Law firm commits to Nottingham city centre after posting record results
A Nottingham law firm says it is committed to staying in the city centre, despite the future of its offices there being in doubt.
Richard Medd, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, told TheBusinessDesk.com that although it will probably have to leave it current base on the former HMRC campus in Nottingham city centre, it will remain in the heart of Nottingham, where it can trace its roots back 230 years.
However, he added: “It would be great to have clarity on the plans for the remainder of the site so we can factor that into our long term property strategy.”
The news comes as Browne Jacobson posts its financial results, which saw turnover rising toa record £85m for the year ending April 30. This marks a 44% increase in revenues since 2015, when the firm’s turnover was £58.9m.
Key highlights during the year included a series of high profile client wins including, amongst others, Sport England, JD Sports, REAch2 Academy Trust, and GLF Schools and a series of panel appointments and re-appointments including the NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative, Cornwall Council and Midland Heart. The firm also advised Aspen Phoenix NewCo, the company that acquired Paperchase, on securing a sustainable outcome for the business, its customers, suppliers and 1000 employees.
The year also saw a number of key lateral hires including James Coles as head of the property litigation team, Bettina Rigg as the firm’s first head of higher education and commercial disputes resolution partner Sophie Ashcroft. The firm also announced 29 partner, legal director and senior associate promotions.
Richard Medd, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “We have achieved brilliant financial results in a challenging year for many businesses. The start of the year saw Covid impact on many parts of our business, but that also brought opportunities for us and I am delighted to say all parts of the firm ended the year very strongly.
“Looking ahead we predict more growth for 2021-22 as the country eases itself out of lockdown with our focus firmly on helping our clients navigate through very challenging times.
“For me the defining memory of the past year has been the incredible resilience, creativity and flexibility shown by our people and clients in adapting to the changing environment we found ourselves in. I couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s has been a year that has seen us support our clients through their biggest challenges, from the NHS to the thousands of private businesses, schools and other bodies that have needed our help to guide them through the pandemic. This is testament to the reputation we have as trusted advisers in our key target markets and we are particularly delighted that we were able to support the pandemic response, including helping with the establishment of Nightingale hospitals and advising clients involved in the ventilator challenge.”
2020–21 saw the firm launch its new strategy, building on its reputation as a leading national firm, including a focus on advising businesses and institutions which play a key role in society across the private and public sectors. The firm also introduced ‘One Firm, wherever you are’ – a new approach giving each employee the right to choose where they wish to work. The launch coincided with the unveiling of its new Manchester office which has been specially designed to reflect the firm’s commitment to flexible ways of working in a post-pandemic world.
The firm also made progress delivering on its commitment to equality and diversity. It appointed Oliver Holmes, the firm’s first head of diversity & inclusion, was ranked one of the top five leading employers in the country by the Social Mobility Foundation and hosted the UK’s largest virtual work experience and legal career insights event under our FAIRE (Fairer access into Real Experience) initiative with over 7,000 attendees taking part.
Medd added: “We have made significant progress towards our commitment to deliver true diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We have seen fantastic engagement and had open, supportive and honest conversations to help us celebrate our differences and address our challenges. This work, alongside the principles enshrined in One Firm, wherever you are’ and our commitment to the environment and reducing our carbon footprint perfectly reflects our values as an inclusive, flexible employer.”
