numerous
integration issues. The firm lacks
the strength in finance, particularly
in New York, to compete with
behemoths such as Skadden or
Linklaters. It is an area that the
firm is desperate to grow in and
until that happens it will struggle
to be considered as among the
worlds elite.
Strengths
DLA Pipers biggest selling point
is its global breadth, and this is the
reason new clients such as Christies,
Kraft and UBS have turned to it.
Its Asia practice is booming and
it is able to recognise new market
opportunities, as indicated by
launches in Brazil and Turkey,
which are destined to become
increasingly important for the firm.
Weaknesses
The firm was overambitious in the
Middle East, having hired too rapidly
and relying too much on one client,
Nakheel, which was aversely
affected by the property crash.
London is also a little skinny and
could do with a bolt-on to improve
market standing, particularly in
more sophisticated corporate work.
DLA Piper
Lovells
David Harris, managing partner
5
6
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The Lawyer|UK 200|37
5-10
Turnover (M): 449.9
Average PEP (K): 862
Equity spread (K): 440-1,025
Profit margin (%): 26
RPL (K): 426
HERBERT Smith was one of only three firms in
the UK top 10 to report an increase in turnover in
2009-10, albeit the rise was a modest 1.3 per cent
to 449.9m.
It also recovered from a disappointing 21 per
cent slump in net profit in 2008-09 to post a 1.3
per cent rise to 117.2m, while average profit per
equity partner (PEP) also rose, by 2 per cent, from
845,000 to 862,000.
The firm continues to maintain an unrivalled
reputation for litigation it was named Litigation
Team of the Year for the second year running at
The Lawyer Awards 2010 yet corporate remains
its highest-earning practice. It brought in 199.8m
in turnover last year, although that figure was
down slightly on the previous years 202m.
While the UK makes up 62 per cent of total
turnover, much of the firms investment has been
in its overseas operations, strengthening offices
in Moscow, Hong Kong, Dubai and Spain. The
majority of the redundancies at Herbies came in
2008-09, when 84 staff were let go in London. The
firm avoided making similar cuts this time.
Finance is now the fastest-growing area in the
firm and its strategy of targeting major banks is
paying off. It is now on the panels of RBS, Lloyds
Banking Group and BNP Paribas. It has also seen
a high volume of restructuring work, including
the Oilexco North Sea insolvency and the Yell
restructuring project.
Turnover (M): 439.5
Average PEP (K): 1,840
Equity spread (K): 1,050-2,100
Profit margin (%): 52
RPL (K): 791
SLAUGHTER and May remains an enigma in the
City. The firm does not reveal its financial results, but
with the corporate engine room stuttering of late, The
Lawyer estimates that revenue fell by around 13 per
cent during 2009-10.
Slaughters previous years performance was helped
in no small part by its work for HM Treasury,
primarily due to corporate big-hitter Charles Randell.
That flow slowed somewhat in 2009-10, although
Slaughters did win a role for the Treasury on its
agreement to subscribe to 25.5bn of RBS shares,
emphasising the fact that that particular well had not
run completely dry.
The early part of Slaughters financial year was
dominated by restructurings, with the finance arm
outperforming other departments. Dispute resolution
also had a good year, while competition performed
well. M&A activity, still the firms strongest suit,
remained thin on the ground.
Nevertheless, Slaughters did win roles on its fair
share of big-ticket transactions. Among the most
lucrative was a mandate for Cadbury on its ultimately
unsuccessful defence of a hostile takeover bid from
Kraft. M&A head Steve Cooke, who led the defence,
remained as busy as any City partner. Other major
pieces of work included advising BA on its tie-up
with Iberia, while the year-end brought a role for
Prudential on its cancelled 14.5bn rights issue and
attempted purchase of AIG in Asia.
While Slaughters is still largely UK-focused, the
Asian side of the business has become more important
of late. Turnover was up for the Hong Kong office,
while the firm continued to bed down in its Beijing
base. The importance of Asia was confirmed in this
years partner promotions round, which saw the firm
make up one City and one Hong Kong corporate
partner.
Another sign of a changing landscape at this
traditional firm was the news last year that it was in
talks to outsource some low-level legal work.
Strengths
Litigation was up by 10 per cent on last
year, accounting for some 171m of fee
income. Herbert Smith has worked on
some of the biggest deals around, including
transport group Arrivas prospective
takeover by Deutsche Bahn. It also
represented the underwriters on
Prudentials cancelled $21bn (13.44bn)
rights issue as part of its ultimately failed
bid to acquire American International
Groups Asian insurance arm AIA.
Weaknesses
Herbies suffered a series
of defections from its
Paris office during the
year, including that of
international banking and
finance head Georges Dirani,
who left to become general
counsel at BNP Paribas. This
trend needs to be addressed.
Strengths
Slaughters traditional
strength has always been
M&A. Last year, however,
the multidisciplinary
training of the firms
lawyers began to pay
off as some of the juiciest
mandates came from
the finance side, with
restructurings and
capital raisings propping
up performance.
Weaknesses
While lack of diversity in terms of both
geography and practice area has not proved a
big hindrance in the past, that could be about to
change. The firm can only keep achieving for so
long without a healthy M&A market to back it
up. The closure of the Paris office last year a
long time in the offing shows that the firms
toe-in-the-water international strategy might
have become anachronistic.
Herbert Smith
7
8
Slaughter and May
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38|The Lawyer|UK 200
Turnover (M): 355.2
Average PEP (K): 517
Equity spread (K): 275-872
Profit margin (%): 20
RPL (K): 292
HAVING made 735 job cuts during the recession
and booked much of the cost in 2008-09,
Eversheds was a much leaner and more profitable
business in 2009-10. This had an impact on
average profit per equity partner (PEP), which
rose by a third.
That said, around 95 secretaries were made
redundant during 2009-10 because the firm
outsourced document production work to Exigent
in South Africa, while 22 real estate lawyers also
had their jobs up for review.
The firm has not yet managed to shake off the
number of redundancies it made, nor the fact that
many were paid just the statutory minimum in
compensation.
Furthermore, one male associate who lost his job
took Eversheds to court, successfully claiming
unfair dismissal and sex discrimination against
the firm. Eversheds was ordered to pay 123,000
in damages.
Eversheds reputation is as a mid- market firm,
but at its core it has some stellar practices. These
include its public sector group, which has advised
regional development agencies on the creation
of some 400m worth of EU-financed funds,
and the Ministry of Justice on the expansion
of prisons.
On the private sector side of the business,
Eversheds has acted for the trustees of a number
of high-profile pension funds, including the New
Airways Pension Scheme and the Airways Pension
Scheme on a pension recovery deal with British
Airways and the trustees of the Cable & Wireless
Worldwide Retirement Plan.
Eversheds is also the proud possessor of a
number of blue-chip clients, including Boeing,
BAE Systems and Lloyds Banking Group.
But its failure to crack Londons high-end
corporate and finance markets, despite some
pretty hefty investment in its City operation,
remains a frustration.
The firms equity is split into 17 bands. Fixed-
share partners are distributed across five bands.
They made between 135,000 and 250,000 and
are eligible for a bonus worth up to 25 per cent of
base earnings.
Equity partners have their bandings reviewed
every two years and can be moved up or down by
a maximum of two steps. No partner currently sits
above band 15.
Further afield, Eversheds grew in Sweden
through a merger and announced plans to send its
first-ever secondee to Indian firm Khaitan & Co.
Turnover (M): 307
Average PEP (K): 486
Equity spread (K): 283-950
Profit margin (%): 30
RPL (K): 301
IN ANY normal year drops in both revenue and
profit per equity partner (PEP) would be signs of a
firm in trouble, but few could seriously suggest
that Norton Rose had anything but another good
year in 2009-10.
Global turnover was down by just over 2 per cent
on 2008-09s, falling from 314m to 307m.
However, unlike many of its competitors, for
Norton Rose that figure represents an improve-
ment on the 297m it posted a year previously.
PEP was down by 6 per cent, with partners
taking home an average of 486,000. Net profit
was marginally up from 88.4m to 92.3m and
the firm increased the total amount of equity in
circulation by around 7 per cent and boosted its
equity partner ranks.
Therein lies the key to Norton Roses year. In a
period during which many firms have displayed a
somewhat mercurial streak in their financial
performances, Norton Rose has stuck to its plan
and maintained steady progress.
The firm introduced a flexible working scheme
at the beginning of the financial year in an effort
to avoid redundancies. This initiative, which
allowed staff to take four-day weeks and part-
paid sabbaticals, ended in January as workflow
picked up, with chief executive Peter Martyr
reaffirming his promise that the firm would not
profit from it.
Further afield, Asia remained a big focus. The
tie-up with Deacons (now Norton Rose Australia)
has given the firm added clout in the Asia-Pacific
region and pushed its projected global turnover to
around the 440m mark.
In practice area terms, litigation continued to
perform well, growing to 14 per cent of firmwide
revenue (and 17 per cent in London).
Meanwhile, finance edged ahead of corporate as
the biggest-billing department on the back of its
work for HSBC, Socit Gnrale and Crdit
Agricole.
However, the biggest mandate of the year came
from the regulatory practice, which snared a role
for Orange on its merger with T-Mobile.
Norton Rose partners start as junior equity
partners before moving onto a modified lockstep
system, starting on 100 points. They move up 12.5
points a year until they reach a gateway at 150.
Partners plateau at 200 points, at which level a
handful of high performers can move up to a
maximum of 300 points.
Strengths
Eversheds management is
commercially focused, ambitious
and has a reputation for innovative
thinking. The firm improved
profitability last year and appears
to have learnt from past mistakes
by offering enhanced redundancy
packages to support staff whose jobs
are on the line, rather than the bare
minimum, while distributing a bonus
of 1,000 to all non-partner staff.
Weaknesses
Eversheds handled its redundancies
badly and, while it has sought to
improve on that record, mud sticks.
This means that, whenever it floats
plans such as paying staff for
business development ideas and
piloting iPads for staff, it elicits a
barrage of criticism. Equally, the
firms strategy of targeting major
corporates for the whole spectrum
of their legal needs risks diluting
the brand.
Strengths
Finance was a big plus this year,
with Norton Rose acting on some
of the biggest IPOs around,
including Jupiter Asset Management
and Polish power group Tauron.
Litigation outperformed
expectations for the second year
running, while the continuing push
into Asia is another big positive
for the future.
Weaknesses
There is concern that London
is being left behind as the focus
remains on growing the global
network. Mainstream corporate
work has also fallen away, in line
with the M&A market, although
headline figures were boosted by
work coming through the corporate
finance and competition practices.
Eversheds
9
Norton Rose
10
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TLS_039_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 11: 15 Pa ge 1
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Ashurst
Turnover (M): 293
Average PEP (K): 689
Equity spread (K): 362-940
Profit margin (%): 35
RPL (K): 366
AS WITHmany of its peers
jostling for position below
the magic circle, Ashurst has
managed to steady its ship to
some degree after recording
a big fall in profit during
2008-09. But it was still far
from plain sailing in 2009-10.
Average profit per equity
partner nudged up to 689,000
from last years 673,000,
which is still some way short
of the 1.04m recorded in
2007-08. Total revenue was
down slightly, from 301m
to 293m.
The lack of a significant bounce
should not come as too much of a
surprise given that the economic
downturn is still affecting
Ashursts major sweet spots
of mainstream corporate
and acquisition finance work.
Also, while cutting around
6 per cent from its total staff
numbers, the firm avoided any
major redundancy programme
last year.
Total partner headcount
actually increased from 221 to
225, but those figures do not tell
the full story of a year that saw a
number of comings and goings
from the partnership.
Kirkland & Elliss June 2010
raid for private equity duo David
Arnold and Gavin Gordon
certainly shook the firm, coming
on the back of a number of other
partner departures throughout
2009-10. Meanwhile,
restructuring partners Dan
Hamilton and Lee Doyle were
recruited from White & Case and
RBS respectively, while Centrica
general counsel Peter Roberts
joined the energy practice.
Some commentators believe
that the Ashurst partnership
revolving door has changed the
culture of the firm, suggestions
that managing partner Simon
Bromwich denies vigorously.
The firms management is
understood to believe that the
changes, with the notable
exception of the Arnold and
Gordon departures, have
actively improved the quality
of the partnership.
Ashursts performance was
bolstered by a strong showing
from some of its overseas offices,
with non-UK revenue up from
33 per cent last year to 37 per
cent in 2009-10. But while
offices in France, Spain and
Sweden performed well, there
was trouble in Italy, when four
partners, including office
managing partner Riccardo
Agnostinelli, quit the firm
last August.
11 =
Simmons
& Simmons
Turnover (M): 251
Average PEP (K): 461
Equity spread (K): 240-850
Profit margin (%): 23
RPL (K): 332
SIMMONS & Simmons
highlights over the past year
included litigation partner Philip
Vaughans work on the
Buncefield case, which resulted
in a Court of Appeal victory for
client Shell, and fellow litigation
ace Colin Passmores win for
Barclays in the landmark
bank charges case. As a result
litigation grew as a proportion
of firmwide income, from 27
per cent in 2008-09 to 33.6 per
cent in 2009-10. IP was also up.
Despite the success, absolute
income for contentious work
grew by only 6 per cent on the
previous year as turnover for the
firm as a whole dropped by 14
per cent to 251m.
The reduction in total income
was largely the result of a 22 per
cent drop in revenue for the
financial institutions practice,
where clients include Bank of
America, Deutsche Bank and
Standard Chartered, and which
accounts for almost half of
firmwide revenue.
The decision to demerge the
Portuguese practice,
implemented on 1 May 2009,
12 =
CMS Cameron
McKenna
Turnover (M): 214.4
Average PEP (K): 453
Equity spread (K): 200-501
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 291
FEW FIRMS can have
experienced as incident-packed a
year as CMS Cameron McKenna.
It started with the introduction
of a redundancy-busting flexible
working scheme. It ended with
the firm in the throes of
negotiating potentially the
biggest legal process outsourcing
deal in the City.
Avoiding the previous years
redundancies (43 fee-earners lost
their jobs) has been a key priority
for managing partner Duncan
Weston, who has continued his
crusade to reshape the firm.
Camerons introduced its flexible
working arrangement at the
beginning of the 2009-10
financial year, with as many as
90 per cent of staff either
accepting shorter weeks or
taking unpaid leave.
The result was that no more
job losses were necessary, but
turnover was affected. Fee
income dropped by 11 per cent to
214.4m, while average profit
per equity partner fell by 18 per
cent to 453,000.
With 16 partners being taken
out of the equity at the end of
2008-09 and a total of 21 fewer
equity partners on a full-time
equivalent basis in 2009-10, net
profit also suffered, falling from
68m to 45.7m. The drop in
profitability came despite an
ongoing drive at the firm to
reduce costs.
This drive will continue apace
during the current year as the
details of Project Skylark an
outsourcing arrangement with
Integreon are finalised. Due to
go live in the autumn, the project
could see as much as 90 per cent
of the firms support functions
outsourced.
Surprisingly, given the carnage
across the market over the past
two years, Camerons corporate
practice performed well, posting
a second consecutive rise in
turnover. The firm was helped by
a vibrant energy sector, while its
life sciences and technology,
media and telecoms departments
also had a good year.
A high point for the firm was
winning a place on the coveted
13 =
also took approximately 6m
out of the coffers and reduced
staff by 60. Simmons now
operates an associate
relationship with the firm of
former Portugal managing
partner Pedro Rebelo De Sousa.
The closure of the Moscow office
in October, with eight staff made
redundant, also led to a
(smaller) dip in revenue.
Meanwhile, Simmons centred
its international attention on
China, making lateral hires and
applying for a Beijing licence.
Central to that focus were the
merger talks with Mayer Brown.
The US firm has an extensive
East Asia presence, but
discussions were eventually
abandoned after concerns were
raised over office duplication and
differences in profitability.
Simmons overhauled its
salaried bonus system during the
year after no bonuses were paid
out in 2008-09 because of a
failure to hit budget. It also took
the decision to break associate
lockstep, replacing it with a
merit-based arrangement from
1 May 2010.
The firm moved some partners
out of the equity partnership,
which was 5 per cent smaller
than in 2008-09. The profit pool
is split 80:20 between a 12-rung
lockstep and an additional
allocation of either one, three
(the norm), six or 10 points.
Equity partners enter the
lockstep on seven points and are
expected to progress up a level
each year for the first seven
rungs, accumulating 1.5 points
per year. Progress is managed
more actively in the top five
rungs. A remuneration
committee is comprised of
managing partner Mark
Dawkins and four elected
members.
Simmons put corporate
responsibility at the heart of its
2009-12 business plan through
increasing cooperation with
clients, rewarding employees
with time off in lieu and
recognition in the appraisal
process.
TLS_040_a ug_uk200_wr i t e ups 11t o50_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 03 Pa ge 40
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The Lawyer|UK 200|41
Pinsent
Masons
Turnover (M): 206
Average PEP (K): 410
Equity spread (K): 240-605
Profit margin (%): 22
RPL (K): 223
PINSENT Masons increased its
profit margin from 17 to 22 per
cent and its average profit per
equity partner by 32 per cent
over the past financial year
without substantially slashing
either the total number of equity
partners, which fell slightly from
116 to 113, or total staff, which
shrank by 3 per cent on the
previous year.
In fact, with 19 job losses at
the beginning of the 2009-10
financial year, Pinsents made
one of the smallest number of
redundancies of any of the
firms of its size. The rest of the
minimal staff reduction came
largely through natural wastage.
Cost cutting was achieved partly
through an extensive flexitime
scheme, which was taken up by
204 members of staff and saved
2m, and putting the freeze on
salaries and non-strategic
recruitment.
The national firm is well-
known for its public sector
practice, scoring panel wins for
the Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority and Birmingham City
Council, and also leads in the
education arena. It has also
picked up new work for
HSBC through its joint
venture with Salans.
However, the lack
of activity on AIM,
where it is one of
the market leaders,
has hit the bottom
line, while corporate and
property were both down on the
previous year. Total firmwide
turnover fell by 4 per cent, from
215m to 206m.
Pinsents has a two-tier
partnership. Fixed-share
partners contribute capital,
receive a salary and an additional
two profit points each, which
roughly accounts for between 10
and 15 per cent of their total
remuneration. Equity partners
enter the 10-rung modified
lockstep on 20 points.
Remuneration is reviewed every
three years by a 10-member
committee and partners can
move down, as well as up, the
lockstep. In addition, there is a
partnership-wide bonus scheme,
which accounts for 10 per cent of
the total profit pool. The firm
retains a waiting room
arrangement, limiting the
number of partners who can
resign at any one time.
Last year the firm signed up to
new London headquarters, with
the investment starting in
2010-11. While it has managed
to offload two of its London
premises in City Point and
Bunhill Row, it still has a
four-year lease
remaining on
premises in
Clerkenwell
to deal
with.
14 =
Bird & Bird
Turnover (M): 201.8
Average PEP (K): 466
Equity spread (K): 284-766
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 273
TECHNOLOGY specialist Bird
& Bird continued its apparently
permanent growth spurt last
year off the back of its increased
geographic reach and continued
strengthening of various practice
areas in a number of markets.
The expansionist firm broke
through the 200m revenue
barrier for the first time, posting
a total turnover of 201.8m for
the 2009-10 financial year.
In contrast with the 10 per cent
rise in turnover, Bird & Birds
average profit per equity partner
figure fell for the second year
running, from 481,000 to
466,000.
The reduction in average profit
is also reflected in Bird & Birds
relatively low margin for a City
firm of 19 per cent. Although
Bird & Birds net profit grew last
year from 34.6m to 37.7m,
with the overall growth in
turnover that translated into a
drop in the profit margin from
2008-09.
Although Bird & Bird has 81
full equity partners (up from
72 last year) it maintains that
all of its partners should be
categorised as equity thanks to
its merit-based remuneration
system. According to CEO
David Kerr, on that metric the
firms profit margin is closer to
35 per cent.
However, Kerr agrees that
junior partners are effectively
on a fixed-share basis until they
enter the full equity. Only the
latter were counted as part of the
18 per cent net profit last year.
Several of Bird & Birds
contracts in its specialist
litigation areas, such as IP,
sports and technology, held up
particularly well last year.
The firms financial year was
characterised by international
expansion. It is planning to open
an office in Abu Dhabi, its first
base in the Middle East region,
while further afield it formed an
alliance last year with Beijing IP
boutique Xiang Kung Law Firm
with the aim of strengthening
its contentious capabilities in
China.
Consequently, the proportion
of revenue derived from overseas
grew from 65 per cent to around
70 per cent.
In London Bird & Bird
bolstered its corporate team
with the hire of two partners
from Orrick Herrington &
Sutcliffe, Richard Eaton and
Struan Penwarden.
15 h
Clyde & Co
Turnover (M): 192
Average PEP (K): 605
Equity spread (K): 286-885
Profit margin (%): 28
RPL (K): 337
IT WAS another year of
expansion for Clyde & Co,
which reported a 3.8 per cent
rise in revenue at the financial
year-end, from 185m to 192m.
Sustainable growth at the firm
comes as a direct result of a
number of initiatives aimed at
building up its core practices of
litigation, arbitration, insurance
and IP, in particular trademark
matters. The firm has managed
this while also spreading its
geographical base, with an eye on
targeting work coming from the
emerging markets.
Turnover has risen at Clydes
steadily and since 2005-06,
growing by 53.6 per cent, from
125m to 192m. Net profit
has also climbed upwards,
standing at 54.5m last year,
a 16 per cent increase on the
47m posted at the 2008-09
year-end.
Approximately 42 per cent of
Clydes revenue is now generated
outside the UK, the equivalent of
80.64m compared with 77m
in 2008-09.
Clydes expanded its equity
partnership from 87 to 91 during
the past financial year and also
increased the wider partnership
by 14 to 164. New recruits last
year included insurance partners
Roger Doulton, Neil Beresford
and Toby Rogers, who all joined
16 h
BT global panel. Another
big mandate came with its
continued work for RWE on
the disposal of the UKs
nuclear power sites.
Camerons operates what
amounts to a three-tiered
partner structure. At the lowest
level are office partners, who are
not included in the total partner
figure of 141 given by the firm,
and who are effectively
senior associates with more
responsibility. They are
promoted to a three-year
gateway level before progressing
to the full lockstep, which has
nine levels with a plateau
of 70 points. The equity spread
in 2009-10 topped out at
501,000, down from 644,000
in 2008-09.
TLS_041_a ug_uk200_wr 11t o50_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 46 Pa ge 41
SJL | Sedlo Jimenez Lunz is an independent Luxembourg law firm that offers
first-class legal services in all fields of business law. SJLs wide-ranging
expertise in Luxembourg finance, securities and corporate law allows it to
advise leading institutional and major corporate clients on sophisticated and
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finance, securitisations, public offerings and private placements of securities,
alternative investment vehicles, restructuring & insolvency, M&A and
corporate financial transactions.
SJLs lawyers are all multi-lingual professionals with substantial experience in
private practice, and SJLs partners are recognised experts in their respective
practices and specialities.
The quality of services, expertise and broad capabilities of SJL in most
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SJL Sedlo Jimenez Lunz
2, rue de la Reine L-2418 Luxembourg
Tel. +352 246 185 20 Fax: +352 246 185 20 50
Email: info@sjl-legal.com
Website: www.sjl-legal.com
TLS_042_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 14: 40 Pa ge 1
11-50
The Lawyer|UK 200|43
like many firms, this process can
be accelerated. Remuneration is
allocated on the basis of a
number of criteria, including
how many hours partners bill,
what role they take on a deal and
the contribution
to business development. The
bottom of equity increased
slightly over the past financial
year, from 185,000 to
208,000, while the highest-
paid partners continued to
receive 1.2m.
from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert.
The firm operates a 10-year
modified lockstep, which
stretches from 40 to 100 points.
Partners move through gates
every three years, reaching
plateau within 10 years.
At the end of the last
financial year the firms average
profit per equity partner figure
rose by 10 per cent, from
550,000 to 605,000. The
firms equity spread also moved
upwards marginally, now
ranging from 286,000 to
885,000.
The increased financial metrics
are a result of sustained
investment at Clydes. Over the
past year this has included the
bolt-on of Shadbolts London-
based construction and
infrastructure practice and
dispute teams, as well as the
UK corporate practice and the
Paris office.
The deal also gave the firm a
presence in Tanzania through
a best friends relationship with
AKO Law.
In addition, there have been
new offices in New Jersey and
Saudi Arabia and a best friends
alliance with Indias ALMT,
giving it a route into the Indian
market.
Berwin
Leighton
Paisner
Turnover (M): 191
Average PEP (K): 455
Equity spread (K): 208-1,200
Profit margin (%): 22
RPL (K): 327
BERWIN Leighton Paisner
(BLP) bounced back from its
disappointing performance
during the 2008-09 financial
year in 2009-10, breaking
through the 190m revenue
barrier and reporting a 10 per
cent increase in average profit
per equity partner (PEP).
One of BLPs biggest successes
has been its ability to respond
to changes in client demand,
particularly the disaggregation of
legal services. The firm launched
a managed legal services
department designed
to take over the in-house legal
functions of major corporates.
The first client to sign up was
Thames Water in a deal worth
5m per year over five years,
which sees BLP refer lower-value
work to Ashfords and Pannone.
Other programmes, such as
Lawyers on Demand, also
continue to be successful, with
the scheme working with Cisco,
Dell, Gucci, Orange, Sky and
UBS.
Overseas the jury is still out on
BLPs ambitious Russian
adventure, but the Abu Dhabi
office has experienced a steady
growth in headcount. The client
base has also grown with Aldar,
the major Abu Dhabi-based
developer of projects such as the
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme
park, being one of the latest
additions.
BLPs turnover was boosted by
several high-profile matters last
year, not least through it picking
up Clifford Chance client
Blackstone on its joint venture
with British Land and the
National Pension Service of
Korea. The firm also acted for
stalwart clients such as Tesco on
a major sale-and-leaseback deal
and Oxford Properties and UBS
in relation to the letting of
Watermark Place to Nomura,
one of the largest pre-lets ever
in the City.
The restructuring practice
continued to be busy, with
insolvency ace Ben Larkin acting
for accountancy firm Moore
Stephens on the administration
of Readers Digest.
Although PEP rose, the
increase was slightly more
muted than at some of BLPs
competitors as a result of a
number of opportunistic
senior hires, such as sports
litigator Graham Shear from
Teacher Stern and tax partner
Linda Adelson from Lloyds
TSB, plus leaders in support
services, such as business
development, HR and
marketing. The firm also
made 85 redundancies.
BLP operates a modified
lockstep, with 20 per cent of
partners remuneration based on
performance. On the lockstep
element partners enter the equity
on 50 points, typically taking 10
years to reach plateau. However,
17 h
Taylor
Wessing
Turnover (M): 177.9
Average PEP (K): 385
Equity spread (K): 200-700
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 279
WHILE there are still lingering
question marks over the extent
of its international integration,
almost a full decade after the
Anglo-German merger that
created it, there is no doubt
that Taylor Wessing continues
to be a tightly run ship.
Turnover was down by 5 per
cent overall to 177.9m, with
UK turnover falling by 7 per
cent to 84.5m. Average profit
per equity partner, meanwhile,
edged up slightly to 385,000
globally and 453,000 in the
UK, while net profit held at
56.3m.
The consistent profitability
can be put down to the prudent
financial management that has
always been a Taylor Wessing
calling card. One of the
shortest average lockup
periods in the City was reduced
further in 2009-10 to an
impressive 86 days.
Managing partner Tim Eyles
first full year in the top job was
dominated by a rebranding
exercise that finally went live in
the summer. One of the key
elements was a paring down of
the firms core client list,
abandoning country-specific
rosters in favour of a select
line-up that includes Nike,
Deutsche Post, Google and RBS.
It is one of a number of moves
that speaks of a firm wanting to
be seen as a truly international
player. Expansion away from
Taylor Wessings traditional
European bases is also on the
cards, with Asia and South
America possible targets.
Partners have been appointed to
put together business plans for
key jurisdictions, opening up the
possibility of further growth.
IP continues as a strength,
but the corporate practice has
improved steadily, with the firm
acting for a healthy slew of
private wealth clients on M&A
deals.
There are still discrepancies
between the partner
remuneration systems in Taylor
Wessings European and UK
practices. For example, there are
eight equity bands in Germany
and 10 in the UK. The latter
system starts on 200 points,
rising to a plateau of 700.
18 m
SJ Berwin
Turnover (M): 171
Average PEP (K): 447
Equity spread (K): 180-640
Profit margin (%): 23
RPL (K): 315
FOLLOWING its annus
horribilis that was 2008-09, the
past financial year saw SJ Berwin
manage to steady the ship. Yet
few in the City believe the firm
is out of the woods yet.
The firms 2009-10 was defined
by its courting of a US merger
partner. Early contender Orrick
Herrington & Sutcliffe opted out
of the tie-up, to be replaced by
Proskauer Rose. The public
pursuit of Proskauer has led
many commentators to suggest
that the future of the firm lies in
the successful completion of the
merger.
Transatlantic ambitions aside,
revenue dropped for the second
year in succession at SJ Berwin,
down 7 per cent from 184m to
171m. This represents an
overall decline over two years of
20 per cent. Average profit per
19 m
TLS_043_a ug_uk200_wr 11t o50_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 47 Pa ge 43
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Addleshaw
Goddard
Turnover (M): 167.5
Average PEP (K): 426
Equity spread (K): 221-572
Profit margin (%): 25
RPL (K): 287
IT WAS a middling year at
Addleshaw Goddard. The profit
margin fell from 26 to 25 per
cent, but average profit per
equity partner increased by
5 per cent, from 405,000 to
426,000, largely as a result of
an equity partner cull: the firm
had on average 14 fewer equity
partners and 19 fewer partners
than in 2008-09. However,
unlike in 2008-09, Addleshaws
is paying out bonuses on a
discretionary basis this year.
It was a particularly impressive
year for the contentious
department, which grew fee
income by 25 per cent and which
now accounts for almost a third
of firmwide revenue. This was
boosted by the ongoing
Berezovsky
litigation and
partner
David Engel securing more than
30 settlements from media
outlets for Robert Dee, the
worlds worst tennis player. The
question remains as to whether
this performance will be
sustained next year given that
former department head Simon
Twigden is set to leave, along with
partner Pietro Marino, to set up a
claimant-focused boutique.
Speculation arose that
Twigdens exit was linked to his
failure to win the chairman
election, in which he ran against
Malcolm Pike, the head of the
contentious and commercial
division, and litigation partner
Monica Burch. Burch won,
becoming one of just a handful
of women to lead a City firm.
It was a good year for the
professional services practice
set up last August by former
managing partner Mark Jones.
It advised on the tie-up between
offshore firms Mourant du Feu
& Jeune and Ozannes.
However, three of the firms
four major practice areas saw
their incomes drop: finance made
38.5m compared with 41.5m a
year before; real estate brought
in 34.6m, down from 40.2m;
and corporate generated 40.2m,
a drop from 48.5m.
The equity runs from 50 to
150 points with 10-point
increments. It is split into three
bands, the first of which, 50-80
points, is lockstep. Thereafter
it is performance-based. No
partner currently has more
than 130 points.
=20 h
Denton Wilde
Sapte
Turnover (M): 167.5
Average PEP (K): 360
Equity spread (K): 230-540
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 275
AT THE start of the past
financial year Denton Wilde
Sapte launched a three-year
strategy review, with chief
executive Howard Morris
speaking of the need to offer
an alternative to the magic circle.
What the new approach did not
feature at least publicly was
the plan to secure a transatlantic
merger.
By Christmas 2009 Dentons
had agreed a deal with
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
that would create a 500m firm
with 1,400 lawyers by September
2010. Arguably the smaller, less
profitable Dentons got the better
deal. But Dentons has taken
steps over the past financial
year, including making 27
redundancies, to improve its
profitability and make itself a
more eligible merger partner.
As a result average profit per
equity partner increased by 22
per cent, from 300,000 to
360,000, while the firms profit
margin improved from 15 to 19
per cent. Currently partners
enter the firms equity on 45
points and progress by five
points per year until they
plateaue at 90 points. Following
the merger Dentons will change
to an entirely merit-based
system.
Dentons has been highly active
in the projects and infrastructure
sector, assisting the Highways
Agency on the expansion of the
M25, the Ministry of Defence on
a 15-year shipbuilding deal with
BVT Surface Fleet and Deutsche
Bahn subsidiary DB Regio Tyne
& Wear on its contract to operate
the Tyne & Wear Metro. The hire
of two nuclear sector partners
from Hammonds, Rupert Cowen
and Jonathan Leech, may help
Dentons up its ante in that area.
Other investments included a
fitout in a new base in Milton
Keynes, which functions as a
UK lower-cost office, and several
million pounds spent on
upgrading the IT system.
International now accounts for
31 per cent of total revenue and
expansion abroad has continued,
with associations launched in
Libya and Lebanon. Dentons
strong reputation in the Middle
East has been underscored by its
winning mandates from Deutsche
Bahn on a $25bn (16.01bn)
project to build Qatars rail
network and Vodafone Qatar on
its $950m IPO on the Doha
Securities Market.
=20 h
equity partner rose by 9 per cent
to 447,000, but this is still a
long way off the 2007-08 high
of 801,000. Furthermore,
partners at the firm continued
to see their quarterly profit
distribution payments held
back until the start of 2010,
when they resumed.
While still securing a decent
share of whatever private equity
work was out there, the firms
reliance on that practice along
with real estate has seen it
continue to slump in terms of
transactional work.
One bright point came with
a mandate acting for Apax
Partners on a 600m investment
by Chinese Investment
Corporation, a deal led by
corporate head Steven Davis,
corporate partner Michael
Halford and funds star Nigel
van Zyl.
However, several departures
also rocked the firm through the
year, with banking partner Stuart
Brinkworths defection to Hogan
Lovells at the start of the year,
leaving the finance practice
feeling threadbare.
Irwin Mitchell
Turnover (M): 157
Average PEP (K): 540
Equity spread (K): 150-700
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 359
TOTAL revenue at Irwin
Mitchell declined by 0.6 per cent
during 2009-10, from 158m to
157m. Average profit per equity
partner also contracted, by 12.2
per cent, from 615,000 to
540,000.
This, however, comes after the
firm had its most successful year
to date in 2008-09. The falling
figures also serve to reflect the
firms investments, including the
opening of an office in Bristol in
February this year.
Taking a five-year snapshot,
the firms revenue has increased
by 40.2 per cent since the
2005-06 year-end, when the
firm posted a turnover of
112m. Over the same period
the partnership has expanded
from 96 to 115, although it
also introduced the partner
equivalent position of associate
director during the past year
(Irwin Mitchell also created a
career path for non-lawyers
when it converted to a legal
disciplinary practice).
Including associate directors,
the firm has 102 litigators
working at partner level
producing an average revenue
of 1.3m each.
At the end of the last
financial year the firms 115
22 h
44|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_044_a ug_uk200_wr ups 11t o5_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 08 Pa ge 44
The Lawyer|UK 200|45
Beachcroft
Turnover (M): 131
Average PEP (K): 314
Equity spread (K): 215-535
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 185
BEACHCROFTS financial
success over the past three
years has been underpinned by
internal investment against a
backdrop of modest turnover
growth.
During 2009-10 turnover grew
by 8.2 per cent to 131m from
121m a year earlier. Since
2005-06, when the firm
recorded a turnover of 98m,
Beachcroft has grown by a third.
In contrast, the equity
partnership at the firm has
contracted from 84 to 78 over
the same period.
According to Beachcroft senior
partner Simon Hodson, this has
not been a deliberate ploy, but
rather the result of equity
partner retirements.
Last year those 78 equity
partners earned an average
profit share of 314,000.
This compares with 84 equity
partners during the 2008-09
financial year earning an average
of 301,000.
Beachcroft has traditionally
been best known for its core
insurance practice, although
much of the past year has seen
investment into its healthcare
offering. This has brought
about a geographical
rebalancing of the firm. It
has tended to focus on the
South in the past, but is now also
looking north.
This trend began in November
2008 with the hire of Eversheds
healthcare partners David
Weatherburn, Paul Taylor and
Neil Rowe, who joined the firm
with a team of 11 lawyers and a
plethora of clients, worth an
estimated 4m. The firm
launched an office in Newcastle
off the back of these hires.
In the past year Beachcroft has
reinforced further its healthcare
practice in Manchester with the
hire of a team from Halliwells,
which included partners
Christopher Briggs and Simon
Wortley.
Beachcrofts equity spread
was 215,000 to a record
high of 535,000 last year,
an improvement on 2008-09,
when the spread ran from
165,000 to 452,000.
Hodson says the improved
result was a consequence of
discretionary awards being
handed out to the firms
best-performing partners.
23 h
Hammonds
Turnover (M): 118
Average PEP (K): 364
Equity spread (K): 156-471
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 257
WHILE Hammonds turnover
again saw a decline in 2009-10,
falling by 6 per cent to 118m,
profit bounced back. The firm,
which reported a 25 per cent
drop in average profit per equity
partner in 2008-09, saw that
figure leap by 32 per cent
to 364,000 in the past
financial year. Net profit saw
a 17 per cent hike to 22.6m.
The soaring profit was largely
a result of the reduction in the
firms headcount. The total
number of staff dropped from
1,297 to 1,015, and the number of
qualified lawyers dropped from
614 to 459. The number of equity
partners was also slashed, from
73 to 62.
The headcount reduction was
not all down to redundancies.
There were several high-profile
departures over the past year,
including Manchester head
Jonathan Edwards and
international construction chief
David Moss, who both joined
McGrigors, and Leeds head of
litigation David Williams, who
joined Walker Morris. Other
partner departures include
property specialist Paul Groobey,
corporate partner Ian Gillis and
construction partner Rupert
Cowen.
Towards the end of
the financial year the
firm was forced to
abandon its Munich
office following a series
of partner defections to
rivals Eversheds and Reed
Smith. However, the firm
is now considering plans to
open in Frankfurt. It has
also made 11 partner
appointments in the past
year, strengthening areas
such as corporate, pensions,
insolvency and litigation.
Corporate was a key practice
in 2009-10, generating 21 per
cent of fee income. The team
advised Rensburg Sheppards
on its all-share 412m takeover
by Investec and Care UK on
its 281m acquisition by
Bridgepoint Capital.
Litigation remains another
key area, accounting for 31m
of revenue, higher than any
other practice, while pensions
and employment continue to
perform well.
Despite the departures and
falling revenue, Hammonds
client base remains loyal: 73
per cent of its top 100 clients
have been advised by the
national firm for at least five
years or more.
24 h
partners posted a revenue per
partner of 1.36m, down by
3.26 per cent from 1.41m a
year earlier.
Irwin Mitchells practice is
dominated by contentious
work. The litigation group
accounts for 85 per cent of
overall revenue, the equivalent
of 133.45m, up slightly
from the 134m posted at
the 2008-09 year-end.
In the latest partnership
promotions round the firm made
up seven, including financial
director Mark Dakin and costs
manager Steven Green.
The litigation practice spans
a number of areas, from
high-volume defence work for
insurer clients such as Aviva to
higher-profile specialist cases
such as FSA criminal
investigations.
Irwin Mitchell is one firm
that has not been shy about
its enthusiasm for the Legal
Services Act, although it refuses
to divulge exactly what those
plans are and how it will action
them. But the next phase of its
growth is likely to come from
investment into the corporate
practice.
11-50
TLS_045_a ug_uk200_wr ups 11t o5_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 10 Pa ge 45
11-50
46|The Lawyer|UK 200
Holman
Fenwick
Willan
Turnover (M): 99.6
Average PEP (K): 527
Equity spread (K): 320-640
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 318
FOLLOWING a stonking year
in 2008-09, when turnover
mushroomed by 27 per cent and
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) by 26 per cent, Holman
Fenwick Willan experienced
little growth in 2009-10.
Turnover increased by 1 per cent,
from 98.7m to 99.6m, while
PEP was up by 2.5 per cent,
from 514,000 to 527,000.
The firm remains firmly
focused on litigation, with 82 per
cent of total revenue (81.6m)
coming from the 78-partner
litigation group. While the firm
also remains committed to
expanding into key strategic
jurisdictions, Londons
contribution to total turnover
has grown as a percentage year-
on-year. In 2008-09 the firms
UK practice accounted for 48
per cent of the total (47.4m).
In 2009-10 it accounted for
56 per cent (55.9m).
This is despite the firm
launching in Sydney and
forming associations in Abu
Dhabi and Saudi Arabia during
the year.
In September 2009 the firm
hired Blake Dawson partner
Alex Baykitch for the Sydney
launch. At the beginning of
26 h
Nabarro
Turnover (M): 113.8
Average PEP (K): 320
Equity spread (K): 170-510
Profit margin (%): 27
RPL (K): 282
NABARRO has sought to
broaden its offering beyond
its traditional property focus,
with expansion into corporate,
dispute resolution and the public
sector.
While it has made headway
in a number of non-property-
related areas a panel win for
Nationwide, work on the now
defunct Building Schools for
the Future scheme and acting
for winning bidder General
Dynamics on a 2bn Ministry of
Defence deal Nabarro remains
exposed to the real estate
market. Last year property
accounted for almost a third
of total revenue. As a result
turnover at the firm dropped
by 10 per cent over the past
financial year, from 126.5m
to 113.8m.
Despite the challenges
of the recession, real estate
continues to be one of the firms
greatest assets. In fact, the
property group actually has
more partners now than it did in
2008-09. Land Securities, which
Nabarro advised on the 250m
sale of Oxford Street retail
property Park House to a Libyan
investor, continues to be a major
client. The firm also worked with
Quintain on a 191m rights issue
and with Westfield on prelet
agreements related to the
Stratford development.
Despite the reduction in total
revenue Nabarro managed to
broadly retain its profit margin,
which at 27 per cent is at the
higher end for its market. This
was as a result of an 8 per cent
reduction in total headcount
and putting certain capital
expenditure on hold.
Average profit per equity
partner still fell by 15 per cent,
from 375,000 to 320,000
a reflection of the relatively
large (73 per cent) proportion
of partners in the equity.
Associates typically enter
the partnership as fixed-share
partners, remunerated on the
basis of a salary plus a share
of profit. Some of the 35 fixed-
share partners earned more than
those partners at the bottom of
the equity, who last year made
170,000. It typically takes three
years to progress into the equity.
The firm operates a
meritocratic remuneration
system, with profit share
determined one year in advance.
25 m
Wragge & Co
Turnover (M): 96.2
Average PEP (K): 276
Equity spread (K): 130-445
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 219
WRAGGE & Co had 23 fewer
staff members in 2009-10
compared with 2008-09. But
with 32 redundancies, coupled
with at least a degree of natural
wastage during that period, total
headcount would have been even
lower had it not been for the
firms acquisition of a team of 45
lawyers, including 10 partners,
from Lefvre Pelletier & Associs
in Paris at the beginning of this
calendar year.
The fact that these additions
came relatively late in the
financial year meant that no
uplift was felt on overall
turnover. Total revenue fell
by 7 per cent, from 103.4m
to 96.2m, over the period.
The dip was partly down to
Wragges exposure to property,
which at 28 per cent is one
of the highest proportions
of any of the major UK firms,
and to major corporates, many
of which have brought work
in-house.
While Wragges has aimed to
increase its FTSE100 client base,
it has also sought to hedge
against the downturn in private
sector investment through
increasing its presence among
public sector clients, particularly
in health, waste, transport and
education.
Wragges has an all-equity
partnership. Remuneration is
determined by a committee that
comprises the senior and
managing partners and three
elected members. Partners
receive a proportion of the total
profit, averaging around 0.75
per cent.
The firm is financed
conservatively and has
substantial cash reserves.
Other than its Paris launch
Wragges has also proceeded
cautiously on the investment
front, with no major advances
on expansion into the Middle
East, despite noises to this
effect.
For 2010-11 the firm is
budgeting a 20 per cent increase
in turnover to 115m, largely as
a result of the Paris acquisition.
This would take it a little south
of where it was in 2008.
27 =
2010 it formed a best friends
relationship with Abu Dhabi firm
Salem Al Maddfa Advocates &
Legal Consultants while also
creating a formal link with Saudi
lawyer Faisal Al Lazam.
Holman Fenwick operates a
modified lockstep remuneration
system. Progression up the
ladder is discretionary and
dependent on whether partners
meets their individual financial
and soft targets the latter
including contribution to areas
such as corporate social
responsibility. At best it takes
partners seven years to progress
to the top of the equity ladder.
In the past financial year those
entering the equity received a
profit share of 320,000, while
plateau partners took home
640,000. This was marginally
down on the spread in 2008-09,
which ran from 325,000 to
650,000.
TLS_046_a ug_uk200_wr ups 11t o5_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 10 Pa ge 46
Email: info@careyolsen.com
www.careyolsen.com
Legal matters are rarely straightforward
Let our experts examine the details for you
GUERNSEY
PO Box 98 Carey House
Les Banques St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 4BZ
Telephone: +44 (0)1481 727272
JERSEY
47 Esplanade
St Helier
Jersey JE1 0BD
Telephone: +44 (0)1534 888900
LONDON
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London
EC2N 2DL
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7614 5610
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TLS_047_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 30 Pa ge 1
11-50
Withers
Turnover (M): 92.7
Average PEP (K): 359
Equity spread (K): 230-600
Profit margin (%): 22
RPL (K): 369
DURING 2008-09 Withers
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) fell by 23.5 per cent, from
357,000 to 273,000. The
good news is that after some cost
cutting and reorganising, at the
2009-10 year-end the firms
58 equity partners pocketed an
average PEP of 359,000,
up 31 per cent.
Withers continues to be
heavily reliant on private
client and family, servicing
the needs of ultra-high-net-
worth individuals. Clients
include the Barclay Brothers,
owners of Telegraph Media
Group.
In 2009-10 that practice
contributed 53.67m (57.9
per cent) of the firms overall
turnover. This compares with
61.8m contributed by the
same practice at the 2008-09
year-end.
Across Withers global network
litigation has seen an upturn.
The practice outside the UK
contributed 20.5m (22.1 per
cent) of turnover. At the same
point last year the overseas
litigation practice reported a
turnover of 17.2m.
In the domestic offices the
firms 17 litigation partners
saw their proportion of overall
turnover rise from 23.7m to
27.4m.
The firm is strategically
pushing to develop its
international network. Withers
said 37.4m of its turnover was
generated outside the UK and
that offices in Switzerland and
Hong Kong had both weathered
the recession well.
Withers further bolstered its
international offering with the
opening of an office in the
British Virgin Islands at the
beginning of the financial year.
Initially this was intended to be a
dispute resolution hub, but now
the firm plans to expand
its offering to include
corporate, banking and finance
transactions, funds and
regulatory work.
28 h
Macfarlanes
Turnover (M): 92.4
Average PEP (K): 710
Equity spread (K): 415-985
Profit margin (%): 42
RPL (K): 431
TWO CONSECUTIVE double-
digit drops in average profit per
equity partner (PEP) would hurt
any firm, but with Macfarlanes
very much dependent on a still
depressed corporate sector,
partners could be forgiven for
panicking about seeing profit
on the wane.
Although PEP dropped to a
hardly breadline 710,000, this
was 16 per cent down on last
years 846,000 and well below
the 1.1m the firm managed in
2007-08. This years figures
are the first to use fully GAAP-
compliant (Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles)
accounting procedures. If these
had been used in 2008-09 the
fall in PEP would have been just
4.5 per cent.
Revenue fell from 99m to
92.4m, although again last
years GAAP-compliant total
would have been 94.3m,
making the revenue drop just
2 per cent.
With the redundancies of last
year behind it, Macfarlanes
performance actually represents
a solid year. There are also signs
that it is diversifying from its
private equity base and into
other areas such as restructuring
and financial services litigation.
As a result much of the firms
work in 2009-10 went under
the radar. While many of
Macfarlanes better-known
private equity clients, such as
Terra Firma, 3i and Darwin
Private Equity, had a quiet
year, other work filled the void.
The ongoing 15bn debt
restructuring for the Four
Seasons care home business,
for example, continued to boost
income and keep lawyers busy.
An indicator that this most
29 m
traditional of firms has sought
to broaden its horizons is that it
made two lateral hires over the
year. Restructuring specialist
Francis Bridgeman and litigator
Barry Donnelly arrived in 2009
from Allen & Overy and Jones
Day respectively, following on
from Dresdner Kleinwort
regulatory specialist David
Bermans arrival in March 2009.
At the other end of the
equation, M&A rainmaker Tim
Lewis left the firm for Clifford
Chance during the year.
Overall, partnership numbers
remained steady. Partners join
the salaried ranks for three years
before moving onto a modified
lockstep that runs from eight to
20 points. The top of equity
spread dropped slightly, with top
earners now taking home just
shy of 1m.
Field Fisher
Waterhouse
Turnover (M): 92
Average PEP (K): 476
Equity spread (K): 199-616
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 254
WHILE many of its UK rivals
were all too eager to cut their
workforces in bids to slash costs
and boost profits, Field Fisher
Waterhouse (FFW) bucked the
trend.
While FFW certainly has not
been immune to redundancies,
making 42 in the 2008-09
financial year, managing partner
Moira Gilmour says the firm has
embarked upon a growth-related
three-year master plan it calls
the virtuous triangle (a term the
firm has trademarked).
The triangle refers to the
three areas FFW has chosen to
expand: corporate, IP/IT and
regulatory. The firm says it has
pursued the strategy regardless
of the economic climate in the
belief that in the long term it
will pay dividends.
In the short term this has
meant the firm posted declining
turnover, net profit and average
profit per equity partner (PEP)
for the 2009-10 financial year.
Turnover at the firm dropped by
3 per cent to 92m, net profit
fell by 3.3m to 16.7m and
PEP tumbled by 7.6 per cent to
476,000.
Despite this years fall, the
past four years has seen turnover
rise by 36 per cent from 67.7m,
although during the same period
net profit fell by 4.8m.
FFW has tightened up its
billing and collection practices
recently, including internal
sanctions, and within the past
two years has managed to drive
year-end work-in-progress down
from 42 to 18 days, while its
lockup target has been reduced
from 136 to just 60 days. Total
lockup at the 2009-10 year-end
was 88 days.
Gilmour believes this
improvement in its financial
management has been
essential in allowing the firm
to pursue its investments.
Looking ahead, FFW is hoping
to win more work in Asia and
India and it will, of course,
continue to pursue its virtuous
triangle strategy.
30 h
48|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_048_a ug_uk200_wr ups 11t o5_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 11 Pa ge 48
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TLS_049_UK200_10_di s 26/ 8/ 10 15: 11 Pa ge 1
11-50
Olswang
Turnover (M): 91
Average PEP (K): 420
Equity spread (K): 250-750
Profit margin (%): 28
RPL (K): 283
OLSWANG went through
something of a reboot during
2009-10, with an overhaul
of its business focus, senior
management positions and
strategy. Ultimately, not a lot
changed. David Stewart
continues as the public face and
head of the firm, swapping the
managing partner title for chief
executive, while the former
incumbent in that role Kevin
Munslow became a consultant.
Strategically the consensus was
for Olswang to continue with its
sector-based strategy, with
media and technology being key.
The firm moved to rebuild its US
coverage after the collapse of its
Greenberg Traurig relationship
by forming a non-exclusive
alliance with technology firm
Cooley. It also kick-started what
is widely expected to be a period
of significant international
growth by opening an office in
Madrid in June this year.
The downward spiral of
average profit per equity partner
(PEP), referred to in last years
UK 200, was reversed in 2009-
10 in some style. The firm posted
a 38 per cent hike following a
return to form in certain core
areas and a war on costs.
Chief executive Stewart admits
the firm had taken a draconian
line on discretionary spend,
slashing around 4m. It had
also booked the cost of its
redundancies in the prior year,
helping the 2009-10 results.
The result was an increase
in PEP, from 360,000 to
420,000, and in net profit,
from 22.3m to 25.2m.
Olswangs turnover rose from
89.2m to 91m.
Firmwide, litigation was the
largest single practice area,
generating 24 per cent of fees.
Corporate was next largest at
23 per cent.
Olswang operates an entirely
merit-based remuneration
system, although Stewart is
understood to be keen to
introduce more of a formal
structure into partner pay in
the form of gateways.
32 h
Stephenson
Harwood
Turnover (M): 91.9
Average PEP (K): 561
Equity spread (K): 277-831
Profit margin (%): 30
RPL (K): 340
STEPHENSON Harwoods
fortunes continue to head in the
right direction after a year that
saw a healthy 8 per cent rise in
turnover to 91.9m the first
time the firm has broken the
90m barrier.
Average profit per
equity
partner dipped by 8 per cent to
561,000, but with a growing
number of equity partners net
profit went up from 26.5m to
27.3m.
Lateral hires have been a
feature of the past few years for
Stephensons, with expansion
very much the name of the game.
Recently the firm recruited
finance partners Richard Parsons
and Graeme McLellan from
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
and Pinsent Masons respectively
as well as Ashurst corporate duo
Duncan Stiles and Andrew Edge.
The firms robust financial
performance was helped by a
stellar year from its litigation
department. Both commercial
litigation and shipping
litigation a
traditional strength
saw 20 per cent
revenue rises. The
recent hire of Sean
Jeffrey, another
Freshfields alumnus,
should see the
litigation group
continue to perform well in the
future.
While litigation generates 45
per cent of total revenue, the
corporate group remains
relatively small for a City firm.
However, with Edge in particular
already proving his worth after
securing a mandate acting for
Indias Piramal Healthcare on its
2.5bn sale to Abbott
Laboratories, the signs there
are also positive.
The international practice
continues to be strong too,
with 22 per cent of fees coming
from overseas (up from 20 per
cent in 2008-09). Again, backed
by a high-performing litigation
department, Hong Kong and
China saw a 17 per cent turnover
uptick.
The firm moved from an
associate lockstep to a
merit-based system for its
junior lawyers, mirroring the
system at partner level. Half
of Stephensons partners are
fixed-share, while full equity
partners can move up or
down by five points each year
on a scale that runs from 40
to 120 points.
The bigger ambitions at the
firm are soon to be matched by
its surroundings, with
Stephensons finalising a move,
due in 2011, from its St Pauls
base to Londons Finsbury
Square in March.
31 h
Shoosmiths
Turnover (M): 90
Average PEP (K): 256
Equity spread (K): 229-288
Profit margin (%): 12
RPL (K): 271
DURING 2008-09 Shoosmiths
saw its profit plummet, with its
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) figure down by 54 per cent
and net profit taking a 51 per
cent hit.
Last year, however, the firm
bounced back thanks to a
series of cost-cutting measures
introduced by new chief
executive Claire Rowe. The
result was that net profit rose
by a staggering 83 per cent to
11m, while PEP made a
comeback to reach 256,000.
Impressive as the figures may
be, they also need to be placed in
context. PEP remains well down
on the 2006-07 high of
407,000, while net profit is well
short of the 16.1m the posted in
that same financial year.
Turnover is another area where
the firm has struggled in recent
years. In 2009-10 revenue fell
for the third year running, down
by 9 per cent to 90m. The
2007-08 figure was 103.4m.
It is probably a good thing,
then, that Rowe says the firms
focus is on building up
profitability as opposed to
turnover.
The firms cost-cutting
measures have been threefold.
In the past year it made 107 staff
redundant and in October 2009
it introduced a voluntary 3.5 per
cent paycut for 90 per cent of
staff earning more than
25,000. It also introduced an
extensive flexible working
scheme.
Despite the cuts the firm
has continued to build up its
Manchester office, bringing in
personal injury (PI) specialist
Debra Woolfson from Pannone
among others. Its plan is to
provide a full-service offering
in the city within the next few
years.
Litigation, which encompasses
commercial disputes, recovery
work for banks and PI litigation,
accounts for around 37m of
fee income. The firms second-
largest practice area is property,
which makes up 24.3m of total
turnover.
33 m
50|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_050_a ug_uk200_wr ups 11t o5_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 12 Pa ge 50
11-50
Kennedys
Turnover (M): 88.2
Average PEP (K): 380
Equity spread (K): 210-600
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 298
AT THE beginning of 2009-10
Kennedys senior partner Nick
Thomas warned employees at
the firm not to expect a bonus
at the year-end.
However, after a second
consecutive outstanding year in
terms of revenue growth, that
decision was ultimately reversed.
Kennedys, predominantly an
insurance firm handling a mix of
top-end liability work for a range
of insurers, including Axa and
RSA, posted a 31.1 per cent rise
in total revenue, from 67.3m
to 88.2m.
Net profit also grew last
year, from 14m to 18.6m.
This follows a period of
sustained investment at
Kennedys, which began in the
2008-09 financial year with the
addition of insurance boutique
Davies Lavery, followed by the
acquisition of Reynolds Porter
Chamberlains Tiverton office.
That acquisitive trend
continued in 2009-10. Kennedys
acquired the bulk of Halliwells
insurance team in Sheffield
during the year to launch an
office in the city.
Average profit per equity
partner rose by 8.5 per cent,
from 350,000 to 380,000.
This also reflects a rise in
revenue per partner of 21.7
per cent, from 575,000 to
700,000, generated by the
firms 126 partners.
The equity spread moved
upwards at both ends, from
175,000-500,000 in 2008-09
to 210,000-600,000 in
2009-10.
Kennedys equity ladder starts
on 40 points, with five-point
increments up to 60. Thereafter
remuneration is decided on a
case-by-case basis.
35 h
Trowers &
Hamlins
Turnover (M): 89.4
Average PEP (K): 553
Equity spread (K): 437-583
Profit margin (%): 16
RPL (K): 286
FOR A firmthat puts a lot of
store in its property practice it
makes up 36 per cent of global
revenue and almost half of UK
income Trowers & Hamlins
had a surprisingly strong year.
While it did not quite match
the growth seen in 2008-09,
when revenue rose by 15.3 per
cent, a flat turnover of 89.4m
was more than many of its
competitors could achieve. And
after seeing net profit plunge in
2008-09, in 2009-10 the firm
reported a 21 per cent bounce-
back to 14.4m plus a 9 per cent
increase in average profit per
equity partner, from 509,000
to 553,000.
The overall staff count was
down from 694 to 653, with
the firm making around 28
redundancies since autumn
2007, although lawyer numbers
remained stable. And in the past
year Trowers was busy in the
recruitment market, with 10
partner hires.
The hires include Manchester-
based commercial property
partner Paula Hamer from
Pannone, housing finance
partner Anna Clark from
Winckworth Sherwood and
international projects partner
Stewart Simpson from Simmons
& Simmons.
Earlier this year the firm
opened its second office in Saudi
Arabia, with the Jeddah practice
launched in association with
Feras Al Shawaf Law Firm.
Trowers also made several key
hires in the Middle East, where it
now has seven offices, and made
up Islamic finance specialist
Jeremy Ingham in Bahrain.
Income from the region now
accounts for a quarter of
Trowers turnover.
Globally, corporate is Trowers
biggest revenue generator,
accounting for 42 per cent of the
total, while in the UK property is
the biggest source of revenue.
The firm has landed roles on
numerous high-end property
deals, including representing
pub group Daniel Thwaites on
its 77.5m sale of The Stafford
Hotel. Among the firms key
clients are the Crown Estate,
Arcapita, the Homes and
Communities Agency and Lagan
Construction.
34 m
Hill Dickinson
Turnover (M): 87.1
Average PEP (K): 248
Equity spread (K): 150-310
Profit margin (%): 15
RPL (K): 225
HILL Dickinsons turnover grew
by 6 per cent, or 5m, last year,
around 3m of which came from
its July 2009 merger with
London commodities boutique
Middleton Potts. The rest was
attributable to growth in the
insurance department, with
double-digit expansion in the
firms fledgling fraud and
claimant practice.
However, profitability fell for
the second year running.
Compared with 2008-09, net
profit dropped by 15 per cent and
average profit per equity partner
by 16 per cent as a result of
the decline in corporate and
commercial property work,
investment in a Manchester
corporate practice targeting
higher-end work that failed to
get off the ground, as well as a
net increase of 139 members of
staff, including seven partners.
The firm reformed its three-tier
partnership, replacing the
salaried partner role with salaried
member. Around a third of all
partners are equity. They enter
on 28 points and plateau at 70
points. A review committee
chaired by managing partner
Peter Jackson, and including four
elected partners, can allocate any
number of points to partners
within those parameters.
Fixed-share members comprise
around another third of the
partnership. They contribute
capital, have a fixed profit share
and some voting rights on
strategic matters. Salaried
members contribute less capital,
have a smaller profit share and
limited voting rights. For
example, they attended the
meeting on the acquisition of 127
members of staff from Halliwells,
but did not have a vote.
Both fixed-share and salaried
members are eligible for a bonus
based on performance indicators
accounting for between 10 and
20 per cent of total salary.
The Liverpool-headquartered
firm spent part of summer 2010
in negotiations with partners at
Halliwells to take on the entirety
of the firm. In July a deal was
struck that saw it take the firms
Liverpool office, part of Sheffield
and a handful of lawyers in
Manchester.
Hill Dickinson has raised its
forecasted budget for 2010-11
from 97m to 105m as a result
of the acquisition.
36 h
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Barlow Lyde
& Gilbert
Turnover (M): 81.5
Average PEP (K): 350
Equity spread (K): 170-460
Profit margin (%): 33
RPL (K): 282
IT WAS a year of transition for
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG),
with new management coming
in and the firm deciding to
concentrate on its core strengths
of insurance and financial
institutions.
BLG began the year with a
number of key partner exits,
including those of Roger
Doulton, Neil Beresford and
Toby Rogers, who left to join
Clyde & Co.
Overall, the number of equity
partners at the firm fell by one
to 76, reflecting the fact that the
firm has also brought people into
the fold.
BLG hired DLA Piper
insurance partners Mark
Hemsted and Robert Muttock to
launch an office in Manchester
in April 2009.
The firm also brought in
additional partners through
the acquisition of Halliwells
insurance practice in July this
year, but the cost of that
investment will be felt in the
2010-11 financial year.
In terms of profit shares, the
bottom of the firms equity fell
from 200,000 to 170,000,
although the top end rose from
400,000 to 460,000. Average
profit per equity partner has
been at 350,000 for the past
two years, down from 380,000
during 2007-08.
The firms traditional lockstep,
which ran from 30 to 100 points,
has been ditched in favour
of an entirely merit-based
compensation system based
on three broad bands. The focus
on individual performance also
extends to associates, with the
PQE payscale being replaced by
a new competency framework.
Turnover at BLG fell by 6.2 per
cent, from 86.9m to 81.5m,
while net profit dropped by 1.1
per cent, from 26.9m to
26.6m.
The firms 60-partner litigation
practice contributed 79 per cent
to total turnover,
the
equivalent
of 64.4m,
or 1.07m
in revenue
per litigation
partner.
39 m
Ince & Co
Turnover (M): 86.3
Average PEP (K): 568
Equity spread (K): 260-700
Profit margin (%): 30
RPL (K): 355
INCE & Co saw a total revenue
rise of 8.7 per cent during
2009-10, from 79.4m to
86.3m. The largest proportion
of fee income, 55.9m, was
produced by the London office,
home to 143 lawyers and 55
partners.
Historically Ince operated on a
pure lockstep system, which ran
from five to 14 points. Partners
entered at five points and gained
one point a year for nine years.
However, since James Wilsons
appointment as managing
partner in March 2008 the firm
has refused to discuss its
remuneration system or reveal
how many equity partners it has.
That said, with an estimated 50
equity partners the firm achieved
an average profit per equity
partner of 568,000 working on
a profit margin of 30 per cent.
Recruitment at Ince has
virtually ground to a halt, with
partners instead being shifted
around the firms international
network.
The Singapore office has
benefited most from this strategy
with the arrival of energy partner
Denys Hickey in January
followed by reinsurance partner
Iain Anderson, who also
transferred there from London
in March. Ince did make a rare
hire in Singapore, appointing
consultant Martin Brown last
June from Norton Rose.
Also in Singapore, shipping
and international trade specialist
John Simpson was one of four
senior associates promoted to
partnership level last year.
Wilson says further partners
will be encouraged to relocate
to its offices in Hong Kong,
Shanghai and Singapore over
the next year as the firm looks to
take advantage of the resurgence
in international trade.
37 h
Osborne
Clarke
Turnover (M): 83.7
Average PEP (K): 393
Equity spread (K): 247-512
Profit margin (%): 23
RPL (K): 239
OSBORNE Clarkes 2009-10
was defined by cost-cutting.
After 2008-09 saw turnover
drop by 12 per cent and average
profit per equity partner (PEP)
take a 36 per cent hit, 2009-10s
story was one of consolidation.
The firm pulled in 83.7m
in fees, representing a flat
performance against 2008-09.
PEP rose by 11.6 per cent, with
UK partners taking home an
average of 393,000. The firm
did not supply figures for the
German partnership, which
brought in around 17 per cent
of revenue for the second year
running.
While the few redundancies
among fee-earners took place in
the previous financial year and
partner numbers went up
throughout 2009-10, a policy
of not replacing equity partners
who had quit the equity drove
up partner profits. Net profit in
the UK fell from 19.8m to
19.3m. German profitability
was thought to have stayed flat.
The first full year of the firms
outsourcing arrangement with
Integreon helped to drive costs
down and boost profitability. The
firm even extended the scope of
the agreement, which originally
saw 75 support staff transfer to
the outsourcer, to include events
organisation.
The continuing corporate and
property slumps continued to
affect the firm, with the two
practices accounting for more
than a third of revenue. But the
second half of the year brought
a significant upswing, with
property workflow alone up by
around 20 per cent year-on-year,
according to managing partner
Simon Beswick.
As part of a spring rebrand,
the firm has identified four core
sectors and created business
groups to drive performance in
each. These are digital business,
38 m
financial services, real estate and
infrastructure, and energy and
natural resources.
Partners enter the equity on
a four-year fixed-share level
before progressing to full equity
status. Once they move to the
lockstep partners start on 60
points and move up 10 points
a year until reaching 100,
with a gateway in place at the
half-way stage.
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Travers Smith
Turnover (M): 72
Average PEP (K): 705
Equity spread (K): 375-1,000
Profit margin (%): 42
RPL (K): 358
TRAVERS Smiths singular
practice mix a combination of
mid-tier M&A and private equity
meant it suffered at least as
much as any of its rivals during
the downturn, making last years
bounce all the more welcome.
The revenue drop of 21 per cent
in 2008-09 was followed by an
11.6 per cent upswing to 72m in
2009-10. Average profit per
equity partner increased from
2008-09s nadir of 460,000 to
705,000, a 53 per cent jump.
In hindsight, incoming
managing partner Andrew Lilley
may have picked the perfect time
to start in his new role. The
firms private equity team hit a
relative purple patch early in
the year as some of its
stalwart clients, most notably
Bridgepoint, emerged from their
recessionary hibernation.
However, a certain amount of
hedging has also steadied the
ship. The firm has introduced a
cross-departmental group aimed
at cross-selling services to its
corporate client base.
Travers new financial services
litigation team, while still small,
began to pull its weight last year.
Meanwhile, the four-partner
employment department has
grown to become a self-standing
practice, with two-thirds of its
work now self-generated.
Costs are still being monitored
closely, although the firm
navigated the recession
without any major
redundancy
programme.
41 h
Watson Farley
& Williams
Turnover (M): 80.2
Average PEP (K): 448
Equity spread (K): 195-1,000
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (k): 322
WATSON Farley & Williams
(WFW) is something of an
anomaly in its market. Despite
being dominated by corporate
and finance (together they make
up 80 per cent of the business),
the City firm has posted turnover
growth of around 10 per cent
or more for the past three
consecutive years.
This year the top line rose
by 9 per cent to hit 80.2m
following a 25 per cent increase
in 2008-09 and a 9 per cent
jump in 2007-08.
The ambitious decision to open
in Madrid through a five-lawyer
raid on Hogan Lovells legacy
firm Lovells contributed to this
improvement. But so has the
firms brand in the shipping
market, one of the few sectors
to have blossomed over the past
year, where activity included
working for Crude Carriers Corp
on its $311m (199.2m) New
York IPO. WFW also has a
strong practice in the growing
renewables sector, counting AES
Solar Energy among its clients.
At 448,000 WFWs average
profit per equity partner is
analogous to that of Addleshaw
Goddards, Berwin Leighton
Paisners and SJ Berwins. But it
has a relatively high proportion
of equity partners (64 per cent),
which it did not reduce in the past
financial year.
The firms profit margin was
32 per cent, while the top of
the 13-rung lockstep rose from
850,000 to 1m over the past
financial year. All staff were
awarded a discretionary one-off
bonus equivalent to one weeks
pay as a mark of the firms
success.
The firms revenue base is
increasingly international, with
overseas income accounting for
51 per cent of the total in 2009-
10 compared with 49 per cent
the previous year. This was
reflected in its promotions: for
the second year running, in
2009-10 WFW did not make a
single promotion in London.
40 h
Berrymans
Lace Mawer
Turnover (M): 69.4
Average PEP (K): 222
Equity spread (K): 120-270
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 184
INSURANCE
liability
specialist
Berrymans Lace
Mawer (BLM)
defied the
recession to post
an 8.8 per cent
revenue increase
in 2009-10, from
63.8m to 69.4m
However, with a
growing equity
partnership the firms
average profit per
equity partner figure
declined by almost
11 per cent, from
249,000 to
222,000. BLM
added three partners
to the equity over the
past year, meaning
that 57 of its 117 partners now
receive a profit share. Since
2005-06 the firm has grown its
equity partnership by 39 per
cent, from 41 to 57.
Although BLMs total number
of lawyers rose from 350 to 377
last year, revenue per lawyer
(RPL) continued its upward
climb, albeit at a slower rate than
during the previous financial
year. At the 2009-10 year-end
RPL stood at 184,000, up by
1.1 per cent from 182,000.
Compare that with the previous
year when RPL jumped by 35
per cent, from 135,000 to
182,000.
After four consecutive years
of growth BLMs net profit fell
last year by 5.2 per cent, from
13.4m to 12.7m. But over the
past five years net profit has
increased by 55 per cent, from
8.2m to 12.7m. This reflects
the firms ongoing inward
investment, which last year
included the hire of two partners,
Andrew Lawson and Rebecca
Shafto, from Bristol-based John
A Neil Solicitors, who were
brought in to launch the firms
office in the city on 1 April.
In addition, there has been
strong investment in BLMs IT
systems, which will go live in
2010-11. The technology has
been designed with the firms
insurance clients in mind.
43 h
DWF
Turnover (M): 71.5
Average PEP (K): 333
Equity spread (K): 72-608
Profit margin (%): 12
RPL (K): 204
TURNOVER at DWF was up by
a fifth, from 60m to 71.5m, in
2009-10. Litigation dominates
the Manchester-headquartered
firm, accounting for 49m, or
69 per cent, of total turnover.
The practice group is bolstered
by substantial insurance work,
where clients include RSA
and Aviva.
Revenue growth was also
driven by a number of team
acquisitions. DWF began the
financial year with the hire of a
three-strong team from
Newcastle-based Dickinson
Dees, followed by lateral hires
from Addleshaw Goddard,
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert,
Hammonds, Reed Smith and
Watson Burton.
As a result the firm has 10
per cent more lawyers than in
2008-09 and 3 per cent more
fee-earners. However, total staff
levels have remained broadly
static, while the total number
of partners has fallen by 4 per
cent.
The firms profit margin is
relatively low at 12 per cent, but
average profit per equity partner
increased by 28 per cent, from
260,000 to 333,000. This
was partly the result of DWF
keeping a tight equity, with just
a fifth of its partners part of
the entirely merit-based club.
Strikingly, the bottom of the
equity halved on the previous
year, from 150,000 to
72,000, while the top grew
by 38 per cent, from 440,000
to 608,000.
42 h
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Mills & Reeve
Turnover (M): 67.3
Average PEP (K): 307
Equity spread (K): 244-359
Profit margin (%): 28
RPL (K): 206
WHILE it may only have
been a modest rise of 1 per
cent in 2009-10, Mills & Reeve
nevertheless posted a rise in
turnover for the fourth successive
year. During that period fee
income rose by 19.3 per cent to
67.3m. Last year the majority
of turnover came from corporate,
which accounted for 27m of
fee income, while property and
private client contributed 20m
apiece. Elsewhere the firm is
continuing to grow the insurance
and professional indemnity side
of the business.
Average profit per equity
partner increased by 2 per cent
to 307,000, but managing
partner Guy Hinchley is keen to
point out that the figure would
have been higher were it not for
the firm paying out more than
700,000 in bonuses to its
700-plus staff.
The firm works with a number
of major clients in the public
sector, including the Ministry of
Defence and Nottinghamshire
Healthcare NHS Trust. Despite
Government announcements
that some department budgets
could be slashed by up to 40
per cent, Hinchley says he is not
overly concerned and believes
the cutbacks could, in fact, lead
to more mandates for the firm,
as departments struggle with
the pressures of internal
reorganisation.
Like all firms Mills & Reeve
has been monitoring its costs
closely. But thanks to a client
base that provides a steady
stream of corporate work the
firm fared better than many
during the downturn and
has so far avoided any
redundancy programmes,
although it has been careful
about recruitment.
The firm operates a
modified lockstep and
partners can reach the
top of equity within
five years.
45 m
McGrigors
Turnover (M): 69
Average PEP (K): 263
Equity spread (K): 160-417
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 189
MCGRIGORS, which has a
September year-end, had a better
year in 2009-10, with the firms
revenue rising by 10 per cent to
69m and net profit up by 11 per
cent to 14.5m.
The bulk of the turnover boost
was down to the firms October
2009 merger with Belfast firm
LEstrange & Brett. The merger
increased McGrigors size
significantly in Northern Ireland,
taking it from around 10 people
to more than 100, 10 of whom
are partners.
The firm also bulked up in
Manchester, hiring a
three-partner construction
and engineering team from
Hammonds consisting of David
Moss, Paul Giles and Richard
Anderson.
However, as that team only
joined in August 2010 it will
have had little impact on the
top line.
The series of investments has
affected the level of profit that
makes it into partners pockets.
Average profit per equity
partner slid by 6 per cent, from
280,000 to 263,000. Top of
equity also fell, from 450,000
to 417,000, although the
bottom remained unchanged
at 160,000.
The firm calculates partner
profits on a merit-based
system, with a four-person
remuneration committee
assessing partners after the
September year-end. Points
are awarded on a balanced
scorecard system up to a
maximum of 60.
Partners also receive a notional
salary based on seniority and
market position.
44 h
LG
Turnover (M): 64.9
Average PEP (K): 460
Equity spread (K): 230-690
Profit margin (%): 29
RPL (K): 346
LG POSTED one of the
highest profit rises of
any top 100 firm last year,
with its average profit
per equity partner figure
climbing by 63 per cent,
from 281,000 to 460,000.
The highest-paid partner
took home 690,000 in
2009-10, 35 per cent more
than in the previous year.
This was achieved in part
through reducing the payroll,
with total headcount 13 per
cent smaller than it was a year
previously, while most of the
costs associated with making
47 redundancies were booked
in the 2008-09 financial
year. The total number of
equity partners also fell, from
45 to 41.
LG operates a modified
lockstep with a broadly
bell-curve shape. The bottom
three of its nine classifications
resemble a traditional lockstep.
Remuneration for those equity
partners in the top six
classifications is determined by
the equity partner committee
and is entirely performance-
based.
LG restructured its three-tier
partnership in 2009-10, phasing
out the salaried partner role.
Sixteen salaried partners
converted to fixed-share status
on 1 October 2009. The partners
all contribute capital to the
firm and LG will not pay any
national insurance on their
behalf.
LG is often cited as a
fashionable merger target and
this set of results, after several
years of relative stagnation on
the profit front, will make it an
47 h
Halliwells
Turnover (M): 67
Average PEP (K): N/A
Equity spread (K): N/A
Profit margin (%): 0
RPL (K): 180
IN JUNE 2010 national
firm Halliwells filed notice
of its intention to appoint an
administrator, confirming the
extent of the financial problems
that had dogged the Manchester-
headquartered firm for most of
the 2009-10 financial year.
These included a turnover drop
of 14 per cent, from 77.8m in
2008-09 to 67m for 2009-10,
alongside an annual rent bill of
around 9m. The latter was
exacerbated by the firm taking
on 120,000sq ft of space at
Spinningfields in Manchester,
paying top-of-market rent
believed to be 35 per sq ft.
It subsequently distributed a
property-related windfall to the
then 40 equity partners as
opposed to investing it in the
business. This was combined with
significant debt, including a
bank loan, an overdraft facility,
non-property leases and 10m
members capital liability.
The firm suffered a number
of partner departures during
2009-10, including those of
property head Mike Edge, who
exited for Pinsent Masons;
healthcare partners Christopher
Briggs and Simon Wortley, who
moved to Beachcroft; and the
majority of its Sheffield
insurance practice, which was
snatched up by Kennedys.
At the end of the 2008-09
financial year the firm had 42
equity partners and 112 fixed-
share, who also contributed
capital to the firm. On average
these numbers fell to 40 and 96
respectively by 2009-10.
However, the firm did have
some successful practice areas,
including a profitable insurance
business acting for clients such
as Axa, Chartis (the rebranded
business of AIG UK), NFU
Mutual and Quinn, while public
sector clients included Liverpool
City Council. As a result a
number of firms, including
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, HBJ
Gateley Wareing and Hill
Dickinson swooped on parts of
the troubled business, acquiring
the majority in July 2010.
46 m
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Charles
Russell
Turnover (M): 63.2
Average PEP (K): 259
Equity spread (K): 154-285
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 249
WHEREAS in 2008-09 Charles
Russells revenue dipped only
slightly, its average property per
equity partner (PEP) took a hit
of 37 per cent, from 390,000
to 235,000, affected by the cost
of its London headquarters
move. The 2009-10 financial
year reversed that position: PEP
inched up to 259,000 and the
equity spread stood at 154,000-
285,000 for 2009-10 compared
with 130,000-260,000 the
previous year. However, 2009-10
saw turnover drop by 9 per cent,
from 69.5m to 63.2m.
The firm says its AIM practice
held up relatively well, but the
dearth of acquisitions work
meant that the corporate groups
turnover of 14.5m (23 per cent
of the total) put in the poorest
revenue per partner (RPP)
showing of the firm at
500,000. Private client one
of the firms signature practices
represents approximately 16 per
cent of total turnover, or 10.1m.
The best-performing sector
was litigation, which contributed
18.96m of total billings (30
per cent) and 903,000 in
RPP a relatively impressive
performance given that 10 of the
21 litigation partners are based
outside London. However,
London does account for the
greatest proportion of partners
(58 out of 96) and an even
greater proportion of equity
partners (32 out of 43).
While Charles Russell can
be pleased that it increased its
margin from last year from 15
per cent, the 2009-10 figure
was a still meagre 18 per cent.
Its national spread within the
expensive Middle England
(offices in Cheltenham, Oxford
and Guildford) and two small
international offices in Geneva
and Bahrain certainly
contributes to higher overheads
than those at firms such as
Farrer & Co, but Charles
Russells margin is hardly helped
by a long lockup of 158 days.
Despite making two rounds of
redundancies in 2008-09, the
number of qualified lawyers
dipped by only 13 to 254 in
2009-10, and the number
of total fee-earners actually
increased from 330 to 345. The
biggest headcount reduction
came on the support side,
dropping from 589 to 547.
Charles Russell operates three
classes of partners: salaried,
fixed-share and equity. Profits
are shared via a traditional
lockstep of seven rungs. Some
30 of the equity partners are on
the top rung.
48 m
Dundas &
Wilson
Turnover (M): 61
Average PEP (K): 317
Equity spread (K): 150-730
Profit margin (%): 41
RPL (K): 215
EDINBURGH-headquartered
Dundas & Wilson had another
muted year in 2009-10, with
turnover dropping by 8 per
cent while average profit
per equity partner (PEP) and
net profit both nudged up.
Turnover stood at 61m, down
from 66m in 2008-09, with
23m coming from the firms
London base. The remainder was
generated across its offices in
Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is a
return to the level of fee income
the firm produced in 2006-07.
Despite this the firm managed
to increase its profit margin to 41
per cent after net profit rose
marginally from 24.3m last year
to 25.3m this year. PEP rose by
3 per cent, from 308,000 to
317,000, which is still much
lower than the 386,000 it
achieved in 2007-08.
Property remains Dundass
biggest contributor to revenue,
generating 24.3 per cent
(14.82m) of the total. The
corporate groups contribution
has fallen significantly, having
generated 25 per cent (18.7m)
in 2007-08, 21.5 per cent
(14.19m) in 2008-09 and 15.9
per cent (9.7m) during the
2009-10 financial year.
The firm, which operates an all-
equity partnership, has seen its
partner numbers remain largely
unchanged year-on-year, with the
number rising from 79 to 79.69
on a full-time equivalent basis.
Partner remuneration is
entirely merit-based and is
decided by the firms eight-strong
board, led by managing partner
Donald Shaw.
The equity spread remains
unchanged on the previous
year, with those at the bottom
of the equity receiving a profit
share of 150,000, while those at
the top took home 730,000.
49 m
Burges Salmon
Turnover (M): 60.7
Average PEP (K): 414
Equity spread (K): 209-464
Profit margin (%): 34
RPL (K): 246
FOR A firm characterised by its
small c conservatism, 2009-10
was a relatively tumultuous year
at Burges Salmon. There were
two new managing partner
appointments, a new
management structure and a
firmwide strategy to bed down.
This plus a move to new offices
all within the past 18 months.
After longstanding managing
partner Guy Stobart stood down
in May 2009, his replacement
Chris Jackson lasted just seven
months before returning to
full-time fee-earning, handing
the reins to Peter Morris.
Morris has since overseen the
firms move to its new Temple
Quays home and a strategy
rethink that has seen it focus
on its core industry sectors.
The relocation was fully funded
by partners in a capitalisation
process going back five years.
In terms of practice areas, the
firm remains weighted towards
corporate and litigation, with
a sizeable property arm also
pitching in. Given the failure of
mainstream corporate or real
estate to bounce back, the
firms relatively consistent
performance reflects a good year.
Turnover was down by 5.8 per
cent to 60.7m, a similar fall to
that posted in 2008-09. Average
profit per equity partner nudged
up from 409,000 to 414,000.
With a healthy stable of
property management clients,
rather than investors, the real
estate department managed to
hold its own. In corporate, work
for unquoted companies
continued to be a rich seam.
Burges Salmon still operates
a pure lockstep system. Once
partners join the equity on 450
points they move up 78.6 points
per year for seven years until
plateauing at 1,000 points.
50 m
increasingly attractive option.
Other assets at the firm,
which has small but growing
international offices in Dubai
and Moscow and a one-partner
operation in Monaco, include a
first-rate private capital practice
focusing on ultra-high-net-worth
individuals. However, this was
hit by the departure of four
partners, who left to form a
wealth advisory boutique in the
spring, leaving just four partners
in LGs London private client
team.
LG also has a good brand
in the commercial property
sector, where clients include
Sainsburys, and in AIM, but
activity in that market has been
reduced massively compared
with previous years.
The Lawyer|UK 200|55
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56|The Lawyer|UK 200
Weightmans
Turnover (M): 56.2
Average PEP (K): 354
Equity spread (K): 233-414
Profit margin (%): 16
RPL (K): 165
IT WAS another steady year at
Weightmans on the back of the
Liverpool-headquartered firms
continuing reputation in the
insurance and litigation markets
and among its public sector
client base.
Weightmans turnover
increased by 8 per cent to
56.2m, while average profit
per equity partner increased
by 30 per cent over the same
period to 354,000.
Weightmans averaged three
fewer equity partners compared
with the previous year as a result
of two departures for DWF and
two retirements, although on 1
May 2010 it promoted a further
three into the equity.
But managing partner Patrick
Gauls management style tends
to be conservative and, despite
indications in previous financial
years that he would like to widen
the equity, this is still a tight
club. Weightmans equity
encompasses less than a third
of all partners.
Those who enter the equity join
on the first rung of a nine-year
lockstep. Partners in the first
band typically earn 50 per cent
of plateau partner remuneration.
But most of Weightmans equity
partners are currently clustered
around the top, which last year
was equivalent to 414,000, a
slight increase on 2008-09s
393,000.
Changes at the firm during the
year included the appointment
of professional indemnity
partner Stuart Whittle to the
newly created role of operations
director, with responsibility for
marketing, HR, risk and
knowledge.
Elsewhere Weightmans
has invested in the expansion
of its now 15-strong
London-based professional
indemnity team. It has also
invested around 100,000
refurbishing its City premises,
taken on an additional
12,000sq ft in Birmingham
and established new case
management systems.
Gauls record was recently
endorsed by partners, who
re-elected him in May for a
third term at the top following
an uncontested vote.
53 h
Speechly
Bircham
Turnover (M): 58.4
Average PEP (K): 428
Equity spread (K): 245-570
Profit margin (%): 27
RPL (K): 288
SPEECHLY Bircham bounced
back from a difficult 2008-09 to
post an impressive 37 per cent
hike in turnover for the 2009-10
financial year.
Revenue grew from 45.4m
to 58.4m, while average profit
per equity partner rose by 29
per cent, from 331,000 to
428,000. Much of the
revenue growth was the result
of the firms June 2009 merger
with London firm Campbell
Hooper.
The firm also brought in a
52 h
Reynolds
Porter
Chamberlain
Turnover (M): 60
Average PEP (K): 327
Equity spread (K): 130-580
Profit margin (%): 34
RPL (K): 302
TRADITIONALLY Reynolds
Porter Chamberlain (RPC)
has been perceived as an
insurance firm, but the reality
is that it has a much broader
client base, as reflected by the
top-level hires it has made
over the past 18 months.
At the 2009-10 year-end
RPC posted a total turnover
of 60m, down marginally
from 60.1m the previous
year. The firms all-equity
partnership, however,
benefited from the growth
in net profit, up from
20.1m to 20.3m. This
meant average profit per
equity partner stood at
327,000 compared with
324,000 the previous
year.
The equity spread moved
upwards at the top slightly,
from 568,000 to 580,000,
while the bottom remained static
at 130,000.
This gradual but upward trend
is indicative of the longer-term
picture for RPC, which has
grown steadily over the past five
years, while avoiding many of the
dangers of the recession.
The firm has gradually evolved
its strategy to pull in higher-
quality work, which adds value
to its bottom line. This has
meant some inward investment
to attract strategic hires,
which in the past financial
year included Tom Hibbert
from Reed Smith to lead the
financial disputes team and
Jonathan Levy from Berwin
Leighton Paisner to lead the
tax litigation team.
RPCs practice remains
dominated by contentious
work, with 70 per cent of overall
turnover, or 42m, coming
from litigation.
51 =
four-strong specialist projects
team from the now disbanded
London-based Shadbolt
and made hires in its
pensions, financial services
and IP teams.
Not all of the growth was
down to the merger, however.
Managing partner Michael
Lingens estimates that, minus
the merger, underlying growth
in the business would still have
seen total revenue grow by
8 per cent.
Speechlys was quick to reduce
its cost base when the credit
crisis hit. Between 2007-08 and
2008-09 lawyer numbers fell
from 172 to 160. They have since
risen to 203.
It is a testament to the
degree of change the firm has
undergone that only half of
the current partnership was
at Speechlys three years
ago. Understandably, it is
now undergoing a
stocktaking exercise,
although the firm has not ruled
out making more hires in the
coming year. Lingens cites
the fact that the firm operates
without an overdraft as
evidence of its stringent
financial management.
The firm is divided into
three broad practice areas:
corporate, private client and
property.
Corporate, which includes
areas such as financial services,
is the highest-billing sector at
28m; next is private client,
which has held steady during
the downturn and in 2009-10
turned over 15.5m; property,
meanwhile, generated fees of
14.9m.
The firm has a modified
lockstep running from 40 to
100 points. Partners usually go
up or down by between five and
10 points each year based on
performance, although in
exceptional cases this can
be higher.
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The Lawyer|UK 200|57
HBJ Gateley
Wareing
Turnover (M): 49.6
Average PEP (K): 302
Equity spread (K): 126-802
Profit margin (%): 35
RPL (K): 208
TURNOVER at HBJ Gateley
Wareing grew by 3 per cent
during the 2009-10 financial
year to just south of 50m.
Fee income was dominated by
corporate and property, which
together accounted for 63 per
cent of total revenue.
The national firms profit
margin increased significantly,
from 27 per cent to 35 per cent,
while average profit grew by
49 per cent, from 203,000 to
302,000. The top of equity
experienced an even more
dramatic 76 per cent uplift,
from 456,000 to 802,000,
facilitated by the drop in
total equity partners from 64
to 58.
As a result of the improvement
in profitability the firm was in
good shape to expand and earlier
this year acquired approximately
200 members of staff from
Halliwells, including 43
partners, across the non-
insurance commercial practice
areas. This saw it reach its long-
term objective of launching in
Manchester, although it took
place after the 2009-10 year-end.
The firm is forecasting a 30 per
cent increase in total turnover as
a result.
But the fact that the deal
was done within three weeks,
and that the new staff are
ringfenced in a separate
LLP, has raised reasonable
questions as to whether it
will meet these objectives.
HBJ operates a
modified lockstep system.
Seventy-five per cent of
profit points are
allocated according
to seniority, while the
remaining 25 per cent
are awarded on
merit.
55 h
Pannone
Turnover (M): 49.5
Average PEP (K): 229
Equity spread (K): 154-403
Profit margin (%): 16
RPL (K): 232
MANCHESTER-based Pannone
embarked on a major cost-
cutting exercise last year with 40
redundancies. Total headcount
was down by 7 per cent on the
previous year, while partner
headcount fell by 13 per cent.
The firm is one of the few of its
size to maintain a private client
department, one of its strongest
billing areas last year alongside
high-value personal injury and
clinical negligence. It is also
seeking to develop its public
sector client base, having
recently won a Homes and
Communities Agency panel
place. Nevertheless, exposure
in the commercial and property
sectors left total turnover down
5 per cent at 49.5m.
There was change at the top,
with managing partner Steven
Grant stepping down before the
end of his three-year term and
handing over to clinical
negligence department head
Emma Holt. At the same time
Grants predecessor Joy Kingsley,
who had held the position of
senior partner since January
2008, announced her departure
to smaller rival JMW Solicitors.
Pannone has three classes of
partner salaried, fixed-share
and full equity. Equity partners
enter a five-rung lockstep on 50
points and plateau at 100 points.
A further 10 points are available
to plateau partners for
exceptional performance. There
is also a bonus awarded on a
discretionary basis. Pannone
has made slight changes to the
traditional lockstep, which
means partners can have their
progression halted at a particular
point.
56 m
Maclay
Murray &
Spens
Turnover (M): 52.5
Average PEP (K): 265
Equity spread (K): 140-330
Profit margin (%): 24
RPL (K): 222
SCOTLAND-headquartered
firm Maclay Murray & Spens
had a more stable year in
2009-10 than in the previous 12
months, posting a small decrease
in turnover coupled with rises in
net profit and average profit per
equity partner (PEP).
Turnover was down by 5 per
cent, from 55.4m to 52.5m,
just below the level the firm
produced in 2006-07. At the
same time net profit rose by 9 per
cent, from 11.7m to 12.7m,
giving the firm a profit margin of
24 per cent, a rise of three percen-
tage points on the previous year.
PEP was up by 20.5 per cent,
from 220,000 to 265,000,
with the number of equity
partners dropping from 53 to 48.
Those on the bottom of the
firms lockstep took home
140,000, while plateau
partners received 330,000.
This compares with a spread
of 130,000-280,000 in the
previous financial year.
Corporate remains the firms
largest practice area in terms of
revenue, although its share has
fallen slightly from 33 per cent
in 2008-09.
Similarly, the property practice,
the second-largest group, has
contracted slightly. Litigation
and finance have grown
proportionately as a result.
Maclays London office, which
in 2008-09 generated around
30 per cent of revenue, dropped
to 25 per cent, with Aberdeen
contributing 10 per cent and
Glasgow and Edinburgh each
accounting for 32.5 per cent.
54 m
Dickinson
Dees
Turnover (M): 48.8
Average PEP (K): 216
Equity spread (K): 161-301
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 200
DICKINSON Dees saw a 12
per cent increase in average
profit per equity partner last
year, from 193,000 to
216,000.
Total fee income at the
Newcastle-headquartered firm
continues to fall, however. In
2009-10 revenue dropped by
5 per cent, from 53.8m to
48.8m, having hit 60m
the year before. In contrast,
the firms equity spread rose
at both ends, from between
100,000-220,000 to
161,000-301,000.
Dickinson Dees made 83
redundancies during the past
financial year, with the number
of lawyers dropping from 256 to
243 and the number of partners
from 76 to 67. Managing partner
Jonathan Blair says he is
confident there will be no further
cuts during the current year.
In recent years the firm has
looked to streamline its practice
and focus on its core areas. In
2008 it sold its volume arm D3
legal to Optima Legal. It also
spun off its family law team. This
team, led by partner Margaret
Simpson and barrister Ian
Kennerley, now operates under
the name Silk Family Law.
Dickinson Dees expects to lose
around 500,000 in turnover as
a result of the spin-off.
Corporate remains the firms
strongest area, accounting for
almost a third of total revenue.
At 24 per cent of fee income,
property has also held steady
despite the downturn. The
firm has secured a number of
impressive panel places over the
past year, including the London
Boroughs Legal Alliance, London
Boroughs Consortium, Tyne &
Wear Legal Framework and the
North East NHS joint
procurement initiative.
Blair says he expects to
see modest growth in 2010-11
and will look to strengthen the
firms offering in York and
London.
57 h
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58|The Lawyer|UK 200
Bond Pearce
Turnover (M): 46
Average PEP (K): 235
Equity spread (K): 158-306
Profit margin (%): 16
RPL (K): 170
AT THE end of the 2009-10
financial year Bond Pearce
posted a slight dip in turnover,
from 48m to 46m.
Despite this the firms focus on
its core sectors of energy, retail
and insurance helped to increase
underlying net profit by 2.7 per
cent, from 7.3m to 7.5m.
Indeed, since the 2006-07
year-end, net profit has risen
by 10.3 per cent from 6.8m.
The firms equity spread
has moved upwards, from
130,000-300,000 at
the 2008-09 year-end to
158,000-306,000.
Bond Pearces equity partner
headcount remained static last
year at 32, but average profit per
equity partner (PEP) increased
by 10.3 per cent, from 213,000
to 235,000. This is still short
of the 2007-08 year-end level,
when PEP stood at 245,000
and the equity partnership
numbered 34.
Bond Pearces litigation
practice accounts for the largest
proportion of the firms turnover,
contributing 22m, or 48 per
cent. Nevertheless, the firm
maintains a healthy corporate
practice, contributing 26 per
cent of turnover, or 12m.
The firm counts energy giant
Centrica, insurer Chartis and
Virgin Group among its key
clients and has spent much of
the past year trying to expand
its remit for each client.
This strategy is being
reinforced through key City
hires, including that of Barlow
Lyde & Gilbert senior partner
Richard Dedman, who joined
the firm in March.
59 m
Mishcon
de Reya
Turnover (M): 47.5
Average PEP (K): 450
Equity spread (K): 275-750
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 317
LITIGATION-led Mishcon De
Reya may have stunned its rivals
by launching in New York in
January, but do not expect the
London firm to embark on any
global expansion push.
New York was opportunistic
rather than strategic, according
to the firms managing partner
Kevin Gold.
In other words, Mishcon
unearthed a team of litigators
from Sheppard Mullin Richter &
Hampton capable of generating
$8m (5.12m) in its first year
and who meshed well with
the UK firms longstanding
international fraud practice.
Couple that with an attractively
priced real estate deal Mishcon
secured offices in the iconic
MetLife building for less than
$30 per sq ft and the Holborn
firm had a deal that is likely to
be profitable in its first year.
In contrast, the London end
of the business (the two are
separate LLPs) posted another
sharp decline in average profit
per equity partner (PEP), down
from 575,000 to 450,000 in
2009-10.
PEP at Mishcon, which
operates an entirely merit-based
remuneration system, has
dropped by 39 per cent from
740,000 two years ago.
Gold says the firms financial
performance was largely due to
the investments it had made in
hiring senior lawyers during
the year, plus the continuing
weakness of core areas such as
property.
Despite the struggles of
real estate, the group that
generated 20 per cent of the
firms total revenue was one of
the key areas into which Mishcon
recruited last year. Partner hires
included property partners Steve
Hughes and Nick Minkoff from
SJ Berwin, former Matthew
Arnold & Baldwin construction
head Richard Gerstein and
corporate partner Dean Poster
from Orrick Herrington &
Sutcliffe.
Litigation was Mishcons
biggest revenue contributor last
year at around 45 per cent.
58 h
Blake
Lapthorn
Turnover (M): 45
Average PEP (K): 116
Equity spread (K): 99-140
Profit margin (%): 13
RPL (K): 188
AFTER profitability fell through
the floor in 2008-09, Blake
Lapthorn spent much of 2009-10
trying to rebuild the bottom line.
This included reorganising the
equity with fewer partners
and abandoning a lockstep
structure in favour of a
merit-based system.
In part those efforts have
paid off, but there is still some
way to go before the firm is
back to 2007-08 levels.
Revenue slid by 6.4 per cent,
from 47.9m to 45m, but
underlying net profit was
significantly up, from
4.4m to 5.9m, a rise
of 34.1 per cent. This
gave the firms 51 equity
partners a much-needed
boost, with average profit
per equity partner (PEP) up by
78.5 per cent, from 65,000 to
116,000. Non-equity partners,
meanwhile, picked up an average
112,000 in remuneration.
The firms equity spread
narrowed from 100,000-
187,000 at the 2008-09
year-end to 99,000-140,000.
Compare that with 2007-08,
when Blake Lapthorn posted a
net profit of 9.6m, a PEP of
204,000 and an equity spread
of 110,000-210,000.
Blake Lapthorn is
working hard at
generating more
work from
individual clients
while also looking
for new panel
seats to help
boost the bottom
line.
60 =
Davies Arnold
Cooper
Turnover (M): 44.1
Average PEP (K): 278
Equity spread (K): 150-450
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 253
AT THE end of the 2008-09
financial year Davies Arnold
Cooper (DAC) celebrated its
best set of figures in almost a
decade, with the firm seeing
the full effects of its January
2008 merger with KSB Law,
a deal that added 8m to
DACs turnover.
A year later and growth
slowed. But the firm has
once again looked to invest by
hiring key partners to bolster its
core practices of insurance and
real estate, while also adding
further strength to its
employment team.
Turnover fell marginally by
2 per cent at the 2009-10
year-end, from 45m to
44.1m. The firms net profit
shrank by a much more weighty
25.9 per cent, from 10.8m to
8m. This had a direct impact
on average profit per equity
partner, which fell by 23
per cent, from 361,000 to
278,000.
DAC keeps its equity tight,
with just 29 out of 77 partners
being owners of the business.
Bottom of equity has remained
static for the past three
financial years at 150,000,
but the top end decreased in
2009-10 from 500,000 to
450,000.
The firms insurance clients,
which include Zurich and QBE,
kept its dispute resolution group
busy during the year,
contributing 64 per cent of the
firms turnover, or 28.2m.
61 h
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TLS_058_a ug_uk200_wr 51t o100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 27 Pa ge 58
I N S U R A N C E R E L A T E D T R A V E L E M P L O Y M E N T
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succeeding through an open, long-term approach to client relationships.
Serving a growing number of major insurers, local authorities and blue chip
PLCs, we welcome enquiries from potential new clients and from exceptional
individuals, at every level of experience, wishing to further their career.
www.everatt.co.uk
NORTH
Deansgate, Manchester
Jason Burt
0161 214 1140
jburt@everatt.co.uk
MIDLANDS
Vale Chambers, Evesham
Nick Yates
01386 769160
nyates@everatt.co.uk
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Threadneedle St, London
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020 7763 6109
abushell@everatt.co.uk
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TLS_059_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 11: 50 Pa ge 1


51-100
Cobbetts
Turnover (M): 43.7
Average PEP (K): 132
Equity spread (K): 100-250
Profit margin (%): 9
RPL (K): 187
COBBETTS, which has a
two-tier partnership, reported
the same profit figure (10.4m)
for total remuneration to all
classes of partner as net profit
(remuneration to full equity
partners only) for the 2009-10
financial year.
Income fell by 10 per cent,
from 48.5m in 2008-09
to 43.8m in 2009-10. We
have estimated net profit to be
4.1m, giving an average profit
per equity partner of 132,000.
According to filings with
Companies House, the highest-
paid member in 2008-09 took
home 257,000. We estimate
that this did not materially
increase for 2009-10.
The firm operates a modified
lockstep. It has 31 full equity
partners, known as variable
equity partners, with points
allocated by a remuneration
committee, and 52 fixed-share,
or assured equity, partners,
for whom 10 per cent of
remuneration is contingent
upon the firm hitting budget.
In contrast to 2008-09,
Cobbetts did supply a headcount
figure and a breakdown of
practice income figures for
the 2009-10 financial year.
On average it had 20 per cent
fewer staff, 9 per cent fewer
fee-earners, 13 per cent fewer
lawyers, 11 per cent fewer
partners and 11 per cent more
equity partners during the
2009-10 financial year than it
did at the 2007-08 year-end
the last financial year for which
the firm supplied such data.
Since 2008 fee income for the
corporate practice fell by 24 per
cent, from 21.4m to 16.2m;
litigation increased by 34 per
cent, from 9.5m to 12.7m;
property dropped by 52 per
cent, from 22m to 10.5m;
and finance decreased by 57
per cent, from 4.2m to 1.8m.
Cobbetts established Cobbetts
International along a Swiss
Verein basis to target
opportunities in the Middle East
and North Africa region.
62 m
Farrer & Co
Turnover (M): 42.6
Average PEP (K): 442
Equity spread (K): 200-565
Profit margin (%): 24
RPL (K): 291
FARRER & Cos turnover rose
by 5.1 per cent, from 40.5m
to 42.6m, in 2009-10, partly
because there were simply more
people fee earning. Revenue per
lawyer actually decreased from
305,000 to 291,000.
Unlike many other firms in
the UK 200, Farrers made no
redundancies at all in the
recession. Average profit per
equity partner decreased from
462,000 to 442,000.
The year saw a slight rejig of
the capital structure thanks to
a number of arrivals and
departures, and the firm took
advantage of the buyers market
to make several partner hires, of
whom five joined the equity
although the total number of
partners actually decreased from
100 to 96. The eight- to 20-point
equity spread also shifted slightly,
from 212,000-560,000 to
200,000-565,000.
Litigation (including
employment) performed
best, with billings of 13.2m,
representing a revenue per
partner (RPP) of 776,000.
The flagship private client and
charities practice had an income
of 10.65m, but had a patchy
year thanks to a fall-off in
onshore private client work
compared with the spike of
2008-09. Corporate grossed
8m and property 7.7m.
Average RPP across the firm
stood at 644,000, which is on
an upward trend from 633,000
in 2008-09 and 595,000 in
2007-08.
=63 h
Walker Morris
Turnover (m): 42.6
Average PEP (K): 535
Equity spread (K): 190-700
Profit margin (%): 39
RPL (K): 265
BY ITS own admission,
Leeds-based Walker Morris had
a disappointing year in 2008-09.
Turnover fell by 8 per cent
and average profit per equity
partner (PEP) by 27 per cent to
486,000. Things were better in
2009-10. While turnover again
dropped by 3.6 per cent to
42.6m, net profit leapt by 14
per cent to 16.6m and PEP
increased from 486,000 to
535,000.
Corporate remains a key
area, making up 22 per cent of
turnover, but in fact the biggest
fee-generating practice last year
was litigation, accounting for 45
per cent of total revenue. Staff
numbers fell from 524 to 481,
although the majority of
redundancies were among
back-office staff, with the lawyer
count remaining stable at 161.
There were other changes at
Walker Morris since the 2009-10
year-end. In April veteran
chairman Peter Smart stood
down. This was followed by a
restructuring of the management
team when the firm installed
Andrew Turnbull as non-
executive chairman and Ian
Gilbert as managing partner.
Now the firm has ambitions
to step up investment in its
141-lawyer litigation team, a
task illustrated by its June raid
on Hammonds Leeds office for
a head of commercial dispute
resolution in the shape of David
Williams.
So there may be change at
the top, but do not expect any
change in strategy. Gilbert
remains firmly committed to
the firms single-site policy.
Having just the one office
may mean Walker Morris
misses out in some areas, but
its formidable reputation in the
North means it is never short
of work.
=63 h
TLT
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 41
Average PEP (K): 285
Equity spread (K): 190-390
Profit margin (%): 15
RPL (K): 230
REVENUE at Bristol-
headquartered TLT Solicitors
returned to 2007-08 levels last
year, with the firm posting a
turnover of 41m, up 5.1 per
cent on 2008-09s 39m.
TLT introduced a series of
cost-cutting measures
aimed at rebuilding
profitability when
the recession
hit. This
included outsourcing the firms
library service to Integreon.
In addition, the firm moved to
new premises in London and
rebalanced its practices to
place more emphasis on
litigation. At the latest year-end
the firms litigators contributed
11.48m to overall turnover, or
28 per cent.
It is worth noting that during
the 2008-09 financial year TLT
made a series of investments,
which coupled with the impact
of the recession depressed
the firms headline figures
back then.
The picture at the 2009-10
year-end was significantly
improved, with net profit rising
by 42.9 per cent, from 4.2m
to 6m, boosting average
profit per equity partner
by a 43.9 per cent, from
198,000 to 285,000.
The firms equity spread
also moved upwards, partly as
a consequence of TLT moving
to a merit-based remuneration
system. The equity spread shifted
from 110,000-260,000 to
190,000-390,000.
TLTs major clients include
Barclays Bank, WHSmith and
Orange.
65 h
60|The Lawyer|UK 200
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51-100
The Lawyer|UK 200|61
Russell Jones
& Walker
Turnover (M): 40.6
Average PEP (K): 404
Equity spread (K): 215-450
Profit margin (%): 22
RPL (K): 301
IT WAS another year of
expansion at Russell Jones &
Walker (RJW), which saw
turnover rise by 17 per cent
during 2009-10, from 34.7m to
40.6m. The firm has a strategic
objective to grow across three
revenue streams: volume work
generated by its Claims Direct
business; specialised consumer
work targeted by 4 Legal; and
higher-end legal advice provided
by RJW.
Over the past year RJW has
ploughed investment into the
firm and re-established itself in
private client. In January RJW
raided Cheshire-headquartered
Gorvins Solicitors for a family
practice led by Amanda McAlister
and its senior partner. As part of
the deal RJW also
acquired Gorvins Milton
Keynes base.
The cost of this
investment was soaked up
during 2009-10, yet the firm
managed to grow net profit by 31
per cent, from 6.8m to 8.9m.
This gave the firms 22 equity
partners an average profit per
equity partner figure of
404,000, up by 12.8 per cent
from 358,000.
Traditionally RJW has kept its
equity tight, but more recently
the firm has begun making direct
hires to the equity partnership.
This has grown from 19 partners
in 2008-09 to 22, with the firms
overall partnership headcount
growing from 47 to 55.
The bulk of RJWs revenue
is contributed by its litigation
practice, accounting for 82 per
cent of turnover, or 33.29m.
Several big cases contributed to
that figure, including partner
Richard Langtons successful
group litigation order brought on
behalf of more than 1,500 people
against Argos, Land of Leather
and Walmsleys in the toxic sofas
case. The firm is currently looking
to increase its involvement in this
market while also building up its
property team in Manchester.
67 h
Clarke
Willmott
Turnover (M): 40.8
Average PEP (K): 163
Equity spread (K): 110-295
Profit margin (%): 13
RPL (K): 185
TOTAL revenue at Clarke
Willmott dropped by 14 per
cent last year, with the property
group particularly affected. That
department saw fee income slide
from 11.3m to 6.9m and its
contribution to overall income
decrease from 24 per cent to
17 per cent.
As a result Clarke Willmott
made a number of redundancies
and several senior staff members
have also left the firm, including
finance director Neil Munn and
HR head Joanna Parker. It also
took the decision to outsource
secretarial work from its
Birmingham head office to South
Africa through an agreement with
business process outsourcer
Exigent, resulting in job losses.
Year-on-year the firm had on
average 17 per cent fewer staff and
partners than it did in 2008-09.
Having taken on 15,000sq ft
of office space in central
Birmingham in 2006 on a
16-year lease with a view to
establishing its headquarters in
that city, it has now put half of
that space on the market.
The firm also implemented
changes to its management
structure. Chairman Stephen
Rosser became chief executive
following the 11-year tenure of
David Sedgwick, who became
senior partner. Rosser also
established a board to develop
and deliver a new strategy.
Clarke Willmott operates
an entirely merit-based
remuneration system and
has three classes of partner
salaried, prior share and full
equity. The equity spread
contracted last year, with those
at the top taking home 20 per
cent less than in 2008-09.
66 m
Bevan Brittan
Turnover (M): 37.7
Average PEP (K): 288
Equity spread (K): 150-340
Profit margin (%): 16
RPL (K): 204
BEVAN Brittan was among the
first top 100 firms to announce a
redundancy programme in May
2008, with 40 positions being
axed. This came after the firms
net profit collapsed at the
2007-08 year-end, from 9.6m
to 6.1m.
In response to falling net profit
(which resulted in a drop in
average profit per equity partner
at the 2007-08 year-end from
234,000 to
180,000), the
firm voted out
chief
executive
Stuart
Whitfield and gave the former
chief operating officer Andrew
Manning the tough challenge of
rebuilding the firms core
business.
Manning pledged to restore net
profit, and by shrinking the firms
lawyer count and pulling away
from sectors that were no longer
profitable this is what he has
achieved.
At the 2009-10 year-end net
profit excluding remuneration
to fixed-share partners stayed
more or less static at 6m,
although the total remuneration
for all partners grew to 9.6m.
Average profit rose by 29.7
per cent, from 222,000 to
288,000. The firms equity
partner headcount is smaller
than it has been since its
demerger from Ashfords in
November 2004, contracting
from a high of 41 in 2006-07 to
21 for the last financial year.
At the same time the equity
spread has narrowed, with
the bottom moving up from
121,000 to 150,000 and the
top dropping from 377,000
to 340,000.
68 m
Howard
Kennedy
Turnover (M): 37
Average PEP (K): 309
Equity spread (K): 160-500
Profit margin (%): 13
RPL (K): 261
HOWARD Kennedy has made
two rounds of redundancies over
the past two years, the first in
June 2008, when it laid off 50,
and the second at the beginning
of the 2009-10 financial year,
when it announced a further
40 layoffs.
Nevertheless, the firm
increased its lawyer headcount
in 2009-10 from 115 to 142.
Turnover increased by 5.1
per cent, from 35.2m to
an estimated 37m, although
this still lags behind 2007-08s
level, when the firm posted a
turnover of 44m. Average profit
per equity partner has stayed flat
for the past two years at an
estimated 309,000, while net
profit has fallen by 5.7 per cent
to 4.9m from 5.2m.
The partner headcount has
declined slightly from 72 to 69,
but the most recent financial
year was one of arrivals and
departures. In September
Howard Kennedy was raided by
Fasken Martineau for an eight-
strong projects team, including
four partners, signalling a shift
away from aviation work.
Then in March the firm moved
to beef up its projects team with
the hire of Simmons & Simmons
international environment group
head Jacqui OKeefe and Pinsent
Masons senior associate Edward
Butler, who joined the firm as
partners.
69 h
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Morgan Cole
Turnover (M): 36
Average PEP (K): 193
Equity spread (K): 158-212
Profit margin (%): 26
RPL (K): 208
IT WAS a year of consolidation
and cost watching for Morgan
Cole, which officially became
an LLP on 1 April 2010.
The firm centred its catastrophic
injury team on Bristol to augment
its acquisition of four-partner CIP
Solicitors in 2008-09, a boutique
that was on the panels of three of
Morgan Coles biggest insurance
clients National Farmers Union
Mutual, Aviva and Axa. That
acquisition helped Morgan Cole
meet its 2009-10 revenue target
of 36m.
Although the number of
qualified lawyers increased a
notch, from 166 to 173, the
number of non-qualified lawyer
fee-earners crept up by 40 last
year. This was mainly in the
insurance practice, which
accounts for some 14m, or 39
per cent, of total turnover
an increase from last years
10.2m and also a growth of the
share of turnover of nine
percentage points.
The public sector practice,
which acts for the Department
of Health, the Welsh Assembly
and the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority,
turned over 7.6m, representing
21 per cent of the total revenue.
Morgan Cole operates a
modified lockstep. Partners
typically take six years to reach
plateau, although in exceptional
cases they can be accelerated.
The firm recently moved to a
taper system to take account of
partners nearing retirement
and it operates a small bonus
pool on top.
Pricing pressures in its key
sectors of health and insurance
notwithstanding, Morgan Coles
net profit dipped only slightly to
6.8m (compared with last
years 7.8m), although its profit
margin fell from 23 per cent to
19 per cent.
The speed of cash collection
slowed, with lockup creeping up
by 10 days to 131, but the firm is
targeting 120 days next year.
Average profit per equity
partner dropped from 218,000
in 2008-09 to 193,000 in
2009-10. The equity spread
narrowed from 147,000-
238,000 to 158,000-
212,000. The change in spread
reflected the fact that Morgan
Cole made no partner promotions,
so the bottom rung of the equity
ladder was unpeopled, while top
earners saw their profits
diminished due to the pressure
on margins.
70 h
Brodies
Turnover (M): 35.8
Average PEP (K): 323
Equity spread (K): 190-430
Profit margin (%): 25
RPL (K): 182
SCOTTISHfirm Brodies had
another muted year after its
eight-year run of double-digit
turnover growth came to an end
in 2008-09. For the 2009-10 year
the firm recorded a turnover of
35.8m, a drop of 8 per cent on
39.09m the previous year. The
firms profit margin fell by three
percentage points, from 28 to 25
per cent, while average profit per
equity partner fell by 3 per cent,
from 333,000 to 323,000.
During the year the firms
average equity partner count
fell from 33.4 to 27.4 through
a mixture of retirements and
de-equitisations. The remaining
equity partners, who are
remunerated by a mixture of
lockstep (80 per cent) and bonus
pool (20 per cent), shared a total
of 8.85m. Those at the bottom
of the equity received 190,000
and those at the top took home
430,000. The firms 34.9
non-equity partners were paid
an average of 110,000.
The firms litigation practice
remains the biggest revenue
generator, accounting for 34
per cent of the total last year.
Property is the second-largest
group in revenue terms, although
at 26 per cent of the total it is
proportionally marginally
smaller than in the previous year.
The firm took an aggressive
stance towards costs and bill
71 m
Shepherd &
Wedderburn
Turnover (M): 35.3
Average PEP (k): 243
Equity spread (k): 138-255
Profit margin (%): 23
RPL (k): 201
SHEPHERD & Wedderburn lost
its place as one of the so-called
big four Scottish firms after
posting an 11 per cent slide in
turnover to 35.3m in 2009-10,
allowing Brodies to edge past it.
That said, net profit rose
marginally, from 7.6m to
8.25m, boosting the profit
margin from 19 to 23 per cent.
This was in part achieved by the
firm moving some high-volume,
lower-value work in-house to
clients. For example, a chunk of
medical negligence work and the
team that handles it moved to
the Medicakand Dental Defence
Union of Scotland.
Average profit per equity
partner was up from 230,000 to
243,000, with the equity spread
138,000-255,000. The firm
operates a modified lockstep that
sees partners enter the equity on
55 points, gaining five in their
next move. From there each step
is worth an additional 10 points
up to a total of 130, although the
highest level currently in use is
the 100-point rung.
Partners do not gain a step
on an annual basis, with a
remuneration committee deciding
lockstep positions. The value of an
equity point in 2009-10 was
around 2,500, which is roughly
the same as in the previous year.
During the year the firm
invested in four lateral hires:
disputes partner Guy Harvey
from Dickinson Dees;
employment head Neil Maclean
from Anderson Strathern;
property partner Michael Scott
from SJ Berwin; and oil and gas
head Kevin McGrory from
Fairfield Energy.
72 m
Thomas Eggar
Turnover (M): 34.7
Average PEP (K): 182
Equity spread (K): 92-287
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 231
THOMAS EGGAR is eager to
ditch the South East firm tag,
despite the fact it remains one of
the biggest players in the region.
Instead it is keen to be known as
a national player.
To boost its aspirations in this
direction the firm, shortlisted for
Regional/National Law Firm of
the Year at The Lawyer Awards
2010, is believed to be eyeing a
London merger in a bid to fulfil
those national ambitions.
Nevertheless, last year total
revenue dropped by 6 per cent to
34.7m. This was largely due to
the lack of property and corporate
finance work in the market.
Net profit was also down
slightly, from 7.4m to 7.2m,
although average profit per equity
partner saw a small increase,
from 180,000 to 182,000.
The majority of Thomas
Eggars revenue comes from
disputes. This makes up 30 per
cent of overall turnover, with
insurance litigation in particular
seeing a noticeable pick-up.
Private client remains the
firms flagship practice and also
accounts for almost a third of
total turnover. The firm is
increasingly looking to attract
big-name clients in the sports
and media industries in this area.
Elsewhere Thomas Eggar is
increasingly targeting clients in
the retail sector after picking up
high street names such as Pret A
Manger and Itsu in the past year.
This year the employment team
was given a boost with the hire of
Eversheds partners Catherine
Wilson and Matthew Kelly.
73 m
collection, maintaining its profit
margin without the need for
major job losses. While its
average accrued income figure
remained unchanged at 72 days
year-on-year, it knocked six days
off its average debtor days figure,
which fell from 61 to 55.
The firm made only one lateral
hire in 2009-10 in corporate
partner Will McIntosh, who
joined from Lindsays.
TLS_062_a ug_uk200_wr 51t o100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 32 Pa ge 62
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TLS_063_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 12: 03 Pa ge 1
51-100
64|The Lawyer|UK 200
Keoghs
Turnover (M): 33
Average PEP (K): 300
Equity spread (K): 150-614
Profit margin (%): 14
RPL (K): 232
KEOGHS did not disclose
its figures this year, but The
Lawyer estimates that the
Bolton-headquartered firm
made 33m in 2009-10. This
is a 10 per cent increase on the
audited turnover for the 2008-
09 financial year and is broadly
in line with the growth levels
reported by other firms that have
a heavy dependence on the
insurance sector.
Keoghs, which has a Midlands
office in Coventry, is focused on
defendant insurance litigation,
acting for insurers and self-
insured organisations. Its
business is split into three areas:
high-volume, low-margin claims
management work (CMS);
more technical claims work;
and counter-fraud work.
Last December the firm hired
Steve Thomas, formerly technical
claims director for general
insurance giant Zurich and a key
figure in introducing reform of
the volume claims market, as
director of its CMS unit.
Keoghs was one of a small
group of firms that registered
interest in the insurance business
of the now defunct Halliwells. In
the end that part of the business
was snapped up in its entirety
by larger rival Barlow Lyde &
Gilbert.
74
Browne
Jacobson
Turnover (M): 32.9
Average PEP (K): 244
Equity spread (K): 110-300
Profit margin (%): 12
RPL (K): 168
AFTER declining to participate
in The Lawyer UK 200 2009,
this year Nottingham-based
Browne Jacobson revealed that
its turnover was 32.9m for the
2009-10 financial year. This
was a 7 per cent increase on
the previous years audited figure
of 30.8m.
In the previous year The
Lawyer estimated turnover at
the firm to be 31.3m and its
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) to be 237,000. Despite
the increase in turnover, this
year we estimate PEP to have
grown only slightly to 244,000.
This is the result of the firm
embarking on a recruitment
drive, but also maintaining
headline rates at the same level
for three years.
Browne Jacobson boosted its
total number of partners by four
to 69 and its legal staff by 28 to
259 over this period.
Browne Jacobson, which has
offices in Birmingham, London
and Nottingham, has a strong
reputation in the public sector.
Over the past year it was
reappointed to the East
Midlands Law Share a
consortium of 50 local
authorities and also made
it onto the new London
Boroughs Legal Alliance.
75 h
Bircham
Dyson Bell
Turnover (M): 31.9
Average PEP (K): 281
Equity spread (K): 100-300
Profit margin (%): 24
RPL (K): 259
WESTMINSTER-based Bircham
Dyson Bell saw its average profit
per equity partner rocket by 18.5
per cent, from 237,000 to
281,000 last year. Revenue at
the 48-partner firm, however, fell
by 1.5 per cent, from 32.4m to
31.9m. The gap between the
highest- and lowest-earning
partners grew: those at the top of
the modified lockstep pocketed
300,000 last year compared
with 270,000 in 2009.
The firms corporate
department generated 21
76 h
Lewis Silkin
Turnover (M): 31.7
Average PEP (K): 259
Equity spread (K): 155-355
Profit margin (%): 19
RPL (K): 238
STEADY is probably the best
word to describe Lewis Silkins
2009-10. Headcount and
finances all remained virtually
identical to the previous years,
with turnover inching up from
31.2m to 31.7m and average
profit per equity partner falling
by just 7,000 to 259,000.
Net profit rose slightly to 6.1m,
while the average number of
equity partners held at 23.
Managing partner Ian Jeffery
believes it was the firms practice
mix that helped it put in a less
choppy performance relative to
much of the market, adding that
the firms relatively long lockup
of 139 days was primarily down
to the debtor days being too long.
Employment remains Lewis
Silkins single largest revenue
generator, accounting for 42 per
cent of total income, or 13.3m.
Media, brands and technology is
the next largest at 17 per cent,
while the firm also maintains a
focus on the regeneration market
via its longstanding social
housing focus.
Lewis Silkin is now two years
into a new partner appraisal
system that includes a clearer set
of criteria linked to remuner-
ation on its modified lockstep.
The lockstep, which sees partners
move up the bands in increments
of four points after they enter the
equity, remains the same.
77 h
Freeth
Cartwright
Turnover (M): 31.6
Average PEP (K): 196
Equity spread (K): 135-280
Profit margin (%): 21
RPL (K): 218
NOTTINGHAM-based Freeth
Cartwright opened its first office
in London earlier this year,
despite seeing turnover fall by
3 per cent to 31.6m.
The new West End office was
set up primarily to service the
firms retail sector clients. While
turnover may have dropped,
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) recovered following a
dramatic 35 per cent drop in
2008-09. PEP rose by 30.7 per
cent to 196,000 in 2009-10,
while the equity spread increased
from 105,000-180,000 to
135,000-280,000.
Net profit also saw a big
increase, rising by 22 per
cent, from 5.4m to 6.6m.
Corporate remains the biggest
earner, generating 13.3m of
revenue. The firm has also
traditionally been strong in
property and, at 38 per cent of
total revenue, it remains a core
practice despite taking a hit in the
downturn. The firm represents
several major homebuilders,
including Balfour Beatty, Barratt
Homes and Belway Homes.
Headcount continued to fall
in 2009-10, with overall staff
numbers down by 13.8 per cent
to 400 and the total number of
fee-earners falling from 222 to
198. Overall partner numbers,
however, remained static at 78,
although the number of equity
partners dropped from 37 to 34.
In recent months the firm has
hired several partners for its
Birmingham office, which
opened in 2007. They include
Simon Barker from Martineau to
head its IP team in the region
and new Birmingham insolvency
head Michael Gilmour from
Clarke Wilmott.
78 m
per cent of total revenue,
with litigation and property
accounting for 16 and 15 per
cent respectively.
Bircham completed a second
redundancy consultation in May
2009, leading to the loss of five
fee-earners and 10 secretarial
and support staff. The move
brought the total number of job
losses at the firm since the
downturn to 19, following the
loss of four jobs in 2008.
It also announced a salary
freeze across its entire workforce
last March.
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The Lawyer|UK 200|65
Manches
Turnover (M): 31.1
Average PEP (K): 211
Equity spread (K): 115-672
Profit margin (%): 13
RPL (K): 230
IF MANCHES abortive talks
with Halliwells in September
2009 over the acquisition of the
latters London office foundered
for all the obvious reasons
(Halliwells City offering was
simply not making enough
money to be attractive), its
decline in gross fees over
three years despite its
countercyclical litigation,
private client and IP bias
may have prompted the desire
to bulk up in the capital.
Of its 31.1m turnover, 21.3m
came from London (Manches
accounts on a calendar year
basis, so its most recent figures
relate to 2009), but the top line
dropped from 34.1m in 2008.
Revenue per lawyer dropped
from 240,000 to 230,000.
London and Oxford operate
separate profit pools: the net in
London was 3m on a turnover
of 21.3m, with a margin of 14
per cent and an average profit
per equity partner (PEP) for its
12 London equity partners of
251,000. The firms powerful
private client and family law
practice, which turns over
11.5m, represents 37 per
cent of the firms billings
and is based largely in London.
Oxford (which includes a
satellite office in Reading)
has a strong IP and commercial
bias. It produced a margin
of 10 per cent on a turnover
of 9.8m, yielding a PEP of
140,000 for its seven equity
partners.
Across the firm margins
dropped slightly from 13
per cent to 12.7 per cent, but
the overall PEP
rose from
209,000 to
211,000,
helped by the
reduction in
the number of
equity partners from
22 to 19.
79 m
Brabners
Chaffe Street
Turnover (M): 30.5
Average PEP (K): 260
Equity spread (K): 98-280
Profit margin (%): 28
RPL (K): 157
TURNOVER at Brabners Chaffe
Street got a 2m boost at the
start of the 2009-10 financial
year through the acquisition of
Liverpool-based commercial
and property firm Bremners
Solicitors. The tie-up also
expanded Brabners social
housing nous, where clients
include the Riverside Housing
Trust and North West
consortium Generate Group.
Brabners has a solid regional
reputation in the corporate
market, where it competes
regularly with much larger
regional and national players.
Corporate and finance together
comprise around a fifth of total
revenue at the North West firm,
where last years standout deals
included advising insolvency
specialist Begbies Traynor Group
on its acquisition of business
recovery and insolvency
practitioner Tomlinsons.
But Brabners unique selling
point is its sports practice. Over
the past year it worked on some
of the biggest football transfers
in the market, including
Manchester Uniteds record
80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo
to Real Madrid and Liverpools
18.5m signing of Glen Johnson
from Portsmouth. More
unusually it advised the
stars of UFC, the US mixed
martial arts championship,
on their global sponsorships,
endorsements and public
appearances, as well as fighting
and film contracts.
In 2009-10 Brabners
restructured its management,
with Michael Brabner stepping
down as managing partner after
15 years to become senior
partner. Brabner was replaced
by Manchester head Mark
Brandwood.
=80 h
Hugh James
Turnover (M): 30.5
Average PEP (K): 200
Equity spread (K): 116-235
Profit margin (%): 22
RPL (K): 424
CARDIFF-based Hugh James
remains by far the largest law
firm in Wales, but continues to
struggle due to economic
conditions.
Things last year were not as
bad as in 2008-09, when the
firm was forced to close its
Merthyr Tydfil office and make
65 staff redundant. The
Lawyer estimates that
revenue dropped from
33m to 30.5m, while
average profit per
equity partner
remained static at
200,000. The
partnership
reduced by eight
in 2008-09, but again stayed
stable in 2009-10.
The firm, which also has an
office in Londons Canary Wharf,
continues to benefit from its
presence on a number of
lucrative panels, including the
Welsh Assembly and the Office
for National Statistics. Another
important client is the Welsh
Rugby Union. The firm
represented the organisation in
its 15m revolving loan facility
with Barclays Corporate.
Claimant litigation remains
one of its key areas, particularly
personal injury work, although
the property and construction
division remains sluggish. Earlier
this year the firm lost its head of
commercial litigation and
insolvency Ian Herbert to Welsh
rival Darwin Gray, but did bring
in new head of banking and
finance Dominic Marshall from
Kingsley Napley.
The firm undertakes a high
volume of work with the public
sector, but this is likely to be
reduced in the coming years with
the onset of big public spending
cuts in Wales.
=80 m
Dickson Minto
Turnover (M): 29.5
Average PEP (K): 821
Equity spread (K): 610-1,100
Profit margin (%): 39
RPL (K): 536
ANGLO-Scottish firm Dickson
Minto had a fair year in 2009-10,
although the firms longstanding
focus on private equity continued
to hurt its bottom line.
Turnover rose marginally from
28m in 2008-09 to 29.5m,
while net profit stayed relatively
flat, nudging down from 11.7m
to 11.5m. Average profit per
equity partner, which had
topped the 1m mark for several
years, regained some ground,
rising from 731,000 in the
previous year to 821,000.
The firm cut its partnership
during the past year, from 17 to
14, with all of those sharing in
the equity. Those at the bottom
of the equity received a profit
share of 610,000, while plateau
partners pocketed 1.1m.
Compensation is decided by a
three-strong team that includes
senior partner Alastair Dickson
and managing partner Bruce
Minto.
Private equity has been the
driving force behind the
London offices performance
since the firm was set up,
although the focus has moved
more towards restructuring
since the beginning of the
financial crisis.
The Edinburgh office, which
traditionally focused on bank
lending work, was hit hard by
the crisis in the banking sector,
but continued to undertake
investment trust work.
82 h
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66|The Lawyer|UK 200
Optima Legal
Turnover (M): 27.6
Average PEP (K): 119
Equity spread (K): 119-119
Profit margin (%): 2
RPL (K): 600
OPTIMA Legal entered The
Lawyers UK 200 for the first
time in 2008-09, with a turnover
of 30m. Last year that figure
dropped by 8 per cent to 27.6m.
But that barely begins to tell the
whole story of a turbulent year
for the firm, during which it was
investigated by the Solicitors
Regulation Authority (SRA).
The firm is something of an
oddity in The Lawyers list.
Optima was established in
2006 after DLA Piper spun off
its insurance operation. It was
structured as a limited company
rather than as a general
partnership, meaning that its
senior lawyers are directors
rather than partners. This
meant it could easily absorb a
series of acquisitions, with the
financial support of outsourcing
giant Capita.
However, at the end of 2009
the SRA told Optima that its
relationship with Capita had
become too close and it was
effectively acting as an
alternative business structure
in breach of the rules governing
the profession.
The firm was instructed to
reorganise its framework and
absorb back into its structure
234 staff who had previously
been outsourced to Capita.
Despite this the firms headcount
has reduced by 100 to 608.
In terms of practice areas,
Optimas property practice has
suffered as a result of the
recession. In 2008-09 the
property group accounted for 63
per cent of the 30m turnover,
or 18.9m. By the end of 2009-
10 property accounted for just 38
per cent of turnover, or 10.58m.
=83 m
Ward Hadaway
Turnover (M): 27.6
Average PEP (K): 294
Equity spread (K): 221-294
Profit margin (%): 12
RPL (K): 185
WARD Hadaway recovered from
a fairly dismal 2008-09 to post a
6.5 per cent rise in turnover to
reach 27.6m last year. Average
profit per equity partner saw a
55 per cent boost to 294,000,
while net profit rose by 47.8 per
cent to 3.4m. Both remain well
short of the highs recorded in
2007-08, however. The firm
made 21 staff redundant in the
previous financial year, but in
2009-10 headcount remained
stable.
The Newcastle firm made
several important hires during
the year, including public sector
partner Karen Andrews from
Trowers & Hamlins and property
partners Brian Green from
Hammonds Leeds office and
Judy Fawcett from Addleshaw
Goddard. It also beefed up its
employment, healthcare and
charities teams.
In addition, it pulled off some
impressive panel wins in 2009-
10, landing a place on the Tyne
& Wear Metropolitan Authority
and NHS Procurement North
East scheme panels. Other
clients include Newcastle
University and North Tees
and Hartlepool NHS Trust.
The firm has an undeniably
strong roster of public sector
clients: in 2009 it advised on
Building Schools for the Future
(BSF) projects totalling 700m
but that could spell trouble. The
BSF programme was scrapped in
June and the public sector is
bracing itself for major cuts. This
does not bode well for the North
East generally, where a large
chunk of commercial activity is
reliant on public funding, and for
Ward Hadaway in particular.
=83 h
Capsticks
Turnover (M): 26.4
Average PEP (K): 455
Equity spread (K): 256-564
Profit margin (%): 27
RPL (K): 236
HEALTHCARE specialist
Capsticks, the winner of this
years Niche Firm of the Year at
The Lawyer Awards, continued
on its ambitious and highly
successful growth strategy
last year.
That strategy has seen
Capsticks expand significantly
over the past couple of years,
with new offices in Birmingham
and this year in London.
True to its public service-
focused ethos, the firm
plumped for the lower-cost
(around 35 per sq ft) outskirts
of Greater London in
Wimbledon rather than the
City to avoid the higher
rents. The firms health-related
national client base means it has
no need of a Central London or
City berth.
One developing business line
for Capsticks is regulatory,
where the firm has
branched out
from its health-
related client base to
advise clients such as the
Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The firms largest practice area
by revenue, though, is litigation,
which last year generated 43 per
cent of total fee income.
Total turnover was up by 14
per cent, from 23.1m to
26.4m, while average profit
per equity partner also rose, by
3 per cent, to 455,000. Net
profit stayed static at 7m, as
did the total number of equity
partners at 16.
Capsticks operates a modified
five-year lockstep remuneration
system with a significant (40 per
cent) bonus element built in.
85 h
Ashfords
Turnover (M): 24
Average PEP (K): 430
Equity spread (K): 200-500
Profit margin (%): 33
RPL (K): 172
IN NOVEMBER Ashfords will
mark the sixth anniversary of its
demerger from Bevan Brittan.
When the firms split Ashfords
intended to focus primarily on
its Devon catchment area, but
gradually the firm has invested in
its Bristol base and in March this
year signed a 10-year lease to
take bigger offices in the city.
This investment has meant that
Ashfords revenue has hovered
around the 24m mark over the
past three years. At the 2009-10
year-end turnover rose by 1.7
per cent, from 23.6m to 24m.
Yet this remains 3.3 per cent
short of the 2007-08 level, when
the firm posted a revenue of
24.8m.
Nevertheless, Ashfords saw its
bottom line increase by 33.3 per
cent, from 6m to 8m. As a
result the firms average profit
per equity partner figure shot up
by 42 per cent, from 303,000
to 430,000.
Ashfords operates a modified
lockstep remuneration system
with an equity spread of 50 to
100 points. Partners can advance
up the lockstep in 10-point steps
each year.
=86 =
51-100
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T: +44 (0)1481 723191 E: askmore@collasday.com
PO Box 140, Manor Place, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 4EW
outstanding in law
BANKING / COMMERCIAL / DISPUTE RESOLUTION / FIDUCIARY / FUNDS / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY / PRIVATE CLIENT / PROPERTY
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TLS_067_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 34 Pa ge 1
Sacker &
Partners
Turnover (M): 23.2
Average PEP (K): 877
Equity spread (K): 333-1,011
Profit margin (%): 53
RPL (K): 494
PENSIONs boutique Sacker
& Partners, which reports on a
calendar-year basis, had a return
to form in 2009 after a stagnant
2008.
Turnover rose by 10.5 per
cent to 23.2m, while net profit
rose by 10 per cent to 12.3m,
representing a profit margin of
53 per cent, the highest of the
UK 100.
The firms average profit per
equity partner rose by 9 per cent,
from 806,000 to 877,000,
beating its previous high of
874,000 in 2006.
Sackers operates a modified
lockstep, with partners in theory
taking six years to reach plateau
with a maximum of 360 equity
points. The entry point is
variable depending on overall
firm profitability. Performance
is reviewed at two and four
years, at which points partners
lockstep positions can be frozen.
In 2009 those on the bottom of
the equity took home 333,000,
while plateau partners received
1.01m.
Sackers performance benefited
in part from picking up around
12 new clients thanks to the
pensions departments in larger
firms being forced to give up
their pension scheme trustee
clients at the behest of their
corporate colleagues.
While the firm fared well in
2009 it is anticipating a dent to
its profit in 2010 after taking on
new office space in Londons
Gresham Street. For most of the
year the firm will be paying rent
for that building and its existing
office at St Pauls and is also
funding a refit of its new base.
88 h
Russell-Cooke
Turnover (M): 22.5
Average PEP (K): 174
Equity spread (K): 75-400
Profit margin (%): 35
RPL (K): 211
ACCORDING to senior partner
John Gould, Russell-Cooke has
made the most of the downturn.
The London firm has hired
partners from Campbell Hooper,
Clarke Willmott and Macfarlanes
as the recession wiped some of
the gloss off some of its rivals.
The firm posted a turnover of
22.5m, slightly up on 2008-09s
22.2m, but still down on the
23.8m it posted the year before.
Net profit last year was 7.8m
and average profit per equity
partner was 174,000.
Russell-Cookes 45-strong
partnership is all-equity, one
third of it female. Partners
remuneration is set on the basis
of an annual scheme under
which partners plan and propose
their own remuneration. These
individual business plans, which
are approved or rejected by
a remuneration committee,
give the firm the flexibility to
accommodate areas where
profitability is lower or higher.
This has meant that, although
areas such as commercial
property were hit hard by the
downturn, the firmwide impact
of this was lessened. As such
the firm made no fee-earner
redundancies last year.
This year Russell-Cooke aims
to boost its private client practice
via recruits in a bid to compete
with Central London practices.
Its charity practice, previously a
good earner for Russell-Cooke, is
expected to take a hit as the
Government cuts spending.
89 h
Forsters
Turnover (M): 22.3
Average PEP (K): 297
Equity spread (K): 190-370
Profit margin (%): 26
RPL (K): 258
MAYFAIR firm Forsters had a
relatively muted year in 2009-10.
Revenue dipped less than 1 per
cent, from 22.5m to 22.3m,
while average profit per equity
partner rose by 12 per cent,
from 265,000 to 297,000.
The firm continued to suffer
from its heavy exposure to the
property market, although its
increased focus on private client
helped dampen this. Over the
year property accounted for 46
per cent of total revenue (10m),
down from 61 per cent (14m)
two years ago. Private client and
family rose from 20 per cent
(5m) to 27 per cent (6m) over
the same period.
A redundancy programme
carried out and booked in 2008-
09, coupled with a project that
saw the firms entire property
group work nine-day fortnights
from May last year to April 2010,
allowed the firm to increase its
profit margin slightly, from 23
per cent last year to 26 per cent.
The firm operates a
remuneration system that is part
lockstep, part fixed-share and
part bonus. The lockstep portion
runs from three to 15 points over
10 years and accounts for around
50 per cent of the total.
90 m
Bristows
Turnover (M): 24
Average PEP (K): 267
Equity spread (K): 140-320
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 270
BRISTOWS, one of the UKs
last remaining all-equity, pure
lockstep partnerships, reaped
the benefit of an increasingly
litigious client base. in 2009-10
Contentious matters form the
backbone of Bristows practice,
with IP litigation in particular
being at the core. The firms big
patent infringement win for
new client Smith & Nephew
concerning its Negative Pressure
Wound Therapy medical device,
on which partner Philip
Westmacott took the lead,
was a highlight.
A strong reputation for
top-end IP helped Bristows
post an 8.5 per cent rise in total
turnover in 2009-10 to 24m,
an 18 per cent increase in
average profit per equity partner
to 267,000 and a hike in net
profit of almost 30 per cent to
7.75m. The firms equity partner
headcount increased by two
year-on-year.
As far as non-contentious
matters go, Bristows continued
its strategy of recruiting to
strengthen IT in particular,
with the hires of Hazel Grant
and Toby Crick from Bird & Bird
and Fiona Nicolson from Maclay
Murray & Spens during the year.
The head of the firms IT
department Mark Watts took
over from Paul Walsh as
co-managing partner alongside
Pat Treacy during the year.
=86 h
Penningtons
Turnover (M): 22.3
Average PEP (K): 185
Equity spread (K): 130-220
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 228
AFTER declining to supply
figures for the 2008-09 financial
year, Penningtons decided to play
ball again by issuing a full
breakdown of its performance
for the past financial year.
At 22.3m the firms turnover
was 22 per cent lower than
in 2007-08, but its average
profit per equity partner saw
a marked improvement of 19
per cent. The 22 equity
partners took home on average
185,000, but then again the
firm also had four fewer equity
91 m
51-100
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The Lawyer|UK 200|69
Gordons
Turnover (M): 22
Average PEP (K): 702
Equity spread (K): 240-1,600
Profit margin (%): 38
RPL (K): 253
YORKSHIRE firmGordons
prides itself on its stability. The
firm has a balanced range of
practice areas: commercial
property, private client, risk
and compliance, and general
commercial work.
The firm has even kept on all
of its qualifying lawyers and
honoured all its training contract
commitments.
Indeed, Gordons stability has
served it well throughout the
downturn: turnover grew by
1.5 per cent to 22m during the
2009-10 financial year; net profit
was up by 28.4 per cent to 8.4m
in a like-for-like comparison
with the previous year; and the
firms equity spread is highly
impressive, ranging from
240,000 to 1.6m.
But Gordons is not about to
rest on its laurels. According to
managing partner Paul Ayre, the
firm has put in place a three-year
strategy whereby it will target
potential corporate clients, either
based in the North or that have
decision-makers there, and lure
them away from Yorkshires six
biggest firms.
The ultimate aim is to
increase turnover to above
30m within the three-year
period. Ayre admits it is an
ambitious plan, but he and his
partners are convinced it is
achievable.
=92 h
Payne Hicks
Beach
Turnover (M): 22
Average PEP (K): 412
Equity spread (K): 270-550
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 324
PAYNE Hicks Beach had a
relatively flat year in 2009-10
after its 2008-09 performance
had propelled it into the top 100
by turnover.
In the 2009-10 year turnover
dipped marginally, down by 0.5
per cent, from 22.1m to 22m.
Net profit fell by 3 per cent to
7m, giving Payne Hicks a 32
per cent profit margin. Average
profit per equity partner was up
by 3 per cent to 412,000.
Payne Hicks remunerates its
partners on a modified lockstep
basis. Those at the bottom of
the equity took home 270,000
last year, while those at the top
received 550,000. Non-equity
partners, of whom there were 15,
were paid on average 153,000.
The firm is best known for
its private client and family
work, with star partner Fiona
Shackleton representing
glamour model Katie Price on
her divorce from Peter Andre in
the past year, as well as acting
for the husband in a divorce case
that focused on the importance
of prenuptial agreements,
Radmacher v Grantino.
As well as private client and
family, each of which generate
around a third of total revenue,
the firm also handles a range of
commercial work focusing on
corporate, disputes, employment
and property.
=92 h
Fladgate
Turnover (M): 21.8
Average PEP (K): 370
Equity spread (K): 160-580
Profit margin (%): 32
RPL (K): 287
LONDON-based Fladgate
celebrated its 250th anniversary
in 2010 with a move to new
offices in Covent Garden. The
location, midway between the
West End and the City, says
much about the firms strategy
it is eager to ditch the West
End property firm tag and
believes the relocation from
Mayfair is evidence of its
confidence, ambition and solid
strategy for the future.
The figures seem to justify the
firms belief that the property
tag should be dropped. While
property accounts for 33 per
cent of all revenue, that is
considerably less than the 45
per cent of fee income generated
by its corporate practice, the
whole contribution of which rose
by three percentage points from
last years figure. More than 60
per cent of income now comes
from corporate and litigation.
Crucially, the Great Queen
Street offices allow the firm
room to expand.
Fladgate has made several
hires in recent months, including
Forsters former corporate chief
Jeremy Whiteson and former
Harbottle & Lewis managing
partner Lawrence Abramson,
who joined as a partner in
the media and entertainment
practice. However, it also lost
up-and-coming litigator Simon
Cullingworth who left the
firm for US trial lawyers Kobre
& Kim.
The firms turnover continued
to decline, although not as badly
as in 2008-09, when income
dropped by 12.5 per cent. In
2009-10 revenue fell by 8 per
cent, from 23.7m to 21.8m.
In the same period average
profit per equity partner dropped
by 5 per cent to 370,000,
although net profit held steady
at 7m.
=95 m
partners than it did two years ago.
The three-office firm, with
a base in the City and outposts
in Basingstoke and Godalming,
retains a strong presence in
private client work, which
accounts for 37 per cent of total
income but is carried out by 30
per cent of the partners.
Penningtons also has a sizeable
property department, but its
business services group
dominates the firm both in terms
of overall partner numbers
and income generation.
The firm embarked on
something of an expansion
drive last year, picking up lateral
hires in its banking, corporate,
property and family
departments. It also broke
new ground by responding to
changes to the rules governing
partnerships by becoming one
of the first to promote a barrister
into the partnership.
Turcan Connell
Turnover (M): 21.9
Average PEP (K): 450
Equity spread (K): 245-545
Profit margin (%): 25
RPL (K): 267
SCOTTISH private client
boutique Turcan Connell had a
reasonable year in 2009-10,
although its practice continued
to suffer from the knock-on
effect of the dearth of bank
lending.
Turnover nudged up to
21.9m, while net profit was
down by almost 10 per cent to
5.4m. This gave the firm a
profit margin of 25 per cent,
down slightly from 27 per cent
the previous year.
Partners took home an average
profit share of 450,000, with
those at the bottom of the equity
receiving 245,000 and those at
the top pocketing 545,000.
While the firms main focus
is private client, it also has a
charities practice and acts for
a variety of landowners.
Like most firms, many of
Turcan Connells clients
have suffered as a result of the
recession, meaning the double-
digit growth it experienced at the
beginning of the decade, after it
spun out of Dundas & Wilson,
has not been repeated in the past
two years.
The firm operates a modified
lockstep and has put an
increasing emphasis on partner
performance over the past few
years.
94 h
51-100
TLS_069_a ug_uk200_wr 51t o100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 37 Pa ge 69
51-100
Kingsley
Napley
Turnover (M): 21.5
Average PEP (K): 425
Equity spread (K): 290-520
Profit margin (%): 20
RPL (K): 239
KINGSLEY Napley added 2m
to its turnover during 2009-10,
taking total revenue at the
litigation specialist from 19.5m
to 21.5m and the firm into the
upper half of The Lawyers top
200 this year.
Criminal and regulatory,
clinical negligence and
employment all exceeded
budget, while corporate
chipped in 2.4m and both
property and family and private
client generated 1.9m. Last year
the net profit available for full
equity partners was 4.25m,
giving an average profit per
equity partner of 425,000.
The equity shares on Kingsley
Napleys modified lockstep
spread between 290,000
and 520,000.
Criminal and regulatory work
remains the lynchpin of the
Clerkenwell firm. However, the
work profile has changed over
the past decade, with legal aid
work now accounting for only 1
per cent of the practice. The 14-
partner criminal and regulatory
group generated 41 per cent
of the business, or 8.8m in
turnover, during 2009-10.
The firm is targeting more
public law and judicial review
work, having hired Adam
Chapman, formerly of the
Treasury Solicitors Department
and the Attorney Generals
Office, earlier this year.
Another growth area is
claimant clinical negligence. The
group headed by Kate Rohde has
invested in well-regarded lateral
hires such as Dr Jock Mackenzie
from Leigh Day and Stephanie
Code, former clinical negligence
head at Charles Russell. A third
area of growth is employment, in
which Kingsley Napley is gaining
a reputation for advising City
institutions, including magic
circle firms.
97 h
Burness
Turnover (M): 21.2
Average PEP (K): 305
Equity spread (K): 170-340
Profit margin (%): 38
RPL (K): 198
SCOTLANDS Burness regained
the ground it lost during the
2008-09 financial year in
2009-10, earning itself a place
back in the UK top 100 following
a one-year hiatus.
The firm, which has offices
in Edinburgh and Glasgow, saw
turnover rise by 5 per cent, from
20.2m to 21.2m. A focus on
cost-cutting had an even bigger
impact on the bottom line, with
net profit rising by 73 per cent,
from 4.6m to 7.95m. This
resulted in a greatly improved
average profit per equity partner
(PEP) and equity spread.
PEP was up by 94 per cent,
from 157,000 to 305,000,
while the equity spread, which
went from 90,000 to 180,000
in 2008-09, ran from 170,000
to 340,000 last year roughly
the same level seen in 2007-08.
While property remains
Burnesss greatest revenue
generator, its share of the
total fell from 37 per cent in
2008-09 to 29 per cent last year.
Litigations share grew as a result.
Burness won a number of new
clients last year, including Gala
Coral, Whyte & Mackay and ITN.
98 h
DMH Stallard
Turnover (M): 20.7
Average PEP (K): 185
Equity spread (K): 160-335
Profit margin (%): 14
RPL (K): 217
DMH STALLARD pulled off a
coup last September when it
announced the arrival of former
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
finance chief Perry Noble.
The former magic circle partner
is now helping spearhead the
firms efforts in London, where
corporate and finance account for
30 per cent of revenue. Those
efforts include DMH marketing
itself as an alternative to the more
established City firms. And the
strategy appears to be paying off.
The firm has successfully
attracted work from an
impressive roster of big-name
clients, such as EDF Energy,
Tesco, RBS and Taylor Wimpey
a strong calling card as it
looks to increase its share of
FTSE250 clients.
Despite these positive moves,
in 2009-10 the firm saw its
revenue fall by 10 per cent to
20.7m. However, a high volume
of work-in-progress relating to
contentious matters, which
makes up a quarter of overall
turnover, means this figure
excludes a large number of
ongoing matters.
Net profit and average profit
per equity partner held steady at
3m and 185,000 respectively.
99 m
Martineau
Turnover (M): 20.5
Average PEP (K): 185
Equity spread (K): 135-300
Profit margin (%): 18
RPL (K): 164
TURNOVER fell by 3 per cent
at Martineau during 2009-10,
from 21.2m to 20.5m, largely
as a result of a reduction in M&A
and banking work.
The firm suffered a setback
given that banking is one of the
strategic sectors it has identified
for growth. However, education
(where Martineau acts for the
Universities of Birmingham and
Warwick), energy (npower and
the National Grid) and
investment funds compensated.
The firm has a two-tier
partnership with fixed-share
and full equity partners and
operates a meritocratic
remuneration system introduced
around three years ago.
Martineau made a small
number of redundancies over
the past financial year, but also
continued to hire into its
insolvency and family teams.
100 m
Thring
Townsend
Lee &
Pembertons
Turnover (M): 21.8
Average PEP (K): 91
Equity spread (K): 82-91
Profit margin (%): 7
RPL (K): 160
THRING Townsend Lee &
Pembertons saw its revenue
drop by 1.8 per cent in 2009-10,
from 22.2m to 21.8m.
That drop was set in the
context of a growth in total
lawyer numbers, however, from
124 to 136.
Total partner numbers stayed
static at 58.
The increase in the firms
lawyer base has had an impact
on revenue per lawyer (RPL),
which dropped from 179,000 to
160,000.
The firms average profit
per equity partner also shrank,
from 112,000 to 91,000.
Despite five equity partners
leaving during the year the
firms lockstep is still top-heavy,
with the equity spread just
82,000-91,000 last year
as opposed to 2008-09s
104,000-182,000.
=95 m
70|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_070_a ug_uk200_wr 51t o100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 16: 37 Pa ge 70
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TLS_072_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 11: 58 Pa ge 1
101-200
Geldards
Turnover (M): 20.5
RPL (K): 190
ONE OF Geldards best-known
work focuses is public sector,
a fact underlined by its
groundbreaking joint venture
with Kent County Councils
legal department. This was not
enough to stop the firm posting
a drop in revenue to 20.5m,
sufficient to see it tumble out of
the top 100.
The dearth of property work
hit that group, which at 25 per
cent is one of the firms largest
practice areas; although
employment, litigation and
latterly corporate helped take
up the slack.
The property group itself is
gradually shifting its emphasis
from being a development-led
practice to one focused on
management and investment,
anchored by clients such as
Boots, Pizza Hut and Mountain
Warehouse. Strategically the
firm has recently been targeting
growth in Nottingham with hires
from Berryman and Eversheds.
Veale
Wasbrough
Turnover (M): 20.5
RPL (K): 161
VEALE Wasbrough grossed
18.05m in 2009-10, but its
November 2009 merger with
Vizards Tweedie will eventually
bring 4.5m of billings to the
Bristol firm. The extra 2.5m in
revenue is Vizards billings from
16 November 2009 to the year-
end, making a total of 20.5m.
However, the Bristol ends
revenue dipped by 1m, mostly
through a diminution in real
estate billings, which stood at
5.1m at the year-end. Litigation
turned over 2.9m and
corporate 2.3m.
The firm is aiming for
considerable growth this year
and is targeting 25m.
The Vizards deal gave Veale
a credible London base and
a substantial private client
business, enhancing the existing
3m education and charities
practice: the firm acts for more
than 800 private schools, a third
of which are inside the M25.
Net profit was 5.1m and
equity is held by 15 out of 45
partners (up from 31 total
partners in 2008-09).
Around three Vizards partners
transferred into the equity
following the merger. The firm
operates a five-year lockstep
with the spread ranging from
100,000 to 305,000. The vast
majority of the partners are at
plateau level, bringing the
average profit per equity partner
to 304,000.
MacRoberts
Turnover (M): 20.4
RPL (K): 255
SCOTTISHfirm MacRoberts,
which operates from offices in
Edinburgh and Glasgow, had
a reasonably strong year in
2009-10, posting an estimated
turnover of 20.4m and an
average profit per equity partner
figure just north of 200,000.
The 40-partner firm maintains
its traditional focus on real estate
and construction, handling both
contentious and non-contentious
issues. It also has significant
pensions, tax and employment
practices.
During the financial year,
MacRoberts signed up for new
office space in Glasgow, moving
from its city centre location to
Atlantic Quay in June 2010.
Foot Anstey
Turnover (M): 20.3
RPL (K): 129
SOUTH West firm Foot Anstey
posted double-digit growth in
both net profit and average profit
per equity partner (PEP) on the
back of just a 1 per cent rise in
revenue, from 20.09m to
20.3m. Net profit for the
2009-10 financial year jumped
by 11 per cent, from 4.4m to
4.9m, while PEP shot up by
23.8 per cent, from 151,000 to
187,000. The equity spread was
153,000-218,000.
This growth in the PEP was
delivered in spite of an increase
in the number of equity partners
from 15 to 17. Foot Ansteys
litigation department, which has
a particular focus on media
work, had the strongest year,
with revenue jumping by
5 per cent. Key clients include
Which?, Associated Press,
Hitachi Capital and Halfords.
Stewarts Law
Turnover (M): 20
RPL (K): 345
IT WAS another successful year
for litigation boutique Stewarts
Law. Turnover rose by just
under 30 per cent, from
15.43m in 2008-09 to
20.05m in 2009-10.
Despite some significant
investment into the firm,
including the launch of an
antitrust arm in Leeds, the
firms average profit per
equity partner crept upwards
from its already stratospheric
769,000 to 797,000.
Stewarts expanded its
total number of lawyers from
40 to 58 and the partnership
from 19 to 25. The equity
partnership, however, remained
static at nine.
The top of the equity moved
downwards, from 963,000 to
903,000, while entry-level
partners received a slightly
improved remuneration at
674,000, up from 651,000.
Wedlake Bell
Turnover (M): 19.8
RPL (K): 244
CITY firm Wedlake Bell has
traditionally been known for its
property practice. This helps
explain why turnover has fallen
by 12 per cent since the property
market slumped back in 2008.
After a poor showing last year
the firm recovered some ground
in 2009-10. Off a flat turnover of
19.8m it posted a staggering
120 per cent hike in average
profit per equity partner to
220,000 and an 89 per cent
rise in net profit to 3.4m.
Cost-cutting measures, such as
making 18 staff redundant and
reducing the equity partnership
from 17 to 14, helped.
Property, which contributed
5.7m in revenue, remains
integral, while private client at
20 per cent is another strong
area.
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Anderson
Strathern
Turnover (M): 19.7
RPL (K): 164
EDINBURGH-
headquartered
Anderson
Strathern saw
revenue slide by
5 per cent, from
20.8m the
previous year to
19.7m in 2009-10.
In 2007-08 the firms revenue
had hit a high of 21.5m.
The Scottish firm suffered as a
result of its ongoing exposure to
the property market, where a
third of its practice is weighted.
But during the past financial
year it looked to diversify its
practice mix, strengthening its
private client department with
the hire of Tods Murray partners
John Biggar and John Fulton.
Anderson Strathern also
launched an advocacy unit led
by newly promoted partner
Chris Dickson and elected a
new managing partner, disputes
lawyer Andy Lothian, who
replaced Robin Stimpson. The
firm also launched an office in
Aberdeen.
Winckworth
Sherwood
Turnover (M): 19.3
RPL (K): 227
WINCKWORTHSherwoods
turnover fell by 6.8 per cent to
19.3m for the 2009-10 financial
year. This is a shallower drop
than might be expected from a
firm with such a large property
practice, but Winckworth
Sherwood distinguishes itself by
splitting property work 50-50
between social housing and real
estate.
Other strong areas for the firm
include the ecclesiastical and
parliamentary practices, which
represent the Archbishop of
Canterbury and Crossrail
respectively.
Winckworth Sherwood
doubled its employment practice
in June with a team from
Dawsons and is in the process
of building its family and
commercial teams.
The firm moved
to new offices at London Bridge
a little over a year ago after
more than 200 years in
Westminster.
Cripps
Harries Hall
Turnover (M): 19.2
RPL (K): 204
PRUDENT management has
meant that, unlike some of its
South East rivals, Tunbridge
Wells-headquartered Cripps
Harries Hall has avoided making
redundancies over the past two
years.
Turnover held steady at 19.2m
in 2009-10, but total profit
increased by 10.8 per cent to
5.1m. Private client remains
Cripps biggest earner, accounting
for between 35 and 40 per cent of
turnover, while property and
litigation also performed well.
The firms average number of
debtor days is 67.
Surprisingly for a firm of
its size (it has 95 lawyers across
offices in Tunbridge Wells
and London), the firm
has two full-time credit
controllers tasked with
chasing up bills.
In recent years the firms
remuneration system has
evolved into a modified
lockstep running from 50 to
125 points, with progression
based on annual performance
reviews and a partnership
committee.
Michelmores
Turnover (M): 18.8
RPL (K): 172
FOR A firmthat gave itself the
ambitious target as recently as
2008 of trebling turnover in
five years, Michelmores flat
2009-10 looks like a setback.
But with its emphasis on
M&A and construction,
posting flat figures in last
years economic climate can
be seen as a success.
Since 2006-07 revenue has
increased by almost 40 per
cent, from 13.5m to its current
18.8m. The firm is still
targeting a 50m turnover
by 2013.
Consequently, Michelmores is
still in expansion mode, adding
four partners to bring its total to
41. Of those, 13 are equity
partners, although managing
partner Malcolm Dickinson says
the ratio of equity to salaried
partners is likely to narrow in the
coming years.
Watson Burton
Turnover (M): 18.5
RPL (K): 257
NEWCASTLE-based Watson
Burton appears to have
overstretched itself in recent
years. Six years ago the firm
began looking beyond its North
East roots, opening offices
in Leeds in 2004 and in the
iconic Gherkin tower in
London two years later.
Since 2006-07, however,
the firms turnover has fallen
from 22.7m to an estimated
18.5m in 2009-10.
Last year the
firms partner
numbers also
dropped, by
34 per cent,
to 29.
That number
is reflective of the
series of departures
Watson Burton has
seen since the beginning of the
year, including those of senior
partner Rob Langley, insolvency
head Andrew Cawkwell and
wealth management chief Keith
Hately.
The firm has replaced Langley
with former corporate head
Gillian Hall, who admits that the
past year has been difficult for
the firm. Hall has vowed to turn
things around, but on current
form that will not prove easy.
Birketts
Turnover (M): 17.8
RPL (K): 182
IPSWICH-headquartered
Birketts has grown enormously
since the appointment of former
Bank of Scotland regional
director Alistair Lang as chief
executive in 2001. In 2004-05
the firms turnover was 6.3m;
last year the figure was 17.8m, a
hike of 183 per cent. Profit is
healthy too at a margin of 28
per cent, or 5.1m.
Apart from one commercial
property partner who was let
go in 2008, the firm made
no fee-earner redundancies
during the downturn.
Senior partner Nigel Farthing
says partners should take
the hit.
Real estate remains Birketts
primary source of income,
accounting for 36 per cent
(6.4m) of revenue and
occupying 16 of its 41 partners.
The firm also has one of the
largest shipping teams outside
the City plus a rapidly growing
Cambridge office.
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Howes
Percival
Turnover (M): 17.8
RPL (K): 198
LIKE most firms Howes
Percival was hit by the dearth
of transactions recently, but
this was partially offset at the
Midlands firm by a rise in
contentious work. Litigation
now accounts for 9m of Howes
Percivals 17.8m turnover.
Employment is another growing
area, now contributing 11 per
cent of revenue.
In 2008-09 the firm made six
fee-earners redundant, but
avoided major cuts during the
2009-10 financial year. Instead
it made a number of key hires,
including new East Midlands
private client head Jane Cowley
from Harvey Ingram, part of a
plan to triple the size of the
offering by April 2011.
In March 2010 the firm
also launched its first office
in London with the capture
of insolvency specialist Nick
Oliver from Blake Lapthorn.
Finers
Stephens
Innocent
Turnover (M): 17.5
RPL (K): 269
WEST End firm Finers Stephens
Innocent is traditionally known
for its property practice. No
surprise then that revenue has
tumbled since the property
market crashed in 2008-09.
That year fee income fell by 23
per cent to 17m. It was a better
story last year, though, with the
firm posting a slight increase
to 17.5m, thanks in part to
an increase in litigation and
corporate. Family, employment
and private client also performed
well.
Finers headcount has reduced
by around 15 per cent since
2008-09, but in recent months
it has stepped up its recruitment
activity, adding Tim Bignell from
Druces and employment partner
Jane Amphlett from Addleshaw
Goddard to the partnership.
The firm is also receiving an
increasing amount of corporate
and private client instructions
through its association with
Meritas, the global alliance of
independent firms.
Fishburns
Turnover (M): 17.1
RPL (K): 231
AS AN insurance litigation firm
Fishburns is about as downturn-
resistant as a law firm gets.
The firms 2009-10 turnover is
testament to this, rising from
14.1m to 17.1m in what was
a banner year for the firm.
Fishburns attributes this result
to the growth of its core market,
which allowed it to take on more
staff during the year.
The 74-lawyer, 18-partner firm
is headquartered in London. In
2007 the firm opened an office in
Dublin, which last year produced
a turnover of 1.3m.
The firm is particularly strong
in professional indemnity
matters and is also known for
handling professional negligence
claims.
Biggart Baillie
Turnover (M): 17
RPL (K): 160
REVENUE dipped slightly at
Scottish firm Biggart Baillie
during the 2009-10 year, falling
from 17.5m to 17m. This
followed a 15 per cent fall from
20.6m the previous year.
The firm, best known for
retail property work, has
been adversely affected by the
difficulties in that sector. That
said, it won instructions such
as advising Hammerson on
the Scottish aspects of its
acquisition of the Silverburn
shopping centre in Glasgow.
Elsewhere the firm was hit
by the loss of three partners,
including corporate head David
Allan, to Brodies during the year.
The firm operates a modified
lockstep in which partners
receive 95 per cent of their
remuneration from a seven-year
lockstep. The remainder comes
from a bonus pool.
Harbottle
& Lewis
Turnover (M): 16.8
RPL (K): 233
DESPITE the continuing
softness in some of its
transactional areas, media and
entertainment-focused Harbottle
& Lewis had a solid 2009-10.
Turnover was all but flat at
16.8m, while average profit
per equity partner stood at
261,000. Litigation contributed
32 per cent of total revenue,
while the privacy team handled
high-profile work for clients
such as the Queen and Kate
Middleton.
Harbottle is continuing its
drive, launched two years ago,
with the appointment of chief
operating officer Derek
Godfrey, formerly of
PricewaterhouseCoopers and
Eversheds, to improve billings
and collections. In 2008-09
total lockup was 263 days at the
year-end. Last year that high
number dropped to 198 days,
which is still some way off the
firms aggressive 110-day target,
but is nevertheless heading in
the right direction.
Shakespeare
Putsman
Turnover (M): 16.6
RPL (K): 224
SHAKESPEARE Putsmans
decrease in revenue this year
was due to a dramatic fall-off
in commercial property work,
which dipped from 6m to
3.8m. That saw a concomitant
reduction in fee-earners in that
department, from 60 to 34,
although the partner cohort
remained steady at nine in that
group.
The best-performing
department by revenue was
financial services litigation,
which brought in 4.9m.
The reduction in turnover had
an impact on the firms margin,
which dropped to 16.8 per cent.
Average profit per equity partner
stood at 187,000, with the
equity spread 145,000-
240,000.
The firms merger with
Needham & James, which
will take effect in the coming
financial year, will deliver a 4m
property business plus some
1.9m in private client work,
adding to Shakespeare
Putsmans existing 800,000
turnover in that area.
It was followed in
August 2010 by
a merger with
Nottingham-
based Berryman,
a deal that will
take the larger
firms turnover
to around 30m
this year.
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Edwin Coe
Turnover (M): 16.4
RPL (K): 342
LITIGATION and insolvency
specialist Edwin Coe had a
strong year, increasing turnover
by 19 per cent to 16.4m and
posting a net profit of 5.4m.
The firms average profit per
equity partner (PEP) also shot
up to 487,000.
The results follow a
disappointing 2008-09 in which
PEP fell by 20 per cent after
Edwin Coe expanded rapidly,
taking on five partners and new
office space.
Not that the firm stood still last
year, with Edwin Coe scooping
telecoms partner Ted Mercer
from Taylor Wessing in April
2010. There are indications that
further big-name hires are in the
pipeline.
Withy King
Turnover (M): 15.9
RPL (K): 177
WITHY King posted a turnover
of 15.9m for 2009-10, up by
28.2 per cent on the previous
years 12.4m. Net profit was
4.5m, with average profit per
equity partner 158,000.
Managing partner Graham
Street attributes the increase to
the strong performance of the
private client, personal injury
and clinical negligence practices.
The commercial side of the
firm held up quite well, although
commercial property was a
natural casualty of the recession,
dropping by around 15 per cent.
The 50-partner firm has
satellite offices in Marlborough
and Abingdon, but its main
offices are in Bath (its
headquarters), Swindon and
Oxford. The latter is where
the firm is investing most these
days in a bid to increase its
commercial capability there.
Langleys
Turnover (M): 15.7
RPL (K): 204
LINCOLN-headquartered
Langleys saw turnover jump
from 14.4m in 2008-09 to
15.7m in 2009-10. This is back
to a similar level of turnover the
firm experienced in the financial
year 2007-08, when it achieved
15.6m in gross fees.
Since 2007-08, however, the
total number of staff has shrunk
from 320 to 295.
Langleys is unusual for a firm
of its size because of the mix of
company commercial, insurance
and private high street work it
undertakes. Founded in Lincoln
in 1890, the firm was largely a
traditional high street practice
until the mid-1980s, when it
developed a niche market in
defendant insurance claims
work.
In addition, the firm has clients
in the commercial hubs of both
Leeds and Nottingham and their
surrounding regions.
Morton Fraser
Turnover (M): 15.4
RPL (K): 143
MORTON Frasers turnover
dropped by 4 per cent, from
16.1m to 15.4m, during the
2009-10 financial year.
Around a
third of the
Scottish firms
business is private
client, while litigation,
which includes family
and employment,
generates the greatest share
of turnover. Last year 45 per
cent of revenue, or 6.93m,
came from disputes.
The firm made a number of
investments during the year,
most significantly taking on new
premises in Edinburgh. It signed
a 15-year lease on 36,000sq ft
in Edinburghs Quartermile
development, taking up
residence in October 2009.
Morton Fraser also made a
number of lateral hires, taking
on Glasgow employment partner
Lindsey Cartwright from Maclay
Murray & Spens and hiring
Brodies corporate partner Iain
Young as a consultant.
Stevens &
Bolton
Turnover (M): 15.2
RPL (K): 177
GUILDFORD-based Stevens &
Bolton says its 2009-10 revenue
would have been significantly
higher had billings from a
major fraud matter that featured
a 100 per cent uplift come
through. Instead the fees
were booked at the start of the
current year, getting 2010-11 off
to a flyer.
That said, the firms 15.2m
revenue was only marginally
down on 2008-09s 15.7m.
The firms move to new offices
this year does not appear to
have significantly dented the
average profit per equity partner
figure, which stood at 275,000.
The well-hedged firm, which
features 21 per cent property, 24
per cent corporate and 26 per
cent litigation, is also extremely
tightly run financially. The
lockup target at the firm is just
110 days, but at the year-end
total lockup stood at 93 days.
Harper
Macleod
Turnover (M): 15.1
RPL (K): 157
TURNOVER at Scotlands
Harper Macleod rose by 7 per
cent in 2009-10, from 14.1m
to 15.1m. This was largely the
result of the firms push into
growing areas such as insurance,
insurance litigation and debt
recovery.
The firm made two
significant lateral hires during
the year, taking on Wright
Johnston & Mackenzie partner
David Bone to build a renewable
energy practice and adding
McClure Naismith partner
Derek Hogg to its public sector
practice.
Harper Macleods equity
spread was 90,000-410,000
last year.
The firm operates a
merit-based remuneration
system, with partners placed on
a spread of 70,000-160,000
at the beginning of the year,
gaining up to 11 points over
the year to increase their profit
shares. To date the maximum
number of points awarded is 10.
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Bates Wells
& Braithwaite
Turnover (M): 15
RPL (K): 203
BATES Wells & Braithwaite
is best known as a provider
of commercial law advice to
charities and not-for-profits,
along with a range of other
related clients.
The 27-partner firm (13 of
whom are equity) has around
320 charity clients more than
any other firm in the UK. The
firm is also known for its focus
on social enterprises, or halfway
houses between charities and
companies. Bates Wells sharp
focus has seen its turnover grow
year-on-year from just over 8m
in 2004-05 to 15m in 2009-10.
Greenwoods
Turnover (M): 15
RPL (K): 211
BOUTIQUE insurance practice
Greenwoods has seen significant
growth over the past five years.
In 2004-05 it was a 6.5m,
11-partner firm in a single
London office. By the close of
the 2009-10 financial year the
firm, which provides legal
services solely to insurers, self-
insuring bodies and others
involved in claims resolution,
including a significant defendant
personal injury team, had
opened offices in Milton Keynes,
Bristol and Manchester, plus a
second in the capital.
Revenue has
grown in line
with geography,
up by 145 per
cent over the period to
15.9m last year, while
partner numbers swelled
to 21. Among the more recent
arrivals was liability specialist
Philip Tracey in 2009 from
Beachcroft.
Taylor Vinters
Turnover (M): 15
RPL (K): 224
EARLIER this year,
Cambridge-based Taylor Vinters
opened its first office in London.
The City base, the success of
which looks key to the firms
ambitions over the coming years,
has already added partners in
employment and commercial
since opening in May. Taylor
Vinters is also looking to recruit
partners in corporate and private
client.
The firm made 14 staff
redundant in 2008-09,
but there were no cuts in
the past financial year.
Instead the firm scaled back
recruitment activity at its
Cambridge headquarters and
introduced a credit management
system to drive down debtor
days.
The firms financial figures
remained fairly static on
2008-09s, with turnover
dropping by 1.3 per cent to
15m and net profit falling
slightly, from 2.7m to 2.6m.
The firm is targeting revenue
growth of 1m over the next
year and also plans to expand
its client base in Singapore,
forming an alliance in July
with local firm Keystone Law
Corporation.
Closer to home, while
corporate revenue dropped
from 31 per cent to 27 per cent
of fee income, property and
litigation held up well,
contributing 3.6m and
4.2m of income respectively.
Tods Murray
Turnover (M): 14.8
RPL (K): 172
SCOTLANDS Tods Murray fell
out of the UKs top 100 firms by
turnover in the 2007-08 financial
year and last year saw no bounce
back. Total fee income for 2009-
10 stood at 14.8m, 37 per cent
down from its 2005-06 high of
23.4m. The firm was hit over
the past couple of years by its
large exposure to the property
and finance markets. Property is
the largest practice followed by
finance, corporate and litigation.
Tods Murray has offices in
Edinburgh and Glasgow and
operates a modified lockstep that
runs over five years. In the past
financial year average profit per
equity partner fell below the
100,000 mark.
Lester
Aldridge
Turnover (M): 14.3
RPL (K): 177
BOURNEMOUTH-based Lester
Aldridge has seen its turnover
decline steadily since 2006-07,
dropping by 15.8 per cent to
14.3m. In the 2009-10 financial
year alone it fell by 2.3m. The
firm did, however, post an
increase in profit, from 2.58m
to 4.05m last year, while
average profit per equity partner
rose by 9.6 per cent to 148,000.
Lester Aldridge, which also
has offices in London and
Southampton, has seen a
steady rise in litigation work,
particularly banking and property
matters. Litigation is now the
firms biggest earner, accounting
for 32 per cent of revenue.
In recent years the firm has
increasingly advised banks on
distressed property matters, while
private client remain a key area.
Its work with high-net-worth
individuals accounted for 31 per
cent of turnover in 2009-10.
Wilkin
Chapman
Turnover (M): 14.1
RPL (K): 227
WILKIN Chapman had a
strong 2009-10, with turnover
increasing from 12m to 14.1m.
The number of qualified lawyers
stands at 62, eight more than
two years ago. Revenue per
lawyer is good at 227,000,
but this is skewed by the
large number of non-lawyer
fee-earners at 54.
Next years figures will be
augmented by the bolt-on
of Grimsby-based Grange
Wintringham, giving it 12 offices
and an increase in total staff
from 287 to 351. Litigation,
including personal injury and
employment, was the single
biggest fee generator at 5.2m
and provided a healthy revenue
per partner of 433,000.
Boyes Turner
Turnover (M): 14
RPL (K): 214
THAMES Valley firm Boyes
Turners turnover has grown
steadily over the past three years.
In 2007-08 and 2008-09 the
firm recorded a total revenue of
12.7m and 13.4m respectively.
This year it was up to 14m, with
a net profit of 3.5m and a
margin of 25 per cent.
Boyes Turner is largely
dependent on corporate work
for the bulk of its revenue, with
the department containing
12 of the firms 25 partners.
Litigation and property also
provide sizeable chunks of
the firms earnings. But it is
the firms industrial disease
group, focusing on high-end
personal injury work such as
asbestos litigation, that stands
out.
Boyes Turners biggest clients
include Porsche, Guardian Media
Group and LG Electronics.
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Harvey Ingram
Turnover (M): 14
RPL (K): 165
HARVEY Ingramacts for
individuals, both private
clients and the owners of
owner-managed businesses
or medium-sized enterprises.
The firm originated in Leicester,
but over the past decade has
expanded to Milton Keynes and
Birmingham. It has two offices in
the latter.
Although the 2007-08 financial
year was tough on the 30-partner
firm, it has more recently cut
costs and kept its eye open for
opportunities, even hiring a
property partner in the middle
of the slump.
And although at 14m
turnover is still lower than it has
been previously (it was 14.6m
in 2008-09 and 15.2m the year
before), managing partner Simon
Astill maintains that profitability
has recovered at 3.4m, as has
the average profit per equity
partner at 141,000.
McClure
Naismith
Turnover (M): 13.9
RPL (K): 162
MCCLURE Naismiths heavy
exposure to transactional
markets saw turnover drop by
11 per cent to 13.9m last year.
The Scottish firm, which made
11 redundancies in the 2008-09
financial year, continued to
control costs in 2009-10. It asked
all staff to take unpaid leave,
with 99 per cent signing up and
taking a minimum of eight days.
The scheme is continuing in
the current year, with staff taking
a minimum of five days, for
which they will be rewarded with
a bonus if the firm meets its
targets.
Last year the bulk of McClures
revenue was generated from
Edinburgh and Glasgow, with
17 per cent coming from its
five-partner London base.
Litigation was McClures
largest revenue generator at 30
per cent, followed by corporate
and property.
Thomson Snell
& Passmore
Turnover (M): 13.9
RPL (K): 204
AT 13.9m, Thomson Snell &
Passmores turnover was up by
2.2 per cent on the 2008-09
financial years, which runs from
5 June). The Tunbridge Wells-
headquartered firm makes the
bulk of its income, 40 per cent,
through commercial work, with
private client, particularly court
protection cases, contributing a
sizeable 29 per cent.
The 36-partner (18 equity) firm
opened an office in the Thames
Gateway two years ago to get
closer to corporate clients, but its
Tunbridge Wells base continues
to serve it well. One of the firms
largest recent deals was acting
for Cath Kidston on the
designers 106m leveraged
buyout.
Rosenblatt
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 13.8
RPL (K): 373
UNDER the ever-watchful eye of
senior partner Ian Rosenblatt,
the eponymous firm made
steady progress last year,
increasing revenue and
broadening its focus to
boot.
Revenue increased to 13.8m
during 2009-10, up from 13.5m
last year but still down on 2007-
08s 15m. Rosenblatt himself,
unsurprisingly, puts the success
down to good management, but
some chunky pieces of work have
also helped. While its traditional
corporate strong suit showed
only steady progress, the firms
litigation arm helped take up
the slack. A three-partner team
bagged more than its fair share
of business over the year,
including acting for Tullett
Prebon on its High Court
victory over BGC Partners.
Hewitsons
Turnover (M): 13.7
RPL (K): 167
CAMBRIDGE-headquartered
Hewitsons posted a turnover
of 13.7m in 2009-10, down
by 13.3 per cent on 2008-09s
15.8m and 26 per cent on
2007-08s 18.6m. As well as
revenue, the firm has also shed
staff, down to 215 from 260 in
2008-09.
Hewitsons concentrates on
three main areas: corporate,
property and private client, the
latter providing the bulk of the
firms revenue last year at around
35 per cent of turnover. The
40-partner (21 equity) firms
more traditional drivers of
work, corporate and property,
accounted for 28 and 26 per
cent respectively.
In August the firm, which also
has offices in Northampton and
Milton Keynes, bulked up its
employment team with partner
Clare Waller from HRJ Law.
Collyer
Bristow
Turnover (M): 13.6
RPL (K): 302
COLLYER Bristows turnover
remained static in 2009-10 at
13.6m, a figure still short of
its 2007-08 high of 14.7m.
The firm has traditionally been
strong in property, an area it saw
return last year thanks to a raft
of instructions relating to the
higher end of the London
market. Last year it accounted
for 2m of the firms turnover.
Private client also held up well,
while litigation, at 35 per cent of
fee income, remains another key
practice. Growth in media, IP,
defamation and reputation
management are now the firms
biggest priorities. Cue the hire
of media and IP partner Kate
Macmillan from Gallant
Macmillan. Her arrival took the
number of partners at the firm
to 32, the highest in its history.
Matthew
Arnold &
Baldwin
Turnover (M): 13.6
RPL (K): 219
MATTHEW Arnold & Baldwins
(MAB) work for financial
institutions such as Barclays
and Woolwich continues to be
the mainstay of the litigation
practice. The group turned over
6.8m, or 50 per cent, of MABs
total revenue of 13.6m
although that figure was down
from the previous years total
of 14.2m.
Litigation posted the highest
revenue per partner at 618,000
compared with a firmwide
average of 486,000.
Strategically MABs biggest
decision in the past 18 months
has been to manage an exit from
property portfolio work.
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Anthony
Collins
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 13
RPL (K): 138
TURNOVER at Birmingham-
based Anthony Collins Solicitors
has grown steadily over the past
three years. In 2007-08 and
2008-09 the firm recorded total
revenues of 11.6m and 11.9m
respectively. But last year revenue
shot up to 13m.
Anthony Collins is largely
dependent on corporate work for
the bulk of its revenue, with the
department bringing in 48 per
cent of the total annual income.
Litigation and property also
provide a sizeable chunk of
the firms earnings. The lockup
target at the end of the 2009-10
financial year was 160, while
average work-in-progress at the
year-end was 92.5 days with 59.8
debtor days.
IBB Solicitors
Turnover (M): 12.9
RPL (K): 210
WEST London firm IBB
Solicitors saw its revenue dip by
3 per cent, from 13.3m to
12.9m, during 2009-10. Net
profit was 4.2m, while average
profit per equity partner stood at
182,000. Partners at the top
and bottom of equity pocketed
226,000 and 89,000
respectively.
Real estate is IBBs largest
practice area,
accounting for 27 per cent
of turnover.
IBB converted into a legal
disciplinary partnership as of
1 June 2010 and promoted its
marketing and business
development director Abby
Winkworth and its operations
director Joanna DeBiase to the
partnership.
Key clients of the firm include
insurer Aviva, toymaker Hasbro
and the Legal Services
Commission.
Memery
Crystal
Turnover (M): 12.5
RPL (K): 291
THE RECESSION hit Memery
Crystal hard in 2008-09, with
revenue falling by 15.4 per cent
and a redundancy programme
seeing 16 staff lose their jobs.
But 2009-10 saw a steadying
of the ship for the West End firm.
Turnover stayed flat at 12.5m
on the back of its employment
and IP practices. The firms
traditionally strong corporate
team also had a relatively good
year compared with 2008-09.
The 20-partner firm has always
been one of the leading lights for
AIM work and continued to be
one of the best performers on the
junior market.
Lupton
Fawcett
Turnover (M): 12.1
RPL (K): 175
EARLIER this year Richard
Marshall, managing director at
ambitious Leeds-based outfit
Lupton Fawcett, said he
planned to double the firms
turnover within the next few
years.
The figures for 2009-10 show
that it is moving in the right
direction. Turnover rose by 9 per
cent to 12.1m. The growth spurt
was also helped in 2008 when the
firm acquired 38 staff, including
10 partners, from Fox Hayes
shortly before that firm went into
administration, strengthening
Lupton Fawcetts capabilities in
corporate, litigation, personal
injury and sports law.
In May the firm once again
revealed its ambitious side when
it launched a sports agency in a
joint venture with former
Arsenal and Republic of Ireland
footballer Frank Stapleton.
Wilsons
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 12
RPL (K): 185
TURNOVER dropped at
Wiltshire-based Wilsons
Solicitors for the third consecutive
year. It posted a turnover of 12m
in 2009-10, down from 12.2m
the year before and some way off
the heights of 2007-08s 13.4m.
Net profit last year was 3.3m,
average profit per equity partner
151,000 and the equity spread
97,000-172,000. The firm
operates a modified lockstep with
eight steps.
Wilsons increased staff
numbers slightly last year and
took on two planning lawyers as
well as a rural property solicitor
to join its 18-strong property
team. It maintains a strong
position in the charities sector,
particularly its legacy team. The
private client and agricultural
practices were also major
contributors to turnover
last year.
Wright Hassall
Turnover (M): 11.9
RPL (K): 170
LEAMINGTON Spa firm Wright
Hassall has benefited from the
continued expansion away from
its traditional strengths to post a
6 per cent rise in turnover for the
second year running, bringing in
11.9m last year.
The firm now has a balanced
practice, with its corporate group
rivalling property and litigation
as a revenue generator.
Managing partner Richard
Lane says he would expect to
see the firms 2010 figures
(Wright Hassalls year-end is
31 December) show more
improvement after taking on a
four-strong debt recovery team
from Shoosmiths earlier this year.
A move to increase conditional
fee work saw the firms lockup
fall behind its target of 134 days,
although that target is likely to
be revised.
ASB Law
Turnover (M): 11.8
RPL (K): 183
AFTER downsizing from five to
two offices over the past two
years and seeing staff numbers
cut in the process, a dip in
revenue at ASB Law might
have been expected.
But the South East firm saw its
2009-10 turnover nosedive by
nearly 20 per cent to 11.8m.
However, with the firm having
braced itself for the downturn,
that figure exceeded budget.
Three-quarters of revenue is still
derived from property, although
ASB has more or less abandoned
its residential conveyancing
arm, with turnover falling from
2.5m to 500,000 in two years.
Instead it has begun focusing on
several sectors such as aviation,
travel and charity. As a result it
has had some impressive new
client wins, including easyJet
and travel agent TUI Travel.
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Nelsons
Turnover (M): 11.8
RPL (K): 174
HAVING absorbed the costs
of two rounds of redundancies
during 2008-09, the past year
was one of consolidation for
Nelsons. Total revenue fell to
11.8m from 12.1m the year
before and 13.5m in 2007-08.
The broad-based East
Midlands firm continued to
perform well in personal injury
and litigation, while its property
and corporate departments
showed only marginal
improvement on a difficult
2008-09. Nelsons incorporated
into a limited company in June,
with its partners becoming
shareholders. Short-term
profitability, which would
otherwise have held up well,
was hit by the decision to take
on leasehold costs incurred by
its surplus property in one chunk
rather than spread it over three
years.
Dawsons
Turnover (M): 11.7
RPL (K): 272
IT WAS a mixed year for
Dawsons, which saw
turbulence and departures in
its employment department
probably its best-known practice
area but which celebrated an
increase in turnover, from
10.8m to 11.7m. Much of that
increase was due to a resurgence
in corporate work to 2.3m,
representing a revenue per
partner (RPP) of 585,000.
Litigation accounted for 2.9m
and displayed the highest RPP
of 725,000. The firm says that
more rigorous provision for bad
debts was behind its average
profit per equity partner drop,
from 200,000 to 175,000.
The equity spread
ranged from
150,000 to
210,000.
Lindsays
Turnover (M): 11.6
RPL (K): 163
TURNOVER nudged up by 2 per
cent at Edinburgh firm Lindsays
last year, from 11.4m to 11.6m.
The firm has a private client bias,
but also focuses on employment
and charities. Since its 2007
merger with Borders firm
Turnbull Simson & Sturrock,
Lindsays has also become
known for agricultural and
rural matters.
During the year Lindsays
offloaded its investment
management division, which
had around 250 clients and
70m in assets under
management, to private bank
Brown Shipley. Investment
managers Paul Embleton and
Gail Craig moved across as part
of the deal, which was struck in
order to allow Lindsays to focus
on providing legal services.
More recently Lindsays hired
Brodies corporate partner Jamie
Millar, who has since become
president of the Law Society of
Scotland.
Ford & Warren
Turnover (M): 11.3
RPL (K): 323
FORD & WARREN is known
for advising public sector clients,
with a specific focus on the health
and education sectors, as well as
having a focus on transport and
insurance-related businesses.
Following a period of a couple
of years when revenue growth
stalled somewhat, turnover for
the Leeds-based firm grew to
11.3m during 2009-10.
The firm has an international
focus via its membership of the
Primerus network, plus it
maintains a relationship with
Chinese firm
Zhonglun W&D, which has
several offices in China, including
Beijing and Shanghai, as well as
an office in London. Domestically
Ford & Warren is also known for
employment, private client and
property matters.
Coffin Mew
Turnover (M): 11.1
RPL (K): 128
SOUTH Coast firm Coffin Mew is
aiming at doubling turnover over
the next two years. Last years
performance bodes well for that
ambition. The firm posted an
increased profit, with an average
profit per equity partner of
109,000 seeing it bounce back
from the previous year, and a
revenue of 11.1m that was flat
only because of an 11-month fiscal
year (it changed its year-end to
31 March to postpone paying the
new 50 per cent tax rate).
The social housing and
litigation-dominated firm is
ditching its modified lockstep
this year in favour of an entirely
merit-based remuneration
system. Other practice areas
include corporate, private client
and clinical negligence.
Semple Fraser
Turnover (M): 11.1
RPL (K) 159,000
SCOTTISH firmSemple
Fraser saw turnover
continue to slide in
2009-10, with its
large exposure to
the property
market proving
a revenue
dampener.
In total the firm generated a
revenue of 11.1m, down by 11
per cent on the previous years
figure and by 28 per cent from
its 2007-08 high of 15.3m.
During the year the firm, which
was founded in Glasgow in 1990
and expanded into Edinburgh in
2002, also grew south of the
border. It opened in Manchester
in October 2009 with an office
headed by property partner
Ewan Thomson, who relocated
from Edinburgh.
The firm shelved plans, made
prior to the financial crisis, to
open a base in the City.
Real estate remains the largest
practice group, accounting for
62 per cent of turnover during
2009-10. Litigation and
corporate made up 11 and 10
per cent respectively.
TWM
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 11.1
RPL (K): 161
GUILDFORD-based TWM
Solicitors was a new entry into
the UK 200 in 2008-09, when
it posted a turnover of 12.5m.
Last year the firms gross fees
dropped by 12 per cent to
11.1m, with a still respectable
26 per cent profit margin of
2.9m and an average profit per
equity partner of 139,000.
The firm is dependent on
corporate work for the bulk of its
revenue, while family and private
client also provide a sizeable
chunk of earnings. This
year TWM, which
has seven offices
across the South
East, plans to
open its eighth
office, in Guildford.
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JMW Solicitors
Turnover (M): 11
RPL (K): 204
MANCHESTER firmJMW
Solicitors had a banner year in
2009-10. Turnover increased by
28 per cent to 11m, while profit
hit 2.7m. The corporate and
private client-driven firm, which
counts Marks & Spencer and
KPMG as clients, owes much of
this growth to its litigation
department. This was bolstered
in 2008 by the purchase of
one of the UKs largest claims
management companies, Wheels
At Once (trading as U Claim),
for 850,000.
In May 2010 JMW hired
Pannone senior partner Joy
Kingsley, the firms ninth equity
partner, and in June announced
that it would be opening an office
in London to cater for celebrity
clients such as Max Clifford.
Wiggin
Turnover (M): 10.8
RPL (K): 284
LONDON and Cheltenham-
based media boutique Wiggin,
which posted a revenue of
10.8m last year, has a client
roster most larger firms would
die for. It includes all
six of the major US film studios,
ITV, Channel 4, Manchester
United and EMI.
A low-cost base in Cheltenham
helps make Wiggin more
profitable than most regional
players, although its London
and international client base is
reflected in the fact that all of its
lawyers maintain offices in both
towns.
Wiggin moved from a 30
April to 31 March year-end in
2009-10, partly to delay paying
the new 50 per cent tax rate for
12 months.
Keeble
Hawson
Turnover (M): 10.7
RPL (K): 198
KEEBLE Hawson saw a dip
in turnover last year, from
11.1m to 10.7m, but its
commercial practice still held up
relatively well, accounting for 40
per cent of firmwide turnover, or
4.3m. Although staff numbers
were trimmed, there were no
drastic reductions. The fee-
earner figure of 91 is down by 14
from 2008-09, while the number
of qualified lawyers actually
increased, from 52 to 54, during
the same time period.
Three years ago the firm had a
primarily defendant insurance
practice, but panel consolidation
meant that it has reconfigured
itself as a claimant personal
injury and clinical negligence
firm across its three offices of
Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster
the latter now operating as a
launchpad for Lincolnshire and
the East Coast markets. Average
profit per equity partner stood
at 138,000.
Stephens
Scown
Turnover (M): 10.7
RPL (K): 141
SOUTHWest firm Stephens
Scown has had to scale back its
ambitions somewhat in recent
years. The firm is still rooted in a
commercial property sector that
has failed to bounce back over the
past two years, a fact reflected in
a revenue figure that has fallen
from 11.5m to 10.7m. The
2009-10 performance follows a
drop from a 2007-08 high of
12.5m, representing a two-year
decline of 14 per cent.
The firm has three offices in
Devon and Cornwall, housing
33 partners in an all-equity
partnership. Away from the
property practice, which brought
in a third of revenue in 2009-10,
turnover is driven by the firms
litigation and family law arms.
Brachers
Turnover (M): 10.6
RPL (K): 204
AT 39 PER cent of total revenue,
litigation was the largest area of
Maidstone-headquartered
Brachers. The disputes group
includes personal injury,
construction and the IT-driven
debt recovery department, which
managing partner John Sheath
says showed particular resilience
in the latter half of 2008-09.
Corporate and property
remained downbeat, although
public sector and agricultural
matters were bright spots.
Turnover dropped from 10.8m
to 10.6m, but fee income rose.
The 17 per cent profit margin
provided 1.8m to be split
between the 13 equity partners at
141,000 each.
Roythornes
Turnover (M): 10.6
RPL (K): 221
SPALDING-headquartered
firm Roythornes had a limited
exposure to the recession. The
agriculture-focused firms gross
fees were up by almost 3 per cent
on last year at 10.6m, while net
profit was a respectable 3.3m.
But the 25-partner firm does
have an active property
development practice that was
naturally hurt by the recession.
Roythornes combatted this by
cutting costs by around 1m, a
figure that included some
redundancies.
As well as capitalising on its
reputation in agriculture and
food production, the firm, which
also has offices in Nottingham,
Newmarket and Peterborough
(the latter via a merger in 2008),
has used its farming connections
to move into renewable energy
and international work.
Stanley Tee
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 10.6
RPL (K): 154
PRIVATE client and family
law work is at the heart of
Hertfordshire-headquartered
firm Stanley Tee Solicitors. And,
with the exception of residential
property, the firms practice
areas have held up pretty well
throughout the downturn.
Stanley Tee recorded a 6 per
cent rise in turnover to 10.6m
for the 2009-10 financial year.
The all-equity, 20-partner firm
also posted a profit of 3.4m,
with average profit per equity
partner at 168,000.
Stanley Tee has four offices,
the latest, in Cambridge, gained
via a merger in June 2008. Chief
executive Paul Stothard, formerly
of Shoosmiths, was hired in
March 2010 to look at
opportunities for growth.
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Barlow
Robbins
Turnover (M): 10.5
RPL (K): 150
GUILDFORD-based Barlow
Robbins turnover remained
static at 10.5m during 2009-10.
Last year the firm, which was
formed in 2004 by the merger of
two long-established South East
firms, Barlows and Robbins
Olivey, saw a significant
improvement in its profit.
The jump was partly the
result of better financial
management and a reduction
in headcount following a
redundancy programme in
2008-09.
Barlow Robbins has 15 equity
partners, of whom five are
female. The firm has 180 staff
spread across three offices in
Guildford, Woking and
Godalming.
Paris Smith
Turnover (M): 10.5
RPL (K): 150
ALTHOUGH revenue at Paris
Smith shrank from 12m to
10.5m in 2009-10, its profit
margin remained healthy at 29.5
per cent. Staff numbers were
trimmed from 175 to 165; there
was a reduction in qualified
lawyers over the year, from 80 to
70, and the number of support
staff dropped from 85 to 68.
However, the number of
non-qualified fee-earners
rose from 10 to 27. This eye
on headcount kept revenue
per lawyer steady at 150,000,
the same as 2008-09.
Property, which has
consistently represented a third
of the business, continued to be
the biggest single fee generator
at 34.8 per cent of revenue,
garnering 3.65m in billings, or
365,000 per partner although
the heavy property weighting of
the firm may have contributed to
the long lock-up time of 151 days.
Litigation, at only 1.58m, or 15
per cent, of turnover, was the
best department in terms of
revenue per partner at 527,000,
but that figure is skewed by a
higher number of non-qualified
fee-earners.
Sprecher Grier
Halberstam
Turnover (M): 10.5
RPL (K): 244
CITY firm Sprecher Grier
Halberstam continues to grow.
Revenue rose from 9.2m to
10.5m at the end of its 30
June 2010 financial year. The
full-service firms headcount also
grew, with the investment in
strategic lateral hires over recent
months aimed at filling floorspace
in the firms new Fenchurch
Street office, putting a dent into
net profit.
Last year, however, that was
back on track, with the firm
making a 3.8m profit, a 37 per
cent margin. Litigation was the
largest practice area, generating
36 per cent of turnover, followed
by property at 22.5 per cent.
Harrison
Clark
Turnover (M): 10.1
RPL (K): 149
IN JUNE 2009 Worcester-based
Harrison Clark extended its
reach into Cheltenham, merging
with a niche family law business.
The firm is now working on
expanding its range of offerings
there to include business
services and private client work.
Harrison Clark handles
corporate and
commercial matters,
commercial
litigation and
private client
work.
The firm posted a 10.1m
turnover for 2009-10, but
according to managing partner
Jonathan Brew, it is aiming to
boost that to 15m over the next
three to four years. Given that
the firms turnover was only
5.6m in 2005-06, this does not
look like a target beyond the
realms of possibility.
Chadwick
Lawrence
Turnover (M): 10
RPL (K): 133
WEST Yorkshire firm Chadwick
Lawrences revenue remained
flat for the 2009-10 financial
year at 10m, while the number
of fee-earners decreased slightly,
from 94 to 90.
The firm, which with five
offices is among the largest in
Yorkshire and Humberside,
spent much of 2009-10
refocusing the commercial side
of its business. After selling its
legal aid matrimonial business in
2008, the firms family team now
concentrates on high-net-worth
individuals. Chadwick Lawrence
says it aims to match the service
clients get from firms in regional
city centres, offering specialised
teams in insolvency, corporate
and property, but at a lower cost.
Flint Bishop
Turnover (M): 10
RPL (K): 217
MIDLANDS firmFlint Bishops
turnover dropped by 17 per
cent to 10m last year, broadly
in line with the 15 per cent drop
the firm predicted in March
2009.
Property, which accounts for
roughly a quarter of the firms
business, is responsible for some
of the damage. However, the firm
has no debt, allowing it to avoid
some of the turbulence felt by its
peers.
The firms resilience is helped
by its strength in litigation,
licensing and private client work,
which it hopes will yield rewards
when the economy finally enters
recovery.
Kester
Cunningham
John
Turnover (M): 9.9
RPL (K): 150
FOLLOWING a revenue spurt
in 2008-09, when turnover grew
from 10.7m to 11.5m, Kester
Cunningham Johns fee income
dropped in 2009-10 to its lowest
level in four years following a
fall-off in commercial and
property work.
There were some
redundancies: the number
of staff decreased from 185
to 160 last year, but the
partnership remained level
at 28 (13 equity).
The private client and personal
injury (PI) businesses accounted
for 61 per cent of the total at
6m. The biggest single practice
area outside PI and private client
was property, at 23 per cent of
turnover, or 2.3m. The margin
was 15 per cent, giving an
average profit per equity partner
of 119,000.
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=164 m
=164 h
163
=160 m
=160 m
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Keystone Law
Turnover (M): 9.8
RPL (K): 101
TURNOVER at Keystone Law,
which until 2008 was known as
Lawyers Direct, grew by 19.5 per
cent during 2009-10, from 8.2m
to 9.8m. The firm has increased
its fee-earning headcount from
70 to 97, which has meant a
reduction in revenue per lawyer,
from 117,000 to 101,000. Yet
with just two partners, revenue
per partner increased from
4.1m to 4.9m.
Keystone is best known for
its corporate practice, which
contributed 60 per cent of overall
turnover last year, or 5.88m.
Meanwhile, the firms property
practice contributed 15 per cent,
the equivalent of 1.47m.
Maxwell
Winward
Turnover (M): 9.8
RPL (K): 218
THREE years after the merger
between Maxwell Batley and
Winward Fearon, Maxwell
Winward has hit its first rocky
patch. The year to 31 March 2010
saw a 15 per cent drop in turnover
for the built environment
boutique, with the 9.8m
brought in marking the first time
it has dipped under the 10m
mark since the 2007 tie-up.
Much of the shortfall can be
accounted for by the continuing
struggles of the real estate
market. Turnover, which
accounts for a quarter of total
income, was down by around 30
per cent over the past 18 months.
The loss of a construction partner
also affected the bottom line at
the 20-partner firm. However,
net profit and average profit per
equity partner both stayed flat,
with the bottom line performance
boosted by the firms strong hand
in PFI and corporate work for
private clients.
Henmans
Turnover (M): 9.6
RPL (K): 155
SINGLE-site Oxford firm
Henmans is trying to shed
its old-fashioned image.
With more than half of
its equity partnership now
female, including managing
partner Julia Iball, the firm is
already more progressive than
most.
The past two years have also
seen the recruitment of its
first professional finance head,
Matthew Keegan, nabbed from
Allen & Overy.
One of Henmans enduring
anachronisms is its September
year-end. In 2008-09 the
firm posted a revenue of
9.5m, up from 9.2m in
2007-08. At press time, with
much of the final quarter
still to go, the firm expects
2009-10s figure to come in
at around 9.6m.
Professional and clinical
negligence are still the firms
core strengths, with clients
including Zurich, Capita
and Travelers, but property,
corporate and private client
are also growing.
Fenwick Elliott
Turnover (M): 9.5
RPL (K): 328
FENWICK ELLIOT is one of
the UKs largest construction law
specialists. The Lawyer estimates
its turnover to be 9.5m for
the 2009-10 financial year. The
14-partner firm, which is based
in Londons Aldwych, advises on
procurement strategies, contract
documentation, project advice,
dispute avoidance and dispute
resolution. Recently it has
been particularly focused on
international arbitration
with regards to oil and gas
and construction projects in
countries as far afield as Turkey,
Pakistan and Sudan.
Napthens
Turnover (M): 9.5
RPL (K): 170
NAPTHENS posted a turnover
of 9.5m in 2009-10, up from
8.5m in 2007-08. Net profit
was 3.1m and average profit
per equity partner 129,000,
with the equity spread
ranging from
127,000 to
30,000.
The year
has been
good for the
firm, which
has been
boosted by an
increase in litigation work
accounting for 41.5 per cent of
its revenue. The firms property
department has also had a stellar
year, bringing in 32.3 per cent of
total revenue.
days at year end was 70.
Ledingham
Chalmers
Turnover (M): 9.2
RPL (K): 137
REVENUE was all but flat at
Aberdeen-based Ledingham
Chalmers during 2009-10,
rising marginally from
9.1m the previous year to
9.2m.
The firm, which posted strong
growth between 2006-07 and
2007-08, continues to suffer
from the slowdown in
transactional markets.
Aberdeen remains the firms
key market, with the office
generating around 85 per cent
of turnover. The firm also has a
litigation team in Edinburgh and
an Inverness team focusing on
public sector work.
Private client accounts for
around 18 per cent of turnover,
down from a high of 25 per cent
in the 1990s.
The firm made two significant
lateral hires during the year,
taking on residential property
partner Mike
Cunningham from
Aberdeen firm Hutcheon Rattray
& Co and consultant Ron
Wadsworth, who had been a
partner at Stronachs.
Sintons
Turnover (M): 9.2
RPL (K): 174
THIS personal injury (PI)-driven
Newcastle firm may not have
achieved the spectacular growth
experienced by some of its North
East rivals, but while some of
those are struggling, Sintons
steadily posts revenue increases.
Turnover rose by 2.2 per cent to
9.2m in 2009-10 its third
consecutive year of growth.
Staff numbers dropped from
160 to 150, but the number of
fee-earners rose by 24 per cent,
from 86 to 107. Sintons raided
its rivals for two commercial
partners, bringing in James
Corcoran from Ward Hadaway
and Matt Collen from Muckle.
The firm also made hires in its
PI practice, which accounts for a
large part of its 5.5m disputes
income. The commercial team,
set up in 1998, accounts for 13
per cent of revenue, while private
client continues to provide a
steady stream of work.
=172 =
=167 h
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=170
=170
169 h
=167 m
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EAD Solicitors
Turnover (M): 9.1
RPL (K): 182
LIVERPOOLS EAD Solicitors
has experienced slight but steady
growth over the past few years.
The firms turnover was up by
around 1 per cent to 9.1m.
The reason for EADs consistent
results has been the resilience
of its core market, litigation for
trade union members. The firm
has also expanded in clinical
negligence. Other parts of the
practice, such as domestic
conveyancing, took a hit, but
account for only a small
proportion of overall profit.
Higgs & Sons
Turnover (M): 9
RPL (K): 167
WEST Midlands firm Higgs &
Sons turnover rose to 9m in
2009-10. With more than 150
staff operating out of offices in
Brierley Hill and Kingswinford,
the firms client base is mainly
drawn from the Black Country
and the West Midlands. Property
performed well, bringing in 18
per cent of the firms turnover.
Meanwhile, litigation and
corporate contributed 14 and
11 per cent respectively.
Clients include Claimar
Care Group, Computeach
International and Folkes Group.
Average work-in-progress at
the year-end was 115 days, while
the total debtor days was 60. The
firms lockup target was 175 days.
Mayo Wynne
Baxter
Turnover (M): 8.8
RPL (K): 166
MAYO Wynne Baxters
comprehensive coverage of
Sussex, with five offices across
the county, derives from the
2007 merger between Brightons
Wynne Baxter and Eastbournes
Mayo Perkins.
Turnover was down by
4 per cent on last years at
8.8m.
Although the firm is
traditionally strong in property,
its bottom line has not suffered
too much in the recession,
thanks mainly to the pick-up
in contentious work.
The firm has shored up in
other areas too, with partner
hires from ASB Law boosting
its travel and family practices.
Mayo Wynne Baxter has also
prospered by tending to the
burgeoning media and creative
companies clustered around
Brighton.
Rickerbys
Turnover (M): 8.8
RPL (K): 119
TURNOVER at
Gloucestershire-based
firm Rickerbys has held
steady over recent years.
In 2007-08 the firm
recorded 9.9m in
gross fees and again
in 2008-09.
This year,
however, the firm posted 8.8m
with a profit of 1.6m.
The firm is largely dependent
on property work for the bulk of
its revenue, with the department
containing five of the firms 17
partners. Corporate and private
client work also provide a
sizeable chunk of the firms
earnings.
Rickerbys considers itself
a regional firm, with clients
in Cornwall, Bristol, Cardiff
and Birmingham. It positions
itself in geographical areas
where it feels there is limited
competition and where it
can build community
relationships.
Some of the firms biggest
clients include Cheltenham
Ladies College, British
Waterways Board and
Countrywide Estates.
Average profit per equity
partner at Rickerbys was
156,000, with its equity
spread for 2009-10 running
from 65,000 to 156,000.
Total lockup was 90 days.
Tollers
Turnover (M): 8.6
RPL (K): 187
NORTHAMPTON-based
Tollers turnover has declined
steadily since 2007-08, dropping
from 11.5m down to 8.6m.
The firm, which also has offices
in Milton Keynes, Corby and
Kettering, has seen a steady
rise in litigation work,
particularly banking and
commercial property matters.
Litigation is now
the firms biggest
earner, accounting
for 66.5 per cent of
revenue.
The property department,
which houses three of its
19-strong partnership,
accounted for 15.6 per cent
of revenue.
Clients include Badminton
England, Lafarge Aggregates,
Yamaha and Whitworths
Holdings. It operates a lockstep
remuneration system and
average work-in-progress was
312 days at the year-end with a
lockup target of 350.
Muckle
Turnover (M): 8.5
RPL (K): 160
NEWCASTLE-based Muckle
remains loyal to its North East
roots, a fact reflected in a client
base that includes the likes of
One North East and Durham
County Cricket Club. While
there are no plans to open offices
outside the region, it still attracts
work from clients such as
London South Bank University
and Northern Ireland-based
property developer McAleer &
Rushe.
Despite boosting profit by 43.7
per cent last year, turnover has
dropped by 12.8 per cent over
the past two years to 8.5m in
2009-10. Property remains the
strongest practice, accounting for
31 per cent of revenue, followed
closely by corporate with 29
per cent. Public sector work is
another key focus, although this
could be affected by the squeeze
on public spending.
EMW Picton
Howell
Turnover (M): 8.4
RPL (K): 175
EMW PICTON Howell saw
turnover plummet to 8.4m
from 10.3m in the 2008-09
financial year. The firm, which
went through a merger in
2008, had hoped to quadruple
turnover to 50m by 2013,
but that no longer seems like
a realistic goal.
Corporate work is EMWs
biggest earner, accounting for
40 per cent of revenue. This
is followed by property and
litigation, which make up 29 per
cent and 18 per cent respectively.
The firm counts companies
such as Santander, Travis Perkins
and General Motors as clients. At
year end work-in-progress was
88 days and its lockup target
was 100.
180 m
179 m
178 m
=176 m
=176
175 m
174
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Trethowans
Turnover (M): 8.3
RPL (K): 150
TOTAL revenue at Trethowans
declined slightly during 2009-10,
down to 8.3m compared with
8.4m a year before.
Managing partner Simon
Rhodes says revenues had
remained flat throughout a
significant proportion of the
year, with work picking up only
in the last quarter. Nevertheless,
the firms average profit per
equity partner came in at
330,000 with a net profit
of 2.64m.
Trethowans litigation
practice accounted for 41
per cent of its income, with its
property practice contributing
30 per cent.
Clients include insurance
broker Endsleigh, Santander
Mortgages and Ladbrokes.
Taylor Walton
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 8.2
RPL (K): 195
TAYLOR Walton Solicitors
revenue took a dive in 2008-09,
dropping by 23.1 per cent, from
10.8m to 8.3m. But its most
recent financial year was not as
unkind, with turnover down by
just 1.2 per cent in 2009-10 to
8.2m.
The firm prides itself on its
contentious and non-contentious
employment and property work.
This is reflected by the fact that
its property department brings
in 45 per cent of total revenue,
followed by corporate, which
contributes 17 per cent.
Taylor Waltons clients range
from local players, such as the
University of Hertfordshire, to
large multinationals such as
Kenwood Electronics and
Fujifilm.
Everatt & Co
Turnover (M): 7.8
RPL (K): 235
EVERATT & Co is primarily
a defendant personal injury
firm, which with its sideline in
employment accounts for around
15 per cent of turnover.
Unlike many of its similarly
sized competitors, Everatt is
thriving. The firms financial
year ends on 31 August, but it
projected a turnover of 7.8m
for the 2009-10 financial year,
a 24 per cent rise on last years
6.3m.
The 12-partner firm (four
equity) has its headquarters in
Evesham and, in August 2009,
launched a London office in
Threadneedle Street.
Everatt counts among
its clients Fortis, QBE and
Dudley Metropolitan Borough
Council.
Bridge
McFarland
Turnover (M): 7.6
RPL (K): 177
NORTHEast firm Bridge
McFarlands revenue
rose to 7.6m last year
off the back of a
solid
performance in its core personal
injury and clinical negligence
practice areas. Indeed, new
managing partner Robert
Edwards believes a significant
proportion of the long
work-in-progress (330 days
with 44 debtors days) in this
relatively recession-proof
area is likely to bear fruit
during the current year, boosting
2010-11 revenue and average
profit per equity partner, which
stood at 170,000 last year, still
further.
Litigation as a whole,
including general commercial
work, accounts for 45 per
cent of Bridge McFarlands
revenue. Following a recent
period of expansion away from
its high-street roots, including
opening a new office in
Doncaster last May, Edwards
says the firm now expects a
period of consolidation for the
foreseeable future.
Darbys
Turnover (M): 7.5
RPL (K): 156
OXFORD-based Darbys remains
loyal to its roots, reflected in a
client base that includes the likes
of Blenheim Palace, The British
Horse Society and many of the
regions surrounding colleges.
This is the second year that the
firm has appeared in the The
Lawyers UK 200 list, although
turnover at Darbys has dropped
from 8m in 2008-09 to 7.5m
in 2009-10.
Despite the total number of
fee-earners remaining fairly
static for both years (77 in
2008-09 and 67 in 2009-10), the
firms managing partner Simon
McCrum admits that
there has been some
major restructuring in
every department.
Commercial property
remains one of the firms
strongest practice areas,
accounting for 1.4m of total
revenue; this is followed closely
by clinical negligence, private
client and commercial. Work-
in-progress was 83 and the
lockup target was 137 at the
year-end.
BP Collins
Turnover (M): 7.4
RPL (K): 184
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE and
Thames Valley firm BP Collins
chief operating officer Karl
Wingfield says he is confident
2010-11 will be the year that
the firm begins to shake off
the downturn.
At 7.4m the firms turnover
was down by 17 per cent on last
years, but Wingfield hopes the
full-service firm will be able to
make up half of that deficit
by next year by continuing to
focus on mid-sized corporates
(between 5m and 20m) and
private clients.
Wingfield readily admits that
his firm has been in a number of
merger discussions of late, none
of which have proved fruitful.
Undeterred, he keeps a map
marked with every firm in
Buckinghamshire, and every firm
with more than five partners in
Thames Valley, in his office, such
is his determination for
consolidation.
Porter Dodson
Turnover (M): 7.3
RPL (K): 152
FORMED in 1997 by the merger
of Yeovil and Taunton firms,
Porter Dodson now has five
offices across Somerset and
Dorset.
Litigation provided the bulk of
Porter Dodsons income last year
(45 per cent), while the firm has
been pulling back from providing
personal injury advice now
that it is no longer part of the
National Accident Helpline.
Instead it is focusing more on
clients seeking advice on both
commercial and private client
matters.
The firms turnover stayed flat
last year at 7.3m, but net profit
rose by 26 per cent, from 2.3m
to 2.9m. Average profit per
equity partner was 123,000.
187 m
186 m
182 m
185 m
184 h
183
181 m
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Bindmans
Turnover (M): 7.2
RPL (K): 176
AFTER making its UK 200
debut in 2008-09, London-based
Bindmans saw its turnover rise
from 6.6m to 7.2m last year.
Headcount figures show that
the firm has not had to make any
substantial cuts during the year.
Indeed, the total number of
staff actually increased from
110 to 114.
In financial terms Bindmans
best-performing areas were
crime, civil liberties and human
rights, as well as administrative
and public law, clinical
negligence and personal injury.
The firm also has a growing
employment practice and
continues to have a strong
presence in the areas of
discrimination, family and
immigration.
Furley Page
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 7.2
RPL (K): 225
FURLEY Page Solicitors was
established in 1725, but its
modern form owes its shape to
a merger in 1967. Since then the
Canterbury-headquartered firm
has grown across the South
of England, with offices in
Whitstable, Chatham and, as
of January 2009, London. The
latest office concentrates
primarily on insurance work.
The firm, which has 20
partners (15 equity), focuses on
private client, dispute resolution,
employment, commercial
property, corporate and personal
injury. Its clients include the
University of Kent.
Under managing partner Peter
Hawkes Furley Page has kept
turnover steady throughout the
downturn. Last year total
revenue was 7.2m, 2.4m of
which was net profit.
Gorvins
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 7
RPL (K): 212
CHESHIRE-headquartered
Gorvins Solicitors, which
focuses primarily on a range of
commercial and private client
services, disclosed its turnover
in 2008-09 as being between
7.5m and 8m. Last year the
firm preferred not to disclose its
figures. The Lawyer estimates
its turnover for the 2009-10
financial year at 7m.
The 14-partner firm lost
around a dozen fee-earners,
including the head of its
family team Amanda McAlister
and two other partners to Russell
Jones & Walker in January
2010. Gorvins still maintains
one of the more significant
family practices outside London,
however. The other main
practices include commercial
property, corporate, employment
and litigation.
Pemberton
Greenish
Turnover (M): 7
RPL (K): 241
UNSURPRISINGLY for a firm
that generates two-thirds of its
income through property,
Pemberton Greenish saw its
turnover take a hit for a second
consecutive year.
Fee income fell by 8 per cent to
7m in 2009-10 after a similar
drop the previous year. But these
setbacks came after five years of
healthy growth, and the firms
recent move to larger offices
near Sloane Square should be a
vote of confidence for its future.
Managing partner Robert
Barham confidently expects
revenue to top 8m in 2010-11
and claims that the first four
months of the year put the firm
on track to do so.
Clients of the firm include
major London landowners
such as Cadogan Estates, The
Crown Estate and The Portman
Estate.
Dutton Gregory
Turnover (M): 6.9
RPL (K): 160
WINCHESTER-headquartered
Dutton Gregory is probably best
known for its specialist childcare
unit and niche clinical negligence
group, which generated around
12 per cent of the firms 6.9m
revenue last year, but drove up
work-in-progress, taking lockup
to 152 days at the year-end.
Unusually, the firms property
team, which focuses on the
higher end of the market, had a
strong 2009-10. That helped
average profit per equity partner
reach 149,000 last year, a
decent return for the 14 equity
partners, who are looking to
grow the business via bolt-ons
and additional laterals.
The firm has taken over several
smaller firms over the past five
years and may continue with that
strategy. It is also looking to
build up its corporate group in
Southampton.
Forster Dean
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 6.9
RPL (K): 182
OVER the past year Forster Dean
Solicitors has opened five new
offices in Greater Manchester
and Merseyside. That takes the
firms total to 18 across the North
West of England.
In October Forster Dean
converted to a limited company,
making it a trailblazer among
legal practices looking to convert
from LLP status.
Forster Deans key practice
areas are personal injury along
with domestic conveyancing. The
predominantly high street firm
works with private individuals,
with 90 per cent of its work
coming from personal injury.
The six-partner firm has seen
its fees increase by 20 per cent to
6.9m and it plans to double in
size over the next few years.
=192 m
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=192
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=190
=188 h
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Kemp Little
Turnover (M): 6.8
RPL (K): 252
LONDON technology boutique
Kemp Little, which counts
Expedia, Thomson Reuters and
BMI British Midland among its
clients, saw its turnover dip
slightly last year, from 7.1m
to 6.8m. Its profit margin
held up, however, at 32 per
cent, generating an average of
315,000 for the eight equity
partners on its modified
lockstep (up from six the year
before).
The tightly run firms lockup
was just 87 at year-end, 12
behind its target of 75 days, but
a day fewer than 2008-09s 88.
Kemp Littles finances were
helped by its sharp sector focus.
As senior partner Richard Kemp
puts it, the firm does not do
property, finance or private
equity.
finance or private
equity.
Wake Smith
& Tofields
Turnover (M): 6.7
RPL (K): 163
SHEFFIELD-based Wake Smith
& Tofields saw its revenue drop
by 20 per cent during 2009-10.
Litigation and property are the
biggest departments at the
firm, accounting for 23.7 per
cent and 17.3 per cent of turnover
respectively. The 13-equity
partner firm recorded a net profit
of 1.49m and an average profit
per equity partner of 115,000.
Revenue per partner stood at
279,000, while revenue per
lawyer came in at
163,000.
Clients include Dialogue
Communications, Yorkshire
Building Society and the
Salvation Army. It is currently
advising the latter on the
expansion of its retail portfolio.
Debenhams
Ottaway
Turnover (M): 6.5
RPL (K): 155
DEBENHAMS Ottaway makes
its debut into the UK 200 this
year with a turnover of 6.5m.
The Hertfordshire firm is the
product of many mergers, the
most recent being that between
Turner & Debenhams and
Ottaways in September 2008.
Private client and property,
which respectively contributed
30 and 25 per cent of the firms
turnover last year, are its core
practice areas. Dispute
resolution was also another
well-performing department,
generating 15 per cent of
turnover, while pharmaceutical
regulation is another practice
area the firm is planning to
grow after securing the National
Pharmacy Association as a client.
The 13-partner firm also counts
National Grid
and United
Utilities as
clients.
Ellisons
Solicitors
Turnover (M): 6.4
RPL (K): 194
ELLISONS Solicitors 2009
merger with Colchester firm
Marshall Legal helped to boost
the Essex-based practices
revenue and profile last year.
Commercial property has
constantly been an important
practice area for the firm over
the past five years, with private
client and agricultural work also
generating a high percentage of
revenue. The firms insurance
litigation practice has been
expanding significantly and
incorporates work for large
Lloyds of London syndicates.
Having dealt with a number of
high-value transactions over the
year, including a management
buyout for the seller of Knight
Group, the firm saw revenue rise
to 6.4m from 2008-09s 5.8m.
Berryman
Turnover (M): 6.2
RPL (K): 127
BERRYMAN, which is set to
merge with Shakespeare
Putsman, is the largest single-
site firm in Nottingham with 17
partners (six equity). The firm
used to be heavily reliant on its
criminal practice, but that
changed in 2007 when James
Jarvis became managing partner.
Berryman now focuses on
commercial property, corporate
finance, employment, commercial
litigation and private client work.
In 2010 Jarvis undertook
another transformation,
reorganising the firm into sector-
specific teams, breaking the work
down into four key areas: life
sciences; healthcare; technology,
media and telecoms; and rural
economy. The firm fell short of
its 2009-10 turnover target of
6.6m, but still managed a 1.5
per cent rise to 6.2m.
BPE Solicitors
Turnover (M): 6.2
RPL (K): 127
CHELTENHAM-based BPE
Solicitors, a corporate and
commercial-led firm with an
impressive heavyweight client
roster that includes the likes of
Mears Group, looked to have
slightly missed its projected
revenue target of 6.4m at press
time (it changed its year-end to
30 September last year).
The ahead-of-budget corporate
group, boosted by deals such as
the 28m main list takeover of
homecare operator Supporta
by Mears, and a booming asset
finance recovery team, was
offset by a softness in parts of
commercial litigation, including
contentious construction.
Average profit per equity
partner at BPE, which has eight
equity partners, was 157,000.
Net profit was 1m and total
lockup was 180 days.
Blandy &
Blandy
Turnover (M): 6.1
RPL (K): 158
READINGS Blandy & Blandy
used to handle mostly private
client work, but has recently
diversified. It now has large
practices in the charity, planning
and environment sectors, which
the firm is looking to expand
further following a 20 per cent
boost in revenue from these
practices over the past year.
Turnover was 6.1m, up by 4
per cent on 2008-09s figure. Net
profit was up by 14 per cent to
1.9m. Family and private client
also contributed to the improve-
ment in the firms fortunes, as did
the employment team. Elsewhere,
the corporate and commercial
finance teams performed well,
with the latter up by 22 per cent
on its understandably muted
2008-09 result.
194 m
200 m
=198
=198 m
197
196
195 m
TLS_087_a ug_uk200_wr 101t o200_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 02 Pa ge 87
LONDON
Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London WC1V 7QT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7203 8413
MANCHESTER
82 King Street, Manchester M2 4WQ
Telephone: +44 (0)161 935 8288
email: mroot@challenorgroup.com
email: msharpe@challenorgroup.com
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious
triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to
rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor
suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that
knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
Contact Matthew Root on 07768 332665 for partner and team moves or
Matthew Sharpe on 07966 158062 for appointments to industry.
TLS_088_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 40 Pa ge 1
Profit
per equity
partner
The Lawyer|UK 200|89
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Profit per
equity partner
(k)
1 8 Slaughter and May 1,840
2 3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 1,406
3 2 Linklaters 1,214
4 4 Allen & Overy 1,100
5 1 Clifford Chance 933
6 88 Sacker & Partners 877
7 7 Herbert Smith 862
8 82 Dickson Minto 821
9 29 Macfarlanes 710
10 41 Travers Smith 705
11 92 Gordons 702
12 11 Ashurst 689
13 6 Lovells 663
14 16 Clyde & Co 605
15 37 Ince & Co 568
16 31 Stephenson Harwood 561
17 34 Trowers & Hamlins 553
18 22 Irwin Mitchell 540
19 63 Walker Morris 535
=20 5 DLA Piper 527
=20 26 Holman Fenwick Willan 527
22 9 Eversheds 517
23 10 Norton Rose 486
24 30 Field Fisher Waterhouse 476
25 15 Bird & Bird 466
26 12 Simmons & Simmons 461
27 47 LG 460
=28 17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 455
=28 85 Capsticks 455
30 13 CMS Cameron McKenna 453
=31 58 Mishcon de Reya 450
=31 94 Turcan Connell 450
33 40 Watson Farley & Williams 448
34 19 SJ Berwin 447
35 63 Farrer & Co 442
36 86 Ashfords 430
37 52 Speechly Bircham 428
38 20 Addleshaw Goddard 426
39 97 Kingsley Napley 425
40 32 Olswang 420
41 50 Burges Salmon 414
42 92 Payne Hicks Beach 412
43 14 Pinsent Masons 410
44 67 Russell Jones & Walker 404
45 38 Osborne Clarke 393
46 18 Taylor Wessing 385
47 35 Kennedys 380
48 95 Fladgate 370
49 24 Hammonds 364
50 20 Denton Wilde Sapte 360
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Profit per
equity partner
(k)
51 28 Withers 359
52 53 Weightmans 354
53 39 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 350
54 42 DWF 333
55 51 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 327
56 71 Brodies 323
57 25 Nabarro 320
58 49 Dundas & Wilson 317
59 23 Beachcroft 314
60 69 Howard Kennedy 309
61 45 Mills & Reeve 307
62 98 Burness 305
63 55 HBJ Gateley Wareing 302
64 74 Keoghs 300
65 90 Forsters 297
66 83 Ward Hadaway 294
67 68 Bevan Brittan 288
68 65 TLT Solicitors 285
69 76 Bircham Dyson Bell 281
70 61 Davies Arnold Cooper 278
71 27 Wragge & Co 276
72 86 Bristows 267
73 54 Maclay Murray & Spens 265
74 44 McGrigors 263
75 80 Brabners Chaffe Street 260
=76 48 Charles Russell 259
=76 77 Lewis Silkin 259
78 33 Shoosmiths 256
79 36 Hill Dickinson 248
80 75 Browne Jacobson 244
81 72 Shepherd & Wedderburn 243
82 59 Bond Pearce 235
83 56 Pannone 229
84 43 Berrymans Lace Mawer 222
85 57 Dickinson Dees 216
86 79 Manches 211
87 80 Hugh James 200
88 78 Freeth Cartwright 196
89 70 Morgan Cole 193
=90 99 DMH Stallard 185
=90 100 Martineau 185
=90 91 Penningtons 185
93 73 Thomas Eggar 182
94 89 Russell-Cooke 174
95 66 Clarke Willmott 163
96 62 Cobbetts 132
97 83 Optima Legal 119
98 60 Blake Lapthorn 116
99 95 Thring Townsend 91
100 46 Halliwells 0
TLS_089_a ug_uk200_pe p_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 05 Pa ge 89
90|The Lawyer|UK 200
Rank
UK
200
rank Firm
Net profit
(m)
Margin
(%)
1 3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 589.0 52
2 2 Linklaters 507.2 43
3 4 Allen & Overy 388.0 37
4 1 Clifford Chance 350.0 29
5 8 Slaughter and May 228.1 52
6 6 Lovells 160.0 30
7 7 Herbert Smith 117.2 26
8 11 Ashurst 103.4 35
9 5 DLA Piper 99.8 17
10 10 Norton Rose 92.3 30
11 9 Eversheds 70.1 20
12 12 Simmons & Simmons 58.5 23
13 18 Taylor Wessing 56.3 32
14 16 Clyde & Co 54.5 28
15 14 Pinsent Masons 46.0 22
16 13 CMS Cameron McKenna 45.7 21
17 17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 41.5 22
18 =20 Addleshaw Goddard 41.2 25
19 19 SJ Berwin 39.0 23
20 29 Macfarlanes 38.4 42
21 15 Bird & Bird 37.7 19
22 26 Holman Fenwick Willan 32.0 32
23 =20 Denton Wilde Sapte 31.4 19
24 25 Nabarro 30.5 27
25 27 Wragge & Co 30.4 32
26 41 Travers Smith 30.3 42
27 22 Irwin Mitchell 28.0 18
28 31 Stephenson Harwood 27.3 30
29 39 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 26.6 33
30 37 Ince & Co 25.9 30
31 40 Watson Farley & Williams 25.5 32
32 49 Dundas & Wilson 25.3 41
33 32 Olswang 25.2 28
34 23 Beachcroft 24.5 19
35 24 Hammonds 22.6 19
36 28 Withers 20.7 22
37 50 Burges Salmon 20.4 34
38 51 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 20.3 34
39 38 Osborne Clarke 19.3 23
40 47 LG 18.8 29
=41 35 Kennedys 18.6 21
=41 45 Mills & Reeve 18.6 28
43 55 HBJ Gateley Wareing 17.5 35
44 30 Field Fisher Waterhouse 16.7 18
45 =63 Walker Morris 16.6 39
46 52 Speechly Bircham 16.0 27
47 44 McGrigors 14.5 21
48 34 Trowers & Hamlins 14.4 16
49 36 Hill Dickinson 13.5 15
=50 43 Berrymans Lace Mawer 12.7 18
Rank
UK
200
rank Firm
Net profit
(m)
Margin
(%)
=50 54 Maclay Murray & Spens 12.7 24
52 88 Sacker & Partners 12.3 53
53 82 Dickson Minto 11.5 39
54 48 Charles Russell 11.4 18
55 33 Shoosmiths 11.0 12
56 =63 Farrer & Co 10.1 24
57 58 Mishcon de Reya 9.9 21
=58 57 Dickinson Dees 9.1 19
=58 53 Weightmans 9.1 16
=60 71 Brodies 8.9 25
=60 67 Russell Jones & Walker 8.9 22
62 42 DWF 8.7 12
63 =80 Brabners Chaffe Street 8.5 28
64 =92 Gordons 8.4 38
65 72 Shepherd & Wedderburn 8.3 23
=66 =86 Ashfords 8.0 33
=66 98 Burness 8.0 38
=66 61 Davies Arnold Cooper 8.0 18
=69 76 Bircham Dyson Bell 7.8 24
=69 =86 Bristows 7.8 32
=69 56 Pannone 7.8 16
=69 89 Russell-Cooke 7.8 35
73 59 Bond Pearce 7.5 16
74 73 Thomas Eggar 7.2 21
=75 85 Capsticks 7.0 27
=75 =95 Fladgate 7.0 32
=75 =92 Payne Hicks Beach 7.0 32
78 70 Morgan Cole 6.8 19
=79 78 Freeth Cartwright 6.6 21
=79 =80 Hugh James 6.6 22
81 77 Lewis Silkin 6.1 19
=82 68 Bevan Brittan 6.0 16
=82 65 TLT Solicitors 6.0 15
=84 60 Blake Lapthorn 5.9 13
=84 90 Forsters 5.9 26
86 66 Clarke Willmott 5.5 13
87 94 Turcan Connell 5.4 25
88 69 Howard Kennedy 4.9 13
89 74 Keoghs 4.5 14
90 97 Kingsley Napley 4.3 20
91 62 Cobbetts 4.1 9
=92 79 Manches 4.0 13
=92 91 Penningtons 4.0 18
94 75 Browne Jacobson 3.9 12
95 100 Martineau 3.7 18
96 =83 Ward Hadaway 3.4 12
97 99 DMH Stallard 3.0 14
98 =95 Thring Townsend 1.6 7
99 =83 Optima Legal 0.5 2
100 46 Halliwells 0 0
Net profit
TLS_090_a ug_uk200_ne t _e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 06 Pa ge 90
Glass Consultancy recently celebrated a
decade of successfully recruiting partners and
associates for our clients.

Now let us put our expertise at your disposal.
Tel. 020 7015 0500
36 - 38 Botolph Lane
London, EC3R 8DE
Visit us at:
www.glassconsultancy.co.uk
Celebrating 10 years of
Glass Consultancy.
TLS_091_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 42 Pa ge 1
TLS_092_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 47 Pa ge 1
Cost per
lawyer
The Lawyer|UK 200|93
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Cost per
lawyer (k)
1 =83 Optima Legal 590
2 8 Slaughter and May 380
3 4 Allen & Overy 336
4 =80 Hugh James 332
5 1 Clifford Chance 328
6 82 Dickson Minto 327
7 7 Herbert Smith 315
8 2 Linklaters 312
9 22 Irwin Mitchell 295
10 28 Withers 287
11 6 Lovells 273
12 3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 258
13 17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 256
14 12 Simmons & Simmons 255
15 29 Macfarlanes 252
16 58 Mishcon de Reya 251
17 37 Ince & Co 249
18 47 LG 246
19 19 SJ Berwin 243
20 16 Clyde & Co 242
21 34 Trowers & Hamlins 240
22 31 Stephenson Harwood 239
23 33 Shoosmiths 238
24 11 Ashurst 237
=25 35 Kennedys 235
=25 67 Russell Jones & Walker 235
27 9 Eversheds 234
28 88 Sacker & Partners 232
29 13 CMS Cameron McKenna 229
30 69 Howard Kennedy 226
31 =20 Denton Wilde Sapte 223
=32 15 Bird & Bird 222
=32 =63 Farrer & Co 222
34 =92 Payne Hicks Beach 221
35 40 Watson Farley & Williams 220
36 =20 Addleshaw Goddard 217
37 26 Holman Fenwick Willan 216
38 10 Norton Rose 211
39 52 Speechly Bircham 209
=40 30 Field Fisher Waterhouse 208
=40 24 Hammonds 208
=42 61 Davies Arnold Cooper 207
=42 5 DLA Piper 207
=42 41 Travers Smith 207
45 25 Nabarro 206
46 32 Olswang 205
47 48 Charles Russell 204
=48 74 Keoghs 201
=48 79 Manches 201
=48 94 Turcan Connell 201
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Cost per
lawyer (k)
51 51 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 199
52 65 TLT Solicitors 197
=53 76 Bircham Dyson Bell 196
=53 56 Pannone 196
55 =95 Fladgate 195
=56 97 Kingsley Napley 192
=56 77 Lewis Silkin 192
58 18 Taylor Wessing 191
=59 39 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 190
=59 36 Hill Dickinson 190
61 90 Forsters 189
62 91 Penningtons 187
63 99 DMH Stallard 186
64 38 Osborne Clarke 184
=65 =86 Bristows 183
=65 73 Thomas Eggar 183
67 46 Halliwells 180
68 42 DWF 179
69 14 Pinsent Masons 174
=70 85 Capsticks 173
=70 78 Freeth Cartwright 173
72 68 Bevan Brittan 171
73 62 Cobbetts 170
=74 54 Maclay Murray & Spens 169
=74 70 Morgan Cole 169
76 50 Burges Salmon 164
=77 60 Blake Lapthorn 163
=77 57 Dickinson Dees 163
79 =83 Ward Hadaway 162
80 =63 Walker Morris 161
81 66 Clarke Willmott 160
82 =92 Gordons 156
83 72 Shepherd & Wedderburn 154
=84 23 Beachcroft 150
=84 43 Berrymans Lace Mawer 150
=84 27 Wragge & Co 150
=87 44 McGrigors 149
=87 45 Mills & Reeve 149
=87 =95 Thring Townsend 149
90 75 Browne Jacobson 148
91 59 Bond Pearce 143
92 53 Weightmans 139
93 89 Russell-Cooke 138
94 71 Brodies 137
=95 55 HBJ Gateley Wareing 134
=95 100 Martineau 134
97 49 Dundas & Wilson 126
98 98 Burness 124
99 =86 Ashfords 115
100 =80 Brabners Chaffe Street 113
TLS_093_a ug_uk200_c pl _e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 11 Pa ge 93
94|The Lawyer|UK 200
Revenue per
partner
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
partner (k)
1 =166 Keystone Law 4,900
2 8 Slaughter and May 3,434
3 3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 2,570
4 2 Linklaters 2,434
5 4 Allen & Overy 2,328
6 1 Clifford Chance 2,130
7 82 Dickson Minto 2,107
8 7 Herbert Smith 1,778
9 =83 Optima Legal 1,725
10 13 CMS Cameron McKenna 1,521
11 6 Lovells 1,510
12 22 Irwin Mitchell 1,365
13 11 Ashurst 1,302
14 29 Macfarlanes 1,221
15 16 Clyde & Co 1,171
16 12 Simmons & Simmons 1,151
17 =192 Forster Dean 1,150
18 41 Travers Smith 1,143
19 19 SJ Berwin 1,132
20 9 Eversheds 1,131
21 10 Norton Rose 1,116
22 94 Turcan Connell 1,095
23 88 Sacker & Partners 1,022
24 =20 Addleshaw Goddard 1,015
25 17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 995
26 37 Ince & Co 992
27 51 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 968
28 39 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 959
29 115 Fishburns 950
30 15 Bird & Bird 943
31 =20 Denton Wilde Sapte 941
=32 32 Olswang 938
=32 31 Stephenson Harwood 938
34 135 Rosenblatt Solicitors 920
35 50 Burges Salmon 917
36 26 Holman Fenwick Willan 914
37 40 Watson Farley & Williams 911
38 5 DLA Piper 899
39 23 Beachcroft 885
40 25 Nabarro 869
41 47 LG 865
42 33 Shoosmiths 857
43 28 Withers 850
44 =63 Walker Morris 835
45 =86 Bristows 828
46 27 Wragge & Co 822
47 34 Trowers & Hamlins 813
48 58 Mishcon de Reya 805
49 105 Stewarts Law 800
50 68 Bevan Brittan 785
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
partner (k)
51 54 Maclay Murray & Spens 784
52 38 Osborne Clarke 768
53 74 Keoghs 767
54 49 Dundas & Wilson 765
55 =80 Hugh James 763
56 45 Mills & Reeve 759
57 85 Capsticks 754
58 14 Pinsent Masons 749
59 67 Russell Jones & Walker 738
60 57 Dickinson Dees 724
61 44 McGrigors 723
62 30 Field Fisher Waterhouse 717
63 =125 Greenwoods 714
64 24 Hammonds 707
65 35 Kennedys 700
66 =92 Payne Hicks Beach 688
67 52 Speechly Bircham 687
68 =169 Fenwick Elliott 679
69 154 Wiggin 675
70 70 Morgan Cole 667
71 76 Bircham Dyson Bell 665
72 48 Charles Russell 658
73 65 TLT Solicitors 651
74 =92 Gordons 647
75 183 Everatt & Co 646
76 =63 Farrer & Co 644
77 111 Watson Burton 638
78 77 Lewis Silkin 637
79 =112 Howes Percival 636
80 90 Forsters 634
81 141 Memery Crystal 625
82 18 Taylor Wessing 619
83 147 Dawsons 616
=84 66 Clarke Willmott 600
=84 117 Harbottle & Lewis 600
86 42 DWF 595
87 43 Berrymans Lace Mawer 593
88 139 Anthony Collins 591
89 59 Bond Pearce 590
90 =127 Taylor Vinters 577
=91 79 Brodies 576
=91 61 Manches 576
93 71 Davies Arnold Cooper 575
=94 =131 Boyes Turner 569
=94 72 Shepherd & Wedderburn 569
96 149 Ford & Warren 565
97 194 Kemp Little 562
98 98 Burness 561
99 =125 Bates Wells & Braithwaite 556
100 53 Weightmans 552
TLS_094_a ug_uk200_RPP_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 14 Pa ge 94
2 IT partners into Nabarro
Property Litigation partner into Trowers & Hamlin
Pensions partner into Nabarro
Corporate partner into Speechly Bircham
Technology partner into White & Case
Head of Competition into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Corporate Insurance partner into Steptoe & Johnson
3 Corporate partners into Halliwells
Projects partner into Salans
Employment partner into Maclay Murray & Spens
Head of Corporate into Bevan Brittan
Employment partner into Hammonds
Merger of Kanter Jules and Olswang
Insurance associate into Wilson Elser Moskovitz
Property partner into Bevan Brittan
IP partner into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Reconstruction partner into Jones Day
Corporate partner into Memery Crystal
Competition partner into Dundas &Wilson
Telecoms partner into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Corporate partner into Martineau Johnson
Head of Litigation into Marriott Harrison
Competition partner into DLA Piper
Reinsurance partner into Davies Arnold Cooper
Planning partner into Bircham Dyson Bell
2 Projects partners into Simmons & Simmons
Advertising partner into Osborne Clarke
Employment partner into Sprecher Grier
Corporate partner into Nabarro
Litigation partner into Sprecher Grier
Property partner into Manches
Head of International Arbitration into Eversheds
Head of TMT into Manches
Property partner into Davies Arnold Cooper
Property partner into Howes Percival
Head of FS into Beachcroft LLP
Competition partner into Cobbetts
IT partner into Mishcon De Reya
Property partner into Trowers & Hamlins
Property partner into Bircham Dyson Bell
Head of Litigation into Bevan Brittan
Employment partner into Manches
IT partner into Lewis Silkin
Litigation partner into Fladgates
Employment partner into RadcliffesLeBrasseur
Employment partner into Steptoe & Johnson
Property partner into Devonshires
Property partner into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Head of Family into Speechly Bircham
Banking partner into Taylor Wessing
Head of IP into Finers Stephens Innocent
International Arbitration partner into Eversheds
Property Litigation partner into Finers Stephens Innocent
Private Client team into Collyer-Bristow
IP partner into Mintz Levin
Tax Litigation associate into Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
Property partner into Ross & Craig
Property associate into RadcliffesLeBrasseur
Head of Construction into Mundays
Corporate Tax associate into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Construction partner into Beachcroft LLP
Banking partner into Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
2 Private Equity partners into Taylor Wessing
Litigation partner into Wallace LLP
Property partner into Bevan Brittan
Litigation partner into Dorsey &Whitney
Financial Services partner into Reed Smith
Property partner into Wallace LLP
Private Wealth partner into Mundays
IT partner into Reed Smith
Head of IP into Taylor Vinters
EJ TAXATI ON
EJ MERGERS
If you are a senior lawyer and you are thinking
about a move, or if you wish to recruit at a senior
level, then you should be talking to us.
EJ LEGAL
Technology partner into Beachcroft LLP
Construction partner into Steptoe & Johnson
Construction associate into Trowers & Hamlins
Property partner into Manches
IP partner into Denton Wilde Sapte
Head of FS into Osborne Clarke
Private client associate into Withers LLP
Employment partner into Speechly Bircham
Construction partner into Maxwell Winward
Stamp Duty Manager into Deloitte &Touche
Construction partner into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Litigation partner into Fasken Martineau
Property Finance partner into McGrigors
Reinsurance partner into Taylor Wessing
Corporate partner into Martineau Johnson
Head of Corporate into Mundays
PFI partner into Bevan Brittan
3 IT partners into Osborne Clarke
International Arbitration partner into Kilpatrick Stockton
Competition partner into Eversheds
Property Finance partner into Fladgates
Competition partner into Clyde & Co
Construction partner into McGrigors
Property partner into Stephenson Harwood
3 Corporate partners into Rosenblatt
Merger of Blake Lapthorn and Linnells
Insolvency partner into Fladgates
Financial Services partner into Rosenblatt
Corporate partner into Fladgates
Projects partner into Howard Kennedy
Employment partner into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Employment partner into Rosenblatt
Property Litigation partner into Halliwells
Merger of Amhurst Brown and Howard Kennedy
Insolvency partner into Dechert
Property associate into Eversheds
Employment associate into McGrigors
Sports partner into Collyer Bristow
Tax partner into Charles Russell
Corporate partner into Osborne Clarke
Head of Employment into Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons
IT partner into Eversheds
Property Litigation partner into Wedlake Bell
IP partner into Hammonds
Litigation associate into Wallace LLP
IP partner into Bevan Brittan
Tax partner into Davenport Lyons
Employment partner into Beachcroft LLP
2 IT partners into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Corporate partner into Edwin Coe
Construction team into Manches
Insurance partner into Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
Employment partner into DMH Stallard
Construction partner into Bircham Dyson Bell
IP partner into Reed Smith
2 Construction partners into Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
Projects partner into Bevan Brittan
Planning partner into Nabarro
Corporate partner into Reed Smith
Banking partner into McGrigors
Projects partner into Hammonds
Employment partner into Wedlake Bell
Planning partner into Mishcon De Reya
Insurance partner into Halliwells
Construction partner into Dundas &Wilson
Insurance partner into Beachcroft LLP
IP partner into Healys
Employment partner into Maxwell Winward
Insolvency partner into Lovells
Head of Employment and team into Berwin Leighton Paisner
Corporate associate into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Head of Litigation into Cumberland Ellis
Property partner into Marriott Harrison
Construction associate into Jones Day
Property Litigation associate into Beachcroft LLP
Employment associate into Dundas &Wilson
Litigation associate into Fladgates
IP associate into Bevan Brittan
Construction associate into Pinsent Masons
Corporate associate into Faegre
Acquisition Finance associate into Richards Butler
Investment Funds partner into Bryan Cave
Construction team into Berwin Leighton Paisner
Property partner into Denton Wilde Sapte
Insolvency partner into Baker & McKenzie
Insurance team into Kennedys
Employment partner into Stephenson Harwood
Property partner into Lovells
Merger of McGuinness Finch and Osborne Clarke
2 Property partners into Taylor Wessing
Shipping partner into Stephenson Harwood
Tax partner into Salans
Financial Services partner into Reed Smith
Banking team into Osborne Clarke
Property Litigation associate into Beachcroft LLP
Construction partner into Macfarlanes
IP partner into Lewis Silkin
Litigation partner into Clyde & Co
Construction associate into Osborne Clarke
Merger of Julian Holy and Olswang
Insurance partner into Dechert
Employment associate into Kemp Little
Professional Indemnity partner into Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
Construction partner into Speechly Bircham
Insolvency team into Stephenson Harwood
Corporate team into Dorsey &Whitney
Telecomms team into Charles Russell
Employment associate into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Property associate into Staal & Staal
Corporate associate into Grundberg Mocatta Rakison
IP associate into Dorsey &Whitney
Litigation associate into Healys
Construction associate into Field Fisher Waterhouse
Corporate associate into Simmons & Simmons
Property associate into Gordon Dadds
Property Litigation Associate into Thomas Eggar
Merger of DMH and Stallards
Employment associate into Cumberland Ellis
Planning partner into Manches
Sports partner into Shillings
Competition partner into Arnold & Porter
Employment counsel into Covington & Burling
Family partner into Finers Stephens Innocent
Property asssociate into Howard Kennedy
IP partner into Manches
Corporate partner into Maples Teasdale
Planning partner into Payne Hicks Beach
Property associate into Charles Russell
Employment associate into DLA Piper
Property litigation partner into Finers Stephens Innocent
Corporate associate into Forsters
Construction associate into Howard Kennedy
Litigation associate into Saunders LLP
Private Client associate into Baker & McKenzie
SCO Investigator into PWC
2 Corporate Tax associates into PWC
Corporate Tax associate into Davies Arnold Cooper
Tax associate into Freshfields
Corporate Tax associate into Rosenblatts
Tax Litigation associate into McGrigors
These partners, associates, teams and firms
talked to us. The results speak for themselves:
If you would like to discuss your plans for the future with us please contact George Catt (0207 400 2020/07894 479 348) or
Simon Janion (020 7400 2006/07900 880 937) or email George.Catt@ejgroup.co.uk. For further details visit our website www.ejgroup.co.uk
TLS_095_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 48 Pa ge 1
96|The Lawyer|UK 200
Revenue per
partner
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
partner (k)
=101 36 Hill Dickinson 551
=101 108 Winckworth Sherwood 551
103 =145 ASB Law 536
104 69 Howard Kennedy 536
105 =157 Stanley Tee 530
106 62 Cobbetts 528
107 97 Kingsley Napley 524
108 104 Foot Anstey 521
109 =176 Rickerbys 518
110 =190 Pemberton Greenish 515
111 103 MacRoberts 510
112 109 Cripps Harries Hall 506
113 89 Russell-Cooke 501
=114 196 Debenhams Ottaway 500
=114 =190 Gorvins Solicitors 500
116 119 Edwin Coe 497
117 55 HBJ Gateley Wareing 496
118 =95 Fladgate 495
119 46 Halliwells 493
120 121 Langleys 491
121 =166 Maxwell Winward 490
122 73 Thomas Eggar 489
123 118 Shakespeare Putsman 488
124 =137 Matthew Arnold & Baldwin 486
125 106 Wedlake Bell 483
=126 162 Harrison Clark 481
=126 56 Pannone 481
128 114 Finers Stephens Innocent 479
=129 =160 Barlow Robbins 477
=129 75 Browne Jacobson 477
131 179 Muckle 470
132 =131 Harvey Ingram 467
133 91 Penningtons 465
134 148 Lindsays 464
135 =150 Semple Fraser 463
136 =157 Brachers 461
137 =83 Ward Hadaway 460
138 110 Michelmores 459
139 100 Martineau 456
140 =163 Flint Bishop 455
=141 =137 Collyer Bristow 453
=141 178 Tollers 453
=143 =188 Bindmans 450
=143 =101 Veale Wasbrough 450
=145 60 Blake Lapthorn 446
=145 =155 Keeble Hawson 446
147 140 IBB Solicitors 442
148 130 Wilkin Chapman 441
149 122 Morton Fraser 440
150 =171 Sintons 438
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
partner (k)
151 =145 Nelsons 437
152 =80 Brabners Chaffe Street 436
153 =163 Chadwick Lawrence 435
154 =112 Birketts 434
155 174 EAD Solicitors 433
156 186 BP Collins 425
157 =157 Roythornes 424
158 123 Stevens & Bolton 422
159 =133 McClure Naismith 421
160 168 Henmans 417
161 116 Biggart Baillie 415
162 =150 Coffin Mew 411
163 107 Anderson Strathern 410
164 200 Blandy & Blandy 407
165 78 Freeth Cartwright 406
166 99 DMH Stallard 404
167 128 Tods Murray 400
168 144 Wright Hassall 397
=169 =86 Ashfords 396
=169 =150 TWM Solicitors 396
=171 =160 Paris Smith 389
=171 =160 Sprecher Grier Halberstam 389
173 =101 Geldards 387
174 =133 Thomson Snell & Passmore 386
175 =171 Ledingham Chalmers 383
176 153 JMW Solicitors 379
=177 129 Lester Aldridge 376
=177 =95 Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons 376
179 =198 Berryman 365
180 143 Wilsons 364
181 184 Bridge McFarland 362
182 =188 Furley Page 360
183 185 Darbys 357
184 165 Kester Cunningham John 354
185 124 Harper Macleod 351
186 187 Porter Dodson 348
187 136 Hewitsons 343
188 182 Taylor Walton 342
189 =169 Napthens 339
190 175 Higgs & Sons 333
191 181 Trethowans 330
192 =192 Dutton Gregory 329
193 =198 BPE Solicitors 326
194 =156 Stephens Scown Solicitors 324
195 120 Withy King 318
196 142 Lupton Fawcett 310
197 180 EMW Picton Howell 300
198 =176 Mayo Wynne Baxter 284
199 195 Wake Smith & Tofields 279
200 197 Ellisons Solicitors 267
TLS_096_a ug_uk200_RPP_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 27 Pa ge 96
Revenue per
lawyer
The Lawyer|UK 200|97
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
lawyer (k)
1 8 Slaughter and May 790.5
2 =83 Optima Legal 600.0
3 2 Linklaters 546.4
4 82 Dickson Minto 536.4
5 4 Allen & Overy 533.3
6 3 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 532.9
7 88 Sacker & Partners 493.6
8 1 Clifford Chance 462.9
9 29 Macfarlanes 431.2
10 7 Herbert Smith 426.0
11 =80 Hugh James 423.6
12 6 Lovells 387.7
13 135 Rosenblatt Solicitors 373.0
14 28 Withers 369.3
15 11 Ashurst 365.8
16 22 Irwin Mitchell 359.3
17 41 Travers Smith 358.2
18 37 Ince & Co 355.1
19 47 LG 346.1
20 105 Stewarts Law 344.8
21 119 Edwin Coe 341.7
22 31 Stephenson Harwood 340.4
23 16 Clyde & Co 337.4
24 12 Simmons & Simmons 332.0
25 =169 Fenwick Elliott 327.6
26 17 Berwin Leighton Paisner 326.7
27 =92 Payne Hicks Beach 323.5
28 149 Ford & Warren 322.9
29 40 Watson Farley & Williams 322.1
30 26 Holman Fenwick Willan 318.2
31 58 Mishcon de Reya 316.7
32 19 SJ Berwin 314.9
33 =137 Collyer Bristow 302.2
34 51 Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 301.5
35 10 Norton Rose 301.3
36 67 Russell Jones & Walker 300.7
37 35 Kennedys 298.0
38 9 Eversheds 291.9
39 =63 Farrer & Co 291.0
40 141 Memery Crystal 290.7
41 13 CMS Cameron McKenna 290.5
42 52 Speechly Bircham 287.7
43 =20 Addleshaw Goddard 287.3
44 =95 Fladgate 286.8
45 34 Trowers & Hamlins 285.6
46 154 Wiggin 284.2
47 32 Olswang 283.5
48 39 Barlow Lyde & Gilbert 282.0
49 25 Nabarro 281.7
50 18 Taylor Wessing 278.7
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
lawyer (k)
51 =20 Denton Wilde Sapte 274.6
52 15 Bird & Bird 273.4
53 147 Dawsons 272.1
54 33 Shoosmiths 271.1
55 =86 Bristows 269.7
56 114 Finers Stephens Innocent 269.2
57 94 Turcan Connell 267.1
58 =63 Walker Morris 264.6
59 69 Howard Kennedy 260.6
60 76 Bircham Dyson Bell 259.3
61 90 Forsters 257.5
62 24 Hammonds 257.1
63 111 Watson Burton 256.9
64 103 MacRoberts 255.0
65 30 Field Fisher Waterhouse 254.2
66 61 Davies Arnold Cooper 253.2
67 =92 Gordons 252.9
68 194 Kemp Little 251.9
69 5 DLA Piper 250.2
70 48 Charles Russell 248.8
71 50 Burges Salmon 246.3
72 106 Wedlake Bell 244.4
73 =160 Sprecher Grier Halberstam 244.2
74 =190 Pemberton Greenish 241.4
75 38 Osborne Clarke 239.1
76 97 Kingsley Napley 238.9
77 77 Lewis Silkin 238.2
78 85 Capsticks 235.7
79 183 Everatt & Co 234.8
80 117 Harbottle & Lewis 233.3
=81 74 Keoghs 232.4
=81 56 Pannone 232.4
83 115 Fishburns 231.1
84 73 Thomas Eggar 231.0
85 79 Manches 230.4
86 65 TLT Solicitors 230.3
87 91 Penningtons 227.6
88 130 Wilkin Chapman 227.4
89 108 Winckworth Sherwood 227.1
90 36 Hill Dickinson 225.1
91 =188 Furley Page 225.0
92 118 Shakespeare Putsman 224.3
93 =127 Taylor Vinters 223.9
94 14 Pinsent Masons 223.4
95 54 Maclay Murray & Spens 222.5
96 =157 Roythornes 220.8
97 =137 Matthew Arnold & Baldwin 219.4
98 27 Wragge & Co 219.1
99 78 Freeth Cartwright 218.2
100 =166 Maxwell Winward 217.8
TLS_097_a ug_uk200_RPL_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 33 Pa ge 97
Revenue per
lawyer
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
lawyer (k)
=101 99 DMH Stallard 217.4
=101 =163 Flint Bishop 217.4
103 49 Dundas & Wilson 215.2
104 =131 Boyes Turner 213.7
105 =190 Gorvins Solicitors 212.1
=106 =125 Greenwoods 211.3
=106 89 Russell-Cooke 211.3
108 140 IBB Solicitors 210.4
109 70 Morgan Cole 208.3
110 55 HBJ Gateley Wareing 207.5
111 45 Mills & Reeve 205.9
112 =133 Thomson Snell & Passmore 204.4
113 109 Cripps Harries Hall 204.0
114 121 Langleys 203.9
=115 68 Bevan Brittan 203.8
=115 =157 Brachers 203.8
=115 42 DWF 203.8
118 153 JMW Solicitors 203.7
119 =125 Bates Wells & Braithwaite 202.7
120 72 Shepherd & Wedderburn 200.6
121 57 Dickinson Dees 200.5
122 98 Burness 198.2
123 =155 Keeble Hawson 198.1
124 =112 Howes Percival 197.8
125 182 Taylor Walton 195.2
126 197 Ellisons 193.9
127 =101 Geldards 189.8
128 44 McGrigors 189.2
129 60 Blake Lapthorn 187.5
130 62 Cobbetts 187.2
131 178 Tollers 187.0
132 66 Clarke Willmott 185.5
133 =83 Ward Hadaway 185.2
134 23 Beachcroft 185.0
135 143 Wilsons 184.6
=136 43 Berrymans Lace Mawer 184.1
=136 186 BP Collins 184.1
138 =145 ASB Law 183.2
139 174 EAD Solicitors 182.0
140 71 Brodies 181.9
141 =112 Birketts 181.6
142 =192 Forster Dean 181.6
143 46 Halliwells 180.1
=144 184 Bridge McFarland 176.7
=144 123 Stevens & Bolton 176.7
=144 120 Withy King 176.7
147 129 Lester Aldridge 176.5
148 =188 Bindmans 175.6
149 142 Lupton Fawcett 175.4
150 180 EMW Picton Howell 175.0
Rank
UK 200
rank Firm
Revenue per
lawyer (k)
151 =171 Sintons 173.6
152 =145 Nelsons 173.5
153 110 Michelmores 172.5
154 =86 Ashfords 172.2
155 128 Tods Murray 172.1
156 59 Bond Pearce 170.4
157 144 Wright Hassall 170.0
158 =169 Napthens 169.6
159 75 Browne Jacobson 167.9
160 136 Hewitsons 167.1
161 175 Higgs & Sons 166.7
162 =176 Mayo Wynne Baxter 166.0
163 53 Weightmans 165.5
164 =131 Harvey Ingram 164.7
165 107 Anderson Strathern 164.2
166 100 Martineau 164.0
=167 148 Lindsays 163.4
=167 195 Wake Smith & Tofields 163.4
169 =133 McClure Naismith 161.6
170 =101 Veale Wasbrough 161.4
171 =150 TWM Solicitors 160.9
172 =192 Dutton Gregory 160.5
173 116 Biggart Baillie 160.4
174 =95 Thring Townsend 160.3
175 179 Muckle 159.6
176 =150 Semple Fraser 158.6
177 200 Blandy & Blandy 158.0
178 124 Harper Macleod 157.3
179 =80 Brabners Chaffe Street 157.2
180 185 Darbys 156.3
181 168 Henmans 154.8
182 196 Debenhams Ottaway 154.8
183 =157 Stanley Tee Solicitors 153.6
184 187 Porter Dodson 152.1
=185 =160 Barlow Robbins 150.0
=185 165 Kester Cunningham John 150.0
=185 =160 Paris Smith 150.0
=185 181 Trethowans 150.0
189 162 Harrison Clark 148.5
190 122 Morton Fraser 142.6
191 =156 Stephens Scown Solicitors 140.8
192 139 Anthony Collins 138.3
193 =171 Ledingham Chalmers 137.3
194 =163 Chadwick Lawrence 133.3
195 104 Foot Anstey 129.3
196 =150 Coffin Mew 127.6
=197 =198 Berryman 126.5
=197 =198 BPE Solicitors 126.5
199 =176 Rickerbys 118.9
200 =166 Keystone Law 101.0
98|The Lawyer|UK 200
TLS_098_a ug_uk200_RPL_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 34 Pa ge 98
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TLS_099_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 01 Pa ge 1
100|The Lawyer|UK 200
The
UK 200
151-200
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated
Firm
Turnover (m)
Revenue per partner (k)
Revenue per lawyer (k)
Total number of fee-earners
Total number of lawyers
Total number of partners
=
1
7
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Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated
Firm
Turnover (m)
Revenue per partner (k)
Revenue per lawyer (k)
Total number of fee-earners
Total number of lawyers
Total number of partners
=
1
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TLS_100_a ug_uk200_bot t om100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 37 Pa ge 100
The
UK 200
101-150
The Lawyer|UK 200|101
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Revenue per partner (k)
Revenue per lawyer (k)
Total number of fee-earners
Total number of lawyers
Total number of partners
=
1
0
1
m
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e
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d
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s
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0
.
5
3
8
7
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9
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2
0
.
3
5
2
1
1
2
9
2
2
8
1
5
7
3
9
1
0
5
h
S
t
e
w
a
r
t
s

L
a
w
2
0
.
0
8
0
0
3
4
5
1
0
8
5
8
2
5
1
0
6
h
W
e
d
l
a
k
e

B
e
l
l
1
9
.
8
4
8
3
2
4
4
1
0
0
8
1
4
1
1
0
7
m
A
n
d
e
r
s
o
n

S
t
r
a
t
h
e
r
n
1
9
.
7
4
1
0
1
6
4
1
9
2
1
2
0
4
8
1
0
8
m
W
i
n
c
k
w
o
r
t
h

S
h
e
r
w
o
o
d
1
9
.
3
5
5
1
2
2
7
1
2
3
8
5
3
5
1
0
9
h
C
r
i
p
p
s

H
a
r
r
i
e
s

H
a
l
l
1
9
.
2
5
0
6
2
0
4
1
4
5
9
4
3
8
1
1
0
h
M
i
c
h
e
l
m
o
r
e
s
1
8
.
8
4
5
9
1
7
2
1
5
0
1
0
9
4
1
1
1
1
m
W
a
t
s
o
n

B
u
r
t
o
n
1
8
.
5
6
3
8
2
5
7
1
2
0
7
2
2
9
=
1
1
2
h
B
i
r
k
e
t
t
s
1
7
.
8
4
3
4
1
8
2
1
3
5
9
8
4
1
=
1
1
2
m
H
o
w
e
s

P
e
r
c
i
v
a
l
1
7
.
8
6
3
6
1
9
8
1
5
0
9
0
2
8
1
1
4
h
F
i
n
e
r
s

S
t
e
p
h
e
n
s

I
n
n
o
c
e
n
t
1
7
.
5
4
7
9
2
6
9
7
4
6
5
3
7
1
1
5

F
i
s
h
b
u
r
n
s
1
7
.
1
9
5
0
2
3
1
1
0
3
7
4
1
8
1
1
6
m
B
i
g
g
a
r
t

B
a
i
l
l
i
e
1
7
.
0
4
1
5
1
6
0
1
3
8
1
0
6
4
1
1
1
7
h
H
a
r
b
o
t
t
l
e

&

L
e
w
i
s
1
6
.
8
6
0
0
2
3
3
8
8
7
2
2
8
1
1
8
h
S
h
a
k
e
s
p
e
a
r
e

P
u
t
s
m
a
n
1
6
.
6
4
8
8
2
2
4
1
5
4
7
4
3
4
1
1
9
h
E
d
w
i
n

C
o
e
1
6
.
4
4
9
7
3
4
2
6
4
4
8
3
3
1
2
0
h
W
i
t
h
y

K
i
n
g
1
5
.
9
3
1
8
1
7
7
1
1
5
9
0
5
0
1
2
1
h
L
a
n
g
l
e
y
s
1
5
.
7
4
9
1
2
0
4
1
6
2
7
7
3
2
1
2
2
m
M
o
r
t
o
n

F
r
a
s
e
r
1
5
.
4
4
4
0
1
4
3
1
6
0
1
0
8
3
5
1
2
3
m
S
t
e
v
e
n
s

&

B
o
l
t
o
n
1
5
.
2
4
2
2
1
7
7
1
0
1
8
6
3
6
1
2
4
h
H
a
r
p
e
r

M
a
c
l
e
o
d
1
5
.
1
3
5
1
1
5
7
1
5
2
9
6
4
3
=
1
2
5

B
a
t
e
s

W
e
l
l
s

&

B
r
a
i
t
h
w
a
i
t
e
1
5
.
0
5
5
6
2
0
3
9
2
7
4
2
7
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Revenue per partner (k)
Revenue per lawyer (k)
Total number of fee-earners
Total number of lawyers
Total number of partners
=
1
2
5

G
r
e
e
n
w
o
o
d
s
1
5
.
0
7
1
4
2
1
1
1
2
5
7
1
2
1
=
1
2
5
=
M
T
a
y
l
o
r

V
i
n
t
e
r
s
1
5
.
0
5
7
7
2
2
4
9
4
6
7
2
6
1
2
8
h
T
o
d
s

M
u
r
r
a
y
1
4
.
8
4
0
0
1
7
2
1
1
1
8
6
3
7
1
2
9
m
L
e
s
t
e
r

A
l
d
r
i
d
g
e
1
4
.
3
3
7
6
1
7
7
1
1
8
8
1
3
8
1
3
0
h
W
i
l
k
i
n

C
h
a
p
m
a
n
1
4
.
1
4
4
1
2
2
7
1
4
8
6
2
3
2
=
1
3
1
h
B
o
y
e
s

T
u
r
n
e
r
1
4
.
0
5
6
9
2
1
4
8
8
6
6
2
5
=
1
3
1
m
H
a
r
v
e
y

I
n
g
r
a
m
1
4
.
0
4
6
7
1
6
5
1
5
0
8
5
3
0
=
1
3
3
h
M
c
C
l
u
r
e

N
a
i
s
m
i
t
h
1
3
.
9
4
2
1
1
6
2
1
1
5
8
6
3
3
=
1
3
3
h
T
h
o
m
s
o
n

S
n
e
l
l

&

P
a
s
s
m
o
r
e
1
3
.
9
3
8
6
2
0
4
8
4
6
8
3
6
1
3
5
h
R
o
s
e
n
b
l
a
t
t

S
o
l
i
c
i
t
o
r
s
1
3
.
8
9
2
0
3
7
3
4
7
3
7
1
5
1
3
6
m
H
e
w
i
t
s
o
n
s
1
3
.
7
3
4
3
1
6
7
1
1
2
8
2
4
0
=
1
3
7
m
C
o
l
l
y
e
r

B
r
i
s
t
o
w
1
3
.
6
4
5
3
3
0
2
6
5
4
5
3
0
=
1
3
7
m
M
a
t
t
h
e
w

A
r
n
o
l
d

&

B
a
l
d
w
i
n
1
3
.
6
4
8
6
2
1
9
9
0
6
2
2
8
1
3
9
h
A
n
t
h
o
n
y

C
o
l
l
i
n
s
1
3
.
0
5
9
1
1
3
8
1
4
0
9
4
2
2
1
4
0
m
I
B
B

S
o
l
i
c
i
t
o
r
s
1
2
.
9
4
4
2
2
1
0
8
8
6
1
2
9
1
4
1
h
M
e
m
e
r
y

C
r
y
s
t
a
l
1
2
.
5
6
2
5
2
9
1
5
1
4
3
2
0
1
4
2
h
L
u
p
t
o
n

F
a
w
c
e
t
t
1
2
.
1
3
1
0
1
7
5
1
2
5
6
9
3
9
1
4
3
h
W
i
l
s
o
n
s
1
2
.
0
3
6
4
1
8
5
9
0
6
5
3
3
1
4
4
h
W
r
i
g
h
t

H
a
s
s
a
l
l
1
1
.
9
3
9
7
1
7
0
1
2
2
7
0
3
0
=
1
4
5
h
A
S
B

L
a
w
1
1
.
8
5
3
6
1
8
3
9
4
6
4
2
2
=
1
4
5

N
e
l
s
o
n
s
1
1
.
8
4
3
7
1
7
4
1
0
1
6
8
2
7
1
4
7
h
D
a
w
s
o
n
s
1
1
.
7
6
1
6
2
7
2
5
7
4
3
1
9
1
4
8
h
L
i
n
d
s
a
y
s
1
1
.
6
4
6
4
1
6
3
1
0
8
7
1
2
5
1
4
9

F
o
r
d

&

W
a
r
r
e
n
1
1
.
3
5
6
5
3
2
3
4
1
3
5
2
0
=
1
5
0
h
C
o
f
f
i
n

M
e
w

1
1
.
1
4
1
1
1
2
8
1
1
3
8
7
2
7
TLS_101_a ug_uk200_bot t om100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 38 Pa ge 101
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Profit per equity partner (k)
Earnings per partner (k)
Net profit (m)
Profit margin (%)
Bottom of equity (k)
Top of equity (k)
Rev per lawyer (k)
Rev per partner (k)
Rev per equity partner (k)
Cost per lawyer (k)
Profit per lawyer (k)
Total lawyers
Total partners
Total equity partners
Leverage
7
6
h
B
i
r
c
h
a
m

D
y
s
o
n

B
e
l
l
3
1
.
9
2
8
1
1
3
1
8
2
4
1
0
0
3
0
0
2
5
9
6
6
5
1
,
1
3
9
1
9
6
6
3
1
2
3
4
8
2
8
1
:
3
.
4
7
7
h
L
e
w
i
s

S
i
l
k
i
n
3
1
.
7
2
5
9
1
8
3
6
1
9
1
5
5
3
5
5
2
3
8
6
3
7
1
,
3
9
6
1
9
2
4
6
1
3
3
5
0
2
3
1
:
4
.
9
7
8
m
F
r
e
e
t
h

C
a
r
t
w
r
i
g
h
t
3
1
.
6
1
9
6
1
4
4
7
2
1
1
3
5
2
8
0
2
1
8
4
0
6
9
3
0
1
7
3
4
6
1
4
5
7
8
3
4
1
:
3
.
3
7
9
m
M
a
n
c
h
e
s
3
1
.
1
2
1
1
1
5
2
4
1
3
1
1
5
6
7
2
2
3
0
5
7
6
1
,
6
3
7
2
0
1
3
0
1
3
5
5
4
1
9
1
:
6
.
1
=
8
0
h
B
r
a
b
n
e
r
s

C
h
a
f
f
e

S
t
r
e
e
t
3
0
.
5
2
6
0
1
7
4
9
2
8
9
8
2
8
0
1
5
7
4
3
6
9
2
4
1
1
3
4
4
1
9
4
7
0
3
3
1
:
4
.
9
=
8
0
m
M
H
u
g
h

J
a
m
e
s
3
0
.
5
2
0
0
1
8
3
7
2
2
1
1
6
2
3
5
4
2
4
7
6
3
8
2
4
3
3
2
9
2
7
2
4
0
3
7
1
:
0
.
9
8
2
h
D
i
c
k
s
o
n

M
i
n
t
o
2
9
.
5
8
2
1
8
2
1
1
2
3
9
6
1
0
1
,
1
0
0
5
3
6
2
,
1
0
7
2
,
1
0
7
3
2
7
2
0
9
5
5
1
4
1
4
1
:
2
.
9
=
8
3
m
O
p
t
i
m
a

L
e
g
a
l
2
7
.
6
1
1
9
3
7
1
2
1
1
9
1
1
9
6
0
0
1
,
7
2
5
6
,
9
0
0
5
9
0
1
0
4
6
1
6
4
1
:
1
0
.
5
=
8
3
h
W
a
r
d

H
a
d
a
w
a
y
2
7
.
6
2
9
4
1
3
7
3
1
2
2
2
1
2
9
4
1
8
5
4
6
0
2
,
1
2
3
1
6
2
2
3
1
4
9
6
0
1
3
1
:
1
0
.
5
8
5
h
C
a
p
s
t
i
c
k
s
2
6
.
4
4
5
5
2
6
3
7
2
7
2
5
6
5
6
4
2
3
6
7
5
4
1
,
6
5
0

1
7
3
6
3
1
1
2
3
5
1
6
1
:
6
.
0
=
8
6
=
A
s
h
f
o
r
d
s
2
4
.
0
4
3
0
1
3
2
8
3
3
2
0
0
5
0
0
1
7
2
3
9
6
1
,
2
9
0
1
1
5
5
7
1
3
9
6
1
1
9
1
:
6
.
5
=
8
6
h
B
r
i
s
t
o
w
s
2
4
.
0
2
6
7
2
6
7
8
3
2
1
4
0
3
2
0
2
7
0
8
2
8
8
2
8
1
8
3
8
7
8
9
2
9
2
9
1
:
2
.
1
8
8
h
S
a
c
k
e
r

&

P
a
r
t
n
e
r
s
2
3
.
2
8
7
7
5
9
9
1
2
5
3
3
3
3
1
,
0
1
1
4
9
4
1
,
0
2
2
1
,
6
5
7
2
3
2
2
6
2
4
7
2
3
1
4
1
:
2
.
4
8
9
h
R
u
s
s
e
l
l
-
C
o
o
k
e
2
2
.
5
1
7
4
1
7
4
8
3
5
7
5
4
0
0
2
1
1
5
0
1
5
0
1
1
3
8
7
3
1
0
7
4
5
4
5
1
:
1
.
4
9
0
m
F
o
r
s
t
e
r
s
2
2
.
3
2
9
7
2
3
6
6
2
6
1
9
0
3
7
0
2
5
8
6
3
4
1
,
1
1
5
1
8
9
6
8
8
7
3
5
2
0
1
:
3
.
3
9
1
m
P
e
n
n
i
n
g
t
o
n
s
2
2
.
3
1
8
5
1
3
8
4
1
8
1
3
0
2
2
0
2
2
8
4
6
5
1
,
0
1
4
1
8
7
4
1
9
8
4
8
2
2
1
:
3
.
5
=
9
2
h
G
o
r
d
o
n
s
2
2
.
0
7
0
2
3
1
8
8
3
8
2
4
0
1
,
6
0
0
2
5
3
6
4
7
2
,
0
0
0
1
5
6
9
7
8
7
3
4
1
1
1
:
6
.
9
=
9
2
h
P
a
y
n
e

H
i
c
k
s

B
e
a
c
h
2
2
.
0
4
1
2
2
8
8
7
3
2
2
7
0
5
5
0
3
2
4
6
8
8
1
,
2
9
4
2
2
1
1
0
3
6
8
3
2
1
7
1
:
3
.
0
9
4
h
T
u
r
c
a
n

C
o
n
n
e
l
l
2
1
.
9
4
5
0
3
1
5
5
2
5
2
4
5
5
4
5
2
6
7
1
,
0
9
5
1
,
8
2
5
2
0
1
6
6
8
2
2
0
1
2
1
:
5
.
8
=
9
5
m
F
l
a
d
g
a
t
e

2
1
.
8
3
7
0
2
4
1
7
3
2
1
6
0
5
8
0
2
8
7
4
9
5
1
,
1
4
7
1
9
5
9
2
7
6
4
4
1
9
1
:
3
.
0
=
9
5
m
T
h
r
i
n
g

T
o
w
n
s
e
n
d
2
1
.
8
9
1
7
8
2
7
8
2
9
1
1
6
0
3
7
6
1
,
2
1
1
1
4
9
1
2
1
3
6
5
8
1
8
1
:
6
.
6
9
7
h
K
i
n
g
s
l
e
y

N
a
p
l
e
y
2
1
.
5
4
2
5
1
7
6
4
2
0
2
9
0
5
2
0
2
3
9
5
2
4
2
,
1
5
0
1
9
2
4
7
9
0
4
1
1
0
1
:
8
.
0
9
8
h
B
u
r
n
e
s
s
2
1
.
2
3
0
5
2
4
1
8
3
8
1
7
0
3
4
0
1
9
8
5
6
1
8
1
4
1
2
4
7
4
1
0
7
3
8
2
6
1
:
3
.
1
9
9
m
D
M
H

S
t
a
l
l
a
r
d
2
0
.
7
1
8
5
1
1
7
3
1
4
1
6
0
3
3
5
2
1
7
4
0
4
1
,
2
5
5
1
8
6
3
2
9
5
5
1
1
7
1
:
4
.
8
1
0
0
m
M
a
r
t
i
n
e
a
u
2
0
.
5
1
8
5
1
3
6
4
1
8
1
3
5
3
0
0
1
6
4
4
5
6
1
,
0
2
5
1
3
4
3
0
1
2
5
4
5
2
0
1
:
5
.
3
102|The Lawyer|UK 200
The
UK 200
76-100
TLS_102_a ug_uk200_t op100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 39 Pa ge 102
For further information, please contact:
Lawrence Bloom, Solicitor (nonpractising)
Jane Glassberg, Solicitor (nonpractising)
Jason Mann, Solicitor (nonpractising)
Ian Mouland ACA
Tel: 0207 269 9250 Email: info@moulandbloom.com
Web: www.moulandbloom.com
Mouland Bloom Limited, Sicilian House, 7 Sicilian Avenue, London WC1A 2QH
Experienced boutique for partners, team moves and mergers.
Our expertise includes:
20+ mergers brokered
35+ years of collective experience in senior level hires
Specialist search expertise across the full range of disciplines
Director level service at every stage of the process
Consultancy advice on fnancial and strategic issues
Our vision is clear: to operate as a strategic business partner to
our clients and to add real value to their lateral hire strategies.
We combine a thorough understanding of our clients business
and our candidates objectives with a commitment to providing
an excellent service.
TLS_103_UK200_10_di s 25/ 8/ 10 10: 50 Pa ge 1
104|The Lawyer|UK 200
The
UK 200
51-75
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Profit per equity partner (k)
Earnings per partner (k)
Net profit (m)
Profit margin (%)
Bottom of equity (k)
Top of equity (k)
Rev per lawyer (k)
Rev per partner (k)
Rev per equity partner (k)
Cost per lawyer (k)
Profit per lawyer (k)
Total lawyers
Total partners
Total equity partners
Leverage
5
1
=
R
e
y
n
o
l
d
s

P
o
r
t
e
r

C
h
a
m
b
e
r
l
a
i
n
6
0
.
0
3
2
7
3
2
7
2
0
3
4
1
3
0
5
8
0
3
0
2
9
6
8
9
6
8
1
9
9
1
0
2
1
9
9
6
2
6
2
1
:
2
.
2
5
2
h
S
p
e
e
c
h
l
y

B
i
r
c
h
a
m
5
8
.
4
4
2
8
2
7
9
1
6
2
7
2
4
5
5
7
0
2
8
8
6
8
7
1
,
5
7
8
2
0
9
7
9
2
0
3
8
5
3
7
1
:
4
.
5
5
3
h
W
e
i
g
h
t
m
a
n
s
5
6
.
2
3
5
4
1
6
6
9
1
6
2
3
3
4
1
4
1
6
5
5
5
2
2
,
1
9
5
1
3
9
2
7
3
4
0
1
0
2
2
6
1
:
1
2
.
3
5
4
m
M
a
c
l
a
y

M
u
r
r
a
y

&

S
p
e
n
s
5
2
.
5
2
6
5
2
2
7
1
3
2
4
1
4
0
3
3
0
2
2
2
7
8
4
1
,
0
9
4
1
6
9
5
4
2
3
6
6
7
4
8
1
:
3
.
9
5
5
h
H
B
J

G
a
t
e
l
e
y

W
a
r
e
i
n
g
4
9
.
6
3
0
2
2
1
2
1
8
3
5
1
2
6
8
0
2
2
0
8
4
9
6
8
5
5
1
3
4
7
3
2
3
9
1
0
0
5
8
1
:
3
.
1
5
6
m
P
a
n
n
o
n
e
4
9
.
5
2
2
9
1
5
1
8
1
6
1
5
4
4
0
3
2
3
2
4
8
1
1
,
4
5
6
1
9
6
3
7
2
1
3
1
0
3
3
4
1
:
5
.
3
5
7
m
D
i
c
k
i
n
s
o
n

D
e
e
s
4
8
.
8
2
1
6
1
9
3
9
1
9
1
6
1
3
0
1
2
0
0
7
2
4
1
,
3
1
9
1
6
3
3
7
2
4
3
6
7
3
7
1
:
5
.
6
5
8
h
M
i
s
h
c
o
n

d
e

R
e
y
a
4
7
.
5
4
5
0
2
6
9
1
0
2
1
2
7
5
7
5
0
3
1
7
8
0
5
2
,
1
5
9
2
5
1
6
6
1
5
0
5
9
2
2
1
:
5
.
8
5
9
m
B
o
n
d

P
e
a
r
c
e
4
6
.
0
2
3
5
1
6
3
8
1
6
1
5
8
3
0
6
1
7
0
5
9
0
1
,
4
3
8
1
4
3
2
8
2
7
0
7
8
3
2
1
:
7
.
4
6
0
=
B
l
a
k
e

L
a
p
t
h
o
r
n
4
5
.
0
1
1
6
1
1
4
6
1
3
9
9
1
4
0
1
8
8
4
4
6
8
8
2
1
6
3
2
5
2
4
0
1
0
1
5
1
1
:
3
.
7
6
1
h
D
a
v
i
e
s

A
r
n
o
l
d

C
o
o
p
e
r
4
4
.
1
2
7
8
1
7
3
8
1
8
1
5
0
4
5
0
2
5
3
5
7
6
1
,
5
3
1
2
0
7
4
6
1
7
4
7
7
2
9
1
:
5
.
0
6
2
m
M
C
o
b
b
e
t
t
s
4
3
.
8
1
3
2
1
2
5
4
9
1
0
0
2
5
0
1
8
7
5
2
8
1
,
4
1
3
1
7
0
1
8
2
3
4
8
3
3
1
1
:
6
.
5
=
6
3
h
F
a
r
r
e
r

&

C
o
4
2
.
6
4
4
2
2
5
8
1
0
2
4
2
0
0
5
6
5
2
9
1
6
4
4
1
,
9
7
2
2
2
2
6
9
1
4
6
6
6
2
2
1
:
5
.
8
=
6
3
h
W
a
l
k
e
r

M
o
r
r
i
s
4
2
.
6
5
3
5
3
2
5
1
7
3
9
1
9
0
7
0
0
2
6
5
8
3
5
1
,
3
7
4
1
6
1
1
0
3
1
6
1
5
1
3
1
1
:
4
.
2
6
5
h
T
L
T

S
o
l
i
c
i
t
o
r
s
4
1
.
0
2
8
5
1
5
2
6
1
5
1
9
0
3
9
0
2
3
0
6
5
1
1
,
9
5
2
1
9
7
3
4
1
7
8
6
3
2
1
1
:
7
.
5
6
6
m
C
l
a
r
k
e

W
i
l
l
m
o
t
t
4
0
.
8
1
6
3
1
1
8
6
1
3
1
1
0
2
9
5
1
8
5
6
0
0
1
,
2
0
0
1
6
0
2
5
2
2
0
6
8
3
4
1
:
5
.
5
6
7
h
M
R
u
s
s
e
l
l

J
o
n
e
s

&

W
a
l
k
e
r
4
0
.
6
4
0
4
2
2
7
9
2
2
2
1
5
4
5
0
3
0
1
7
3
8
1
,
8
4
5
2
3
5
6
6
1
3
5
5
5
2
2
1
:
5
.
1
6
8
m
B
e
v
a
n

B
r
i
t
t
a
n
3
7
.
7
2
8
8
2
0
0
6
1
6
1
5
0
3
4
0
2
0
4
7
8
5
1
,
7
9
5
1
7
1
3
2
1
8
5
4
8
2
1
1
:
7
.
8
6
9
h
M
H
o
w
a
r
d

K
e
n
n
e
d
y
3
7
.
0
3
0
9
1
6
2
5
1
3
1
6
0
5
0
0
2
6
1
5
3
6
2
,
3
1
3
2
2
6
3
5
1
4
2
6
9
1
6
1
:
7
.
9
7
0
h
M
o
r
g
a
n

C
o
l
e
3
6
.
0
1
9
3
1
7
5
7
1
9
1
5
8
2
1
2
2
0
8
6
6
7
1
,
0
6
0
1
6
9
3
9
1
7
3
5
4
3
4
1
:
4
.
0
7
1
m
B
r
o
d
i
e
s
3
5
.
8
3
2
3
2
0
4
9
2
5
1
9
0
4
3
0
1
8
2
5
7
5
1
,
3
0
7
1
3
7
4
5
1
9
7
6
2
2
7
1
:
6
.
2
7
2
m
S
h
e
p
h
e
r
d

&

W
e
d
d
e
r
b
u
r
n
3
5
.
3
2
4
3
1
8
6
8
2
3
1
3
8
2
5
5
2
0
1
5
6
9
1
,
0
3
8
1
5
4
4
7
1
7
6
6
2
3
4
1
:
4
.
2
7
3
m
T
h
o
m
a
s

E
g
g
a
r
3
4
.
7
1
8
2
1
4
5
7
2
1
9
2
2
8
7
2
3
1
4
8
9
9
9
7
1
8
3
4
8
1
5
0
7
1
3
5
1
:
3
.
3
7
4

M
K
e
o
g
h
s
3
3
.
0
3
0
0
1
6
3
5
1
4
1
5
0
6
1
4
2
3
2
7
6
7
2
,
2
0
0
2
0
1
3
2
1
4
2
4
3
1
5
1
:
8
.
5
7
5
h
M
B
r
o
w
n
e

J
a
c
o
b
s
o
n
3
2
.
9
2
4
4
1
2
6
4
1
2
1
1
0
3
0
0
1
6
8
4
7
7
2
,
0
5
6
1
4
8
2
0
1
9
6
6
9
1
6
1
:
1
1
.
3
TLS_104_a ug_uk200_t op100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 40 Pa ge 104
The
UK 200
26-50
The Lawyer|UK 200|105
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Profit per equity partner (k)
Earnings per partner (k)
Net profit (m)
Profit margin (%)
Bottom of equity (k)
Top of equity (k)
Rev per lawyer (k)
Rev per partner (k)
Rev per equity partner (k)
Cost per lawyer (k)
Profit per lawyer (k)
Total lawyers
Total partners
Total equity partners
Leverage
2
6
h
H
o
l
m
a
n

F
e
n
w
i
c
k

W
i
l
l
a
n
9
9
.
6
5
2
7
3
5
5
3
2
3
2
3
2
0
6
4
0
3
1
8
9
1
4
1
,
6
0
6
2
1
6
1
0
2
3
1
3
1
0
9
6
2
1
:
4
.
0
2
7
=
W
r
a
g
g
e

&

C
o
9
6
.
2
2
7
6
2
6
0
3
0
3
2
1
3
0
4
4
5
2
1
9
8
2
2
8
2
2
1
5
0
6
9
4
3
9
1
1
7
1
1
7
1
:
2
.
8
2
8
h
W
i
t
h
e
r
s
9
2
.
7
3
5
9
2
5
0
2
1
2
2
2
3
0
6
0
0
3
6
9
8
5
0
1
,
5
9
8
2
8
7
8
2
2
5
1
1
0
9
5
8
1
:
3
.
3
2
9
m
M
a
c
f
a
r
l
a
n
e
s
9
2
.
4
7
1
0
5
9
0
3
8
4
2
4
1
5
9
8
5
4
3
1
1
,
2
2
1
1
,
7
1
1
2
5
2
1
7
9
2
1
4
7
6
5
4
1
:
2
.
9
3
0
h
F
i
e
l
d

F
i
s
h
e
r

W
a
t
e
r
h
o
u
s
e
9
2
.
0
4
7
6
2
5
4
1
7
1
8
1
9
9
6
1
6
2
5
4
7
1
7
2
,
6
2
9
2
0
8
4
6
3
6
2
1
2
8
3
5
1
:
9
.
3
3
1
h
S
t
e
p
h
e
n
s
o
n

H
a
r
w
o
o
d
9
1
.
9
5
6
1
3
6
8
2
7
3
0
2
7
7
8
3
1
3
4
0
9
3
8
1
,
8
7
6
2
3
9
1
0
1
2
7
0
9
8
4
9
1
:
4
.
5
3
2
h
O
l
s
w
a
n
g
9
1
.
0
4
2
0
3
2
0
2
5
2
8
2
5
0
7
5
0
2
8
3
9
3
8
1
,
5
1
7
2
0
5
7
9
3
2
1
9
7
6
0
1
:
4
.
4
3
3
m
S
h
o
o
s
m
i
t
h
s
9
0
.
0
2
5
6
1
5
9
1
1
1
2
2
2
9
2
8
8
2
7
1
8
5
7
2
,
0
9
3
2
3
8
3
3
3
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
1
:
6
.
7
3
4
m
T
r
o
w
e
r
s

&

H
a
m
l
i
n
s
8
9
.
4
5
5
3
2
8
5
1
4
1
6
4
3
7
5
8
3
2
8
6
8
1
3
3
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4
3
8
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4
0
4
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1
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6
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:
1
1
.
0
3
5
h
K
e
n
n
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d
y
s
8
8
.
2
3
8
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2
2
0
1
9
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1
2
1
0
6
0
0
2
9
8
7
0
0
1
,
8
0
0
2
3
5
6
3
2
9
6
1
2
6
4
9
1
:
5
.
0
3
6
h
H
i
l
l

D
i
c
k
i
n
s
o
n
8
7
.
1
2
4
8
1
6
6
1
4
1
5
1
5
0
3
1
0
2
2
5
5
5
1
1
,
5
9
0
1
9
0
3
5
3
8
7
1
5
8
5
5
1
:
6
.
1
3
7
h
M
I
n
c
e

&

C
o
8
6
.
3
5
6
8
3
9
8
2
6
3
0
2
6
0
7
0
0
3
5
5
9
9
2
1
,
7
2
6
2
4
9
1
0
7
2
4
3
8
7
5
0
1
:
3
.
9
3
8
m
O
s
b
o
r
n
e

C
l
a
r
k
e
8
3
.
7
3
9
3
2
8
5
1
9
2
3
2
4
7
5
1
2
2
3
9
7
6
8
1
,
7
0
8
1
8
4
5
5
3
5
0
1
0
9
4
9
1
:
6
.
1
3
9
m
M
B
a
r
l
o
w

L
y
d
e

&

G
i
l
b
e
r
t
8
1
.
5
3
5
0
3
3
1
2
7
3
3
1
7
0
4
6
0
2
8
2
9
5
9
1
,
0
7
2
1
9
0
9
2
2
8
9
8
5
7
6
1
:
2
.
8
4
0
h
W
a
t
s
o
n

F
a
r
l
e
y

&

W
i
l
l
i
a
m
s
8
0
.
2
4
4
8
3
6
1
2
6
3
2
1
9
5
1
,
0
0
0
3
2
2
9
1
1
1
,
4
0
7
2
2
0
1
0
2
2
4
9
8
8
5
7
1
:
3
.
4
4
1
h
T
r
a
v
e
r
s

S
m
i
t
h
7
2
.
0
7
0
5
5
3
5
3
0
4
2
3
7
5
1
,
0
0
0
3
5
8
1
,
1
4
3
1
,
6
7
4
2
0
7
1
5
1
2
0
1
6
3
4
3
1
:
3
.
7
4
2
h
D
W
F
7
1
.
5
3
3
3
9
2
9
1
2
7
2
6
0
8
2
0
4
5
9
5
2
,
7
5
0
1
7
9
2
5
3
5
1
1
2
0
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6
1
:
1
2
.
5
4
3
h
B
e
r
r
y
m
a
n
s

L
a
c
e

M
a
w
e
r
6
9
.
4
2
2
2
1
7
1
1
3
1
8
1
2
0
2
7
0
1
8
4
5
9
3
1
,
2
1
8
1
5
0
3
4
3
7
7
1
1
7
5
7
1
:
5
.
6
4
4
h
M
c
G
r
i
g
o
r
s
6
9
.
0
2
6
3
2
1
5
1
5
2
1
1
6
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8
9
7
2
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4
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4
0
3
6
5
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6
5
5
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:
5
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6
4
5
m
M
i
l
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R
e
e
v
e
6
7
.
3
3
0
7
2
6
3
1
9
2
8
2
4
4
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5
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6
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5
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4
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2
7
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6
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1
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4
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4
4
6
m
H
a
l
l
i
w
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l
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s
6
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0
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0
0
0
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8
0
4
9
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1
,
6
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1
8
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3
7
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1
3
6
4
0
1
:
8
.
3
4
7
h
L
G
6
4
.
9
4
6
0
3
3
3
1
9
2
9
2
3
0
6
9
0
3
4
6
8
6
5
1
,
5
8
8
2
4
6
1
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1
8
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7
5
4
1
1
:
3
.
6
4
8
m
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h
a
r
l
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s

R
u
s
s
e
l
l
6
3
.
2
2
5
9
1
9
3
1
1
1
8
1
5
4
2
8
5
2
4
9
6
5
8
1
,
4
7
0
2
0
4
4
5
2
5
4
9
6
4
3
1
:
4
.
9
4
9
m
D
u
n
d
a
s

&

W
i
l
s
o
n
6
1
.
0
3
1
7
3
1
9
2
5
4
1
1
5
0
7
3
0
2
1
5
7
6
5
7
6
5
1
2
6
8
9
2
8
3
8
0
8
0
1
:
2
.
6
5
0
m
B
u
r
g
e
s

S
a
l
m
o
n
6
0
.
7
4
1
4
3
5
2
2
0
3
4
2
0
9
4
6
4
2
4
6
9
1
7
1
,
2
1
6
1
6
4
8
3
2
4
6
6
6
5
0
1
:
3
.
9
TLS_105_a ug_uk200_t op100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 41 Pa ge 105
106|The Lawyer|UK 200
Rank
Movement from last year
Estimated figures
Firm
Turnover (m)
Profit per equity partner (k)
Earnings per partner (k)
Net profit (m)
Profit margin (%)
Bottom of equity (k)
Top of equity (k)
Rev per lawyer (k)
Rev per partner (k)
Rev per equity partner (k)
Cost per lawyer (k)
Profit per lawyer (k)
Total lawyers
Total partners
Total equity partners
Leverage
1
h
C
l
i
f
f
o
r
d

C
h
a
n
c
e
1
,
1
9
7
9
3
3
6
9
8
3
5
0
2
9
4
5
1
1
,
1
3
0
4
6
3
2
,
1
3
0
3
,
2
1
8
3
2
8
1
3
5
2
,
5
8
6
5
6
2
3
7
2
1
:
6
.
0
2
m
L
i
n
k
l
a
t
e
r
s
1
,
1
8
3
1
,
2
1
4
1
,
0
7
4
5
0
7
4
3
6
2
2
1
,
5
5
5
5
4
6
2
,
4
3
4
2
,
6
7
6
3
1
2
2
3
4
2
,
1
6
5
4
8
6
4
4
2
1
:
3
.
9
3
m
F
r
e
s
h
f
i
e
l
d
s

B
r
u
c
k
h
a
u
s

D
e
r
i
n
g
e
r
1
,
1
4
1
1
,
4
0
6
1
,
3
5
0
5
8
9
5
2
6
2
7
1
,
5
0
0
5
3
3
2
,
5
7
0
2
,
7
2
3
2
5
8
2
7
5
2
,
1
4
1
4
4
4
4
1
9
1
:
4
.
1
4
=
A
l
l
e
n

&

O
v
e
r
y
1
,
0
5
0
1
,
1
0
0
9
5
1
3
8
8
3
7
6
6
1
1
,
6
5
2
5
3
3
2
,
3
2
8
2
,
9
5
8
3
3
6
1
9
7
1
,
9
6
9
4
5
1
3
5
5
1
:
4
.
5
5
=
D
L
A

P
i
p
e
r
5
8
1
.
0
5
2
7
3
0
8
1
0
0
1
7
2
2
5
1
,
5
0
0
2
5
0
8
9
9
3
,
0
7
4
2
0
7
4
3
2
,
3
2
2
6
4
6
1
8
9
1
:
1
1
.
3
6
=
L
o
v
e
l
l
s
5
4
2
.
0
6
6
3
5
1
5
1
6
0
3
0
4
1
5
8
3
0
3
8
8
1
,
5
1
0
2
,
2
4
0
2
7
3
1
1
4
1
,
3
9
8
3
5
9
2
4
2
1
:
4
.
8
7
h
H
e
r
b
e
r
t

S
m
i
t
h
4
4
9
.
9
8
6
2
6
4
6
1
1
7
2
6
4
4
0
1
,
0
2
5
4
2
6
1
,
7
7
8
3
,
3
0
8
3
1
5
1
1
1
1
,
0
5
6
2
5
3
1
3
6
1
:
6
.
8
8
m
M
S
l
a
u
g
h
t
e
r

a
n
d

M
a
y
4
3
9
.
0
1
,
8
4
0
1
,
7
9
8
2
2
8
5
2
1
,
0
5
0
2
,
1
0
0
7
9
0
3
,
4
3
4
3
,
5
4
4
3
8
0
4
1
0
5
5
6
1
2
8
1
2
4
1
:
3
.
5
9
=
E
v
e
r
s
h
e
d
s
3
5
5
.
2
5
1
7
3
3
2
7
0
2
0
2
7
5
8
7
2
2
9
2
1
,
1
3
1
2
,
6
1
2
2
3
4
5
8
1
,
2
1
7
3
1
4
1
3
6
1
:
7
.
9
1
0
=
N
o
r
t
o
n

R
o
s
e
3
0
7
.
0
4
8
6
4
0
0
9
2
3
0
2
8
3
9
5
0
3
0
1
1
,
1
1
6
1
,
6
2
4
2
1
1
9
1
1
,
0
1
9
2
7
5
1
8
9
1
:
4
.
4
1
1
=
A
s
h
u
r
s
t
2
9
3
.
0
6
8
9
5
2
6
1
0
3
3
5
3
6
2
9
4
0
3
6
6
1
,
3
0
2
1
,
9
5
3
2
3
7
1
2
9
8
0
1
2
2
5
1
5
0
1
:
4
.
3
1
2
=
S
i
m
m
o
n
s

&

S
i
m
m
o
n
s
2
5
1
.
0
4
6
1
3
8
4
5
9
2
3
2
4
0
8
5
0
3
3
2
1
,
1
5
1
1
,
9
7
6
2
5
5
7
7
7
5
6
2
1
8
1
2
7
1
:
5
.
0
1
3
=
C
M
S

C
a
m
e
r
o
n

M
c
K
e
n
n
a
2
1
4
.
4
4
5
3
3
8
3
4
6
2
1
2
0
0
5
0
1
2
9
1
1
,
5
2
1
2
,
1
2
3
2
2
9
6
2
7
3
8
1
4
1
1
0
1
1
:
6
.
3
1
4
=
P
i
n
s
e
n
t

M
a
s
o
n
s
2
0
6
.
0
4
1
0
2
5
6
4
6
2
2
2
4
0
6
0
5
2
2
3
7
4
9
1
,
8
2
3
1
7
4
5
0
9
2
2
2
7
5
1
1
3
1
:
7
.
2
1
5
h
B
i
r
d

&

B
i
r
d
2
0
1
.
8
4
6
6
3
2
7
3
8
1
9
2
8
4
7
6
6
2
7
3
9
4
3
2
,
4
9
1
2
2
2
5
1
7
3
8
2
1
4
8
1
1
:
8
.
1
1
6
h
C
l
y
d
e

&

C
o
1
9
2
.
0
6
0
5
4
3
0
5
5
2
8
2
8
6
8
8
5
3
3
7
1
,
1
7
1
2
,
1
1
0
2
4
2
9
6
5
6
9
1
6
4
9
1
1
:
5
.
3
1
7
h
B
e
r
w
i
n

L
e
i
g
h
t
o
n

P
a
i
s
n
e
r
1
9
1
.
0
4
5
5
3
4
3
4
2
2
2
2
0
8
1
,
2
0
0
3
2
7
9
9
5
2
,
0
5
3
2
5
6
7
1
5
8
5
1
9
2
9
3
1
:
5
.
3
1
8
m
T
a
y
l
o
r

W
e
s
s
i
n
g
1
7
7
.
9
3
8
5
2
7
8
5
6
3
2
2
0
0
7
0
0
2
7
9
6
1
9
1
,
2
1
8
1
9
1
8
8
6
3
8
2
8
8
1
4
6
1
:
3
.
4
1
9
m
S
J

B
e
r
w
i
n
1
7
1
.
0
4
4
7
3
2
9
3
9
2
3
1
8
0
6
4
0
3
1
5
1
,
1
3
2
2
,
1
6
5
2
4
3
7
2
5
4
3
1
5
1
7
9
1
:
5
.
9
=
2
0
h
A
d
d
l
e
s
h
a
w

G
o
d
d
a
r
d
1
6
7
.
5
4
2
6
3
1
9
4
1
2
5
2
2
1
5
7
2
2
8
7
1
,
0
1
5
1
,
7
2
7
2
1
7
7
1
5
8
3
1
6
5
9
7
1
:
5
.
0
=
2
0
h
D
e
n
t
o
n

W
i
l
d
e

S
a
p
t
e
1
6
7
.
5
3
6
0
2
8
5
3
1
1
9
2
3
0
5
4
0
2
7
5
9
4
1
1
,
8
6
1
2
2
3
5
1
6
1
0
1
7
8
9
0
1
:
5
.
8
2
2
h
I
r
w
i
n

M
i
t
c
h
e
l
l
1
5
7
.
0
5
4
0
3
2
5
2
8
1
8
1
5
0
7
0
0
3
5
9
1
,
3
6
5
3
,
0
1
9
2
9
5
6
4
4
3
7
1
1
5
5
2
1
:
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The
UK 200
1-25
TLS_106_a ug_uk200_t op100_e d 26/ 8/ 10 17: 41 Pa ge 106
hays.co.uk/legal
Working across a nationwide and international network of ofces, our
unique market insight and proven success helps us deliver a level of service
our clients and candidates want to use again and again.

From blue chip corporates and banks, to a full spectrum of law rms
and public sector and not-for-prot organisations, we use our deep
expertise across the legal market to nd the perfect t for you or your
organisation.

If you need a well informed opinion, advice on a specic area of
recruitment or wider stafng project, our expert consultants can
help you. Or if a new career is what you desire, our long-standing
relationships with clients will assist you in getting that important rst
introduction.

To discuss your needs in more detail, contact Yvonne Smyth
at yvonne.smyth@hays.com or call 020 7628 0301.
RECRUITING THE BEST
LEGAL TALENT
Bringing the right person together with the right job. Thats
the magic of recruitment. Its an energy that can transform
an organisation, a power that can change a life.
TLS_107_UK200_10_di s : TLS_107_UK200_10_di s 20/ 8/ 10 12: 28 Pa ge 1
TLS_108_UK200_10_di s : TLS_108_UK200_10_di s 20/ 8/ 10 12: 27 Pa ge 1

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