Ward Hadaway reports record fee income

LAW firm Ward Hadaway has recorded a fifth consecutive year of growth with turnover rising to a record £33.5m.

The Newcastle-based firm- which has been on a growth spurt in Manchester of late – said fee income had risen 10% in the last two years, despite intense competition.

While profit figures weren’t the firm said its enlarged Manchester office, based at The Observatory had increased fee income by 47% in the year to the end of April.

Significant new hires in the period included corporate partner Paul Ellaby and this is an area which the firm expects to further strengthen in the near future.
 
Commenting on the firm’s progress, managing partner Jamie Martin said:
“Competition in the legal market place is intensifying with the arrival of new entrants and existing firms looking to grow their market share as a result of consolidation, set against that backdrop and the need to keep costs under control, the fact that we have continued to grow our business across all three offices is very pleasing, with a number of practice areas seeing significant growth.”

It said its litigation and department remains a key strength, accounting for £16m of annual turnover. Property (up 16%) and commercial (17%) also saw strong growth.

Mr Martin added: “Unlike some of our competitors we have continued to grow our workforce and to provide additional high quality jobs by investing in the regional economies of the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, and the North West.  

“We have had an extremely busy year across all three of our offices in the North as we continue to fulfil our vision of being a ‘Northern law firm for National Business’.”