Gateley profits nearly double following integration of Halliwells

BIRMINGHAM-based law firm Gateley has seen its profits leap by £8m, partly as a result of its takeover of failed Manchester firm Halliwells.

Profits almost doubled to £17.1m in 2012/13 from £9.1m in 2011/12. Turnover was also up from £44.9m to £50.7m over the same period.

Gateley fully integrated the Manchester office of Halliwells in May 2012.

As The Lawyer  publication points out, the deal has clearly had a positive impact on the firm’s bottom line – increase in cash at year end was up to £320.8m from £132.3m for the previous financial year.

Gateley acquired Halliwells’ banking & finance, corporate, real estate, real estate litigation, corporate recovery, commercial litigation, intellectual property, employment, pensions and construction teams.

Gateley senior partner Mike Ward said: “We’ve been on the journey since 2010 to integrate the business and get it operating through legal entity.

“This is the first year you’ve seen a set of results where they are all in there together.”

“Overall we were pleased with the year, it’s a tough trading environment and managed to move the headline turnover forward.”