Browne Jacobson has posted a record set of financial results for the second year in succession.
For the 12 months to April 2012 turnover rose to £41.3m, a 17.3 % increase from last year’s £35.2m. The year on year increase is the highest recorded by Browne Jacobson for over a decade and has been delivered without acquisition or merger.
The double digit growth enjoyed by Nottingham (16%), Birmingham (17%) and London (26%) is expected to be shared in the year ahead by its most recent venture in Manchester, which opened in the heart of the City’s business district in January.
In 2010 Browne Jacobson launched a firmwide performance award scheme, enabling everyone to share in the results of a successful year. The exceptional 7% award being paid to employees this summer will add to the ‘feel-good’ factor already being enjoyed as the firm moves into its new 60,000 sq ft offices at Mowbray House in Nottingham later this month.
The firm has also been actively investing in teams across its four office network, adding 79 bringing the total headcount to 596. New partner arrivals have included Emma Swann, Tim Claremont and Juliette Shaw bringing the total number of lawyers to 304, of which 78 are partners. This was in addition to the 5 partner and 12 associate promotions announced in April.
New clients added over the past twelve months included the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham, Coventry City Council, East Midlands Housing Group, North York Moors National Park Authority, Musion Systems Ltd, logistics giant Ballyvesey Holdings, Inspired Gaming, Wesleyan Assurance and Affinion International, the world’s largest provider of packaged financial products.
Other notable achievements for the Browne Jacobson included being awarded Law Firm of the Year by Birmingham Law Society and Legal Advisers of the Year at the Education Investors Awards for its ground-breaking work on the Government’s academies programme which has seen the firm being instructed on over 330 academy conversions to date.
Managing Partner Iain Blatherwick, said:
“These results herald another landmark year for the firm. It is a phenomenal achievement by all involved, well above the average growth anticipated across the UK’s top 100 law firms.
“All areas of the business have performed well, exceeding our expectations.
“It is particularly pleasing considering this growth is purely organic and has been achieved without merger or acquisition, although we do not rule out acquisition being part of our strategy going forward.
“Our sector based strategy, increased investment in our offices, people and technology and delivering exceptional levels of client service has been a winning formula.
“We are committed to growing income further over the next twelve months by taking full advantage of our strength in depth across key core sectors including retail and IT, health, public sector, education and insurance.”