Record turnover for Browne Jacobson
BIRMINGHAM law firm Browne Jacobson has announced a 17% growth in turnover to a record £58.9m for 2014-15, up from £50.2m in 2013-14.
All five of the firm’s offices posted organic growth figures – with Birmingham by 12%.
During the year the firm’s Victoria Square office saw a significant investment which will allow for future workforce increases.
New partners appointments included Jonathan Fuggle in health, while the West Midlands office also announced a record five partner promotions and two associate promotions. Flagship instructions include acting for all 22 West Midlands clinical commissioning groups on the West Midlands NHS111 project.
The total number of lawyers at the firm nationally has now reached 417, while partner headcount rose from 98 to 103 and overall headcount has reached 787 across the firm’s five offices.
The year saw the firm expand its London operations with a re-location to new offices at 6 Bevis as well as becoming the first UK law firm to be awarded a three star ‘exceptional’ rating for its client service from Investors in Customers (IIC).
The firm also attracted a string of national and regional private and public sector clients including ULS Technology, Buttress Group, Business Growth Fund, Morgan Sindall, ASCL, St John Ambulance, South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humberside Foundation Trust, Churchmarketplace, Red Dog Music, Cornwall Council, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and the Surrey Councils Framework.
The firm is currently acting as Counsel in the UK, Commonwealth and Europe to the trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities and Bernard Madoff, in relation to recovery of investors’ funds following the collapse of Bernard Madoff’s $40bn-plus Ponzi fraud scheme.
Other clients include: NHS Litigation Authority, Hiscox, Morrisons, Vodafone, Crown Commercial Service, HMRC, Mace, Deutsche Bank, Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Environment Agency, NHS England, Homes & Communities Agency, National Governors Association, OSI Rapiscan, Natural England, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, The London Taxi Corporation Ltd, and the Welsh Government.
In 2010 Browne Jacobson launched a firm-wide performance award scheme, enabling everyone to share in the results of a successful year and employees will this year receive a 5.5% exceptional award.
Iain Blatherwick, managing partner, said: “We have had one of our strongest years ever, comfortably exceeding the targets we set ourselves at the start of the year. The Birmingham office has certainly played its part.
“There have been many highlights during the year but unveiling our new London office, investment in Birmingham and becoming the first UK law firm to achieve a three star Investors in Customers rating particularly stand out as ones that we are immensely proud of.
“Our sector strategy and emphasis on building a strong relationship with our clients is paying dividends with organic growth being delivered across the board.”
