Browne Jacobson has boosted its fee income by 10% to a record
breaking £35m – up from £31.9m.
The rise continues an upward trend which has seen the firm’s
turnover more than quadruple since 1997 thanks to a consistent flow
of instructions from both existing and new clients.
New key clients and panel appointments during the year included
the Welsh Assembly Government, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Yorkshire
Bank, GE Commercial Finance, Amcor and the Health and Safety
Executive. The firm was also re-appointed to a number of key panels
including the NHSLA, Lloyds TSB, and Derby Foundation NHS
Trust.
Managing Partner Brian Smith said:
“Once again we have had another excellent year. Over the
last few years the firm has invested heavily in offices, people and
technology and we are now seeing this strategy bearing fruit. Our
improved financial performance has been achieved without merger or
acquisition or adding additional offices to our network. Despite
challenging market conditions we are determined to grow income
further over the next twelve months by taking full advantage of our
strength in depth across a number of practice areas and focusing on
three key growth sectors including commercial, health and
insurance.”
The results come at the end of an exceptionally busy year,
particularly for the Business Services and Property teams with
turnover growing by 26% and 31% respectively. The firm’s national
reputation in health and insurance also played a pivotal role as
did the performance of the firm’s Birmingham office.
Over the year the Corporate group advised on more than 100 deals
with a capital value in excess of £1 billion. The Banking team was
also highly active acting on more than 30 deals in 2007 with a
capital value of £600m. The firm’s public sector team secured a
position on a number of prestigious panels including the Welsh
Assembly Government and the West Yorkshire Panel which includes
Kirklees, Bradford, Calderdale and Wakefield Councils.
The firm also continued its investment in people with four
lateral partner hires and 11 promotions.
During the year the firm achieved further success by being named
‘Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year’ by Nottinghamshire Law Society and
winning ‘Best Graduate Recruitment Campaign’ at The Lawyer HR
Awards 2008. Identified as ‘one to watch’ in The Sunday Times’ Best
Companies To Work For 2008 the firm was also re-accredited as an
Investor in People across all three offices. In addition Emma
Dickson picked up the ‘Commercial Lawyer of the Year’ Award from
Birmingham Law Society and the firm won top honours at the Managing
Partners' Forum 2007 European Practice Management Award for 'best
marketing campaign’.
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