National law firm Browne Jacobson has seen turnover grow 17% to a record £58.9m for 2014-15, up from £50.2m in 2013-14.
All five of the firm’s offices posted impressive organic growth figures with the Birmingham office recording a 12% increase in work done, Exeter 40%, London 61%, Manchester 73% and Nottingham 11%.
2014-15 saw the firm expand its London operations with a re-location to new offices at 6 Bevis Marks and make a significant investment in its Birmingham office allowing the firm considerable capacity to expand its future headcount and continue to deliver exceptional client service. The year also saw it become the first UK law firm to be awarded a three star ‘exceptional’ rating for its client service from Investors in Customers (IIC).
The firm secured a series of key strategic lateral hires as well as announcing 7 partner and 14 associate promotions. New partner hires included Stephen Matthew (London), Jonathan Fuggle (Birmingham), Tom Armstrong (Nottingham), Lynne Rathbone and Dale Collins (Exeter). The total number of lawyers has reached 417, while partner headcount rose from 98 to 103 and overall headcount has reached 787 across its five UK offices.
The firm also attracted a string of national and regional private and public sector clients including Belvoir Lettings PLC, ULS Technology plc, Buttress Group, Business Growth Fund, Morgan Sindall plc, ASCL, St John Ambulance, South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humberside Foundation Trust, Churchmarketplace, Red Dog Music, Cornwall Council, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Surrey Councils Framework.
The firm is currently acting as Counsel in the UK, Commonwealth and Europe to the trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities LLC and Bernard Madoff, in relation to recovery of investors’ funds following the collapse of Bernard Madoff’s $40bn-plus Ponzi fraud scheme. The firm’s health team is also acting for all 22 West Midlands clinical commissioning groups on the region’s NHS111 project. Other clients include: NHS Litigation Authority, Hiscox, Morrisons, Vodafone, Crown Commercial Service, HMRC, Mace, Deutsche Bank, Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Environment Agency, NHS England, Homes & Communities Agency, National Governors Association, OSI Rapiscan, Natural England, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, The London Taxi Corporation Ltd and the Welsh Government.
In 2010 Browne Jacobson also launched a firmwide performance award scheme, enabling everyone to share in the results of a successful year and employees will this year receive a 5.5% exceptional award.
Managing Partner Iain Blatherwick, said:
“We have had one of our strongest years ever, comfortably exceeding the targets we set ourselves at the start of the year.
“There have been many highlights during the year but unveiling our new London office, investment in Birmingham and becoming the first UK law firm to achieve a three star Investors in Customers rating particularly stand out as ones that we are immensely proud of. We thrive on delivering excellent client service and these three alone speak volumes about our commitment to delivering the highest quality legal service we can for our clients.
“Our sector strategy and emphasis on building a strong relationship with our clients is paying dividends with organic growth being delivered across the board.
“Our commitment to invest across all our five UK offices means we are in a very strong position to continue to drive the business forward.”