Month: August 2020

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Life During Law: Andrew Ballheimer

I’m the son of immigrants and they were intent that I had an education, so I had to become a professional. To be honest, I was only going to practise law for two years and then do something else.

The first thing I ever did as an associate was spend all night perfecting a document, checking every page. Two-months qualified at the signing, I handed over the execution page. I’d misspelt the client’s name. You spend all this time getting it right and everything’s perfect except for the most important word in the document. His bloody name! Continue reading “Life During Law: Andrew Ballheimer”

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Life During Law: Andrew Ballheimer

I’m the son of immigrants and they were intent that I had an education, so I had to become a professional. To be honest, I was only going to practise law for two years and then do something else.

The first thing I ever did as an associate was spend all night perfecting a document, checking every page. Two-months qualified at the signing, I handed over the execution page. I’d misspelt the client’s name. You spend all this time getting it right and everything’s perfect except for the most important word in the document. His bloody name! Continue reading “Life During Law: Andrew Ballheimer”

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‘A fair bit of progress’ – Brodies withstands year-end turbulence to increase revenue and operating profit

Scottish leader Brodies is the latest firm in the LB100 to display its fiscal resilience, growing revenue and operating profit despite a significant Covid-19-induced slowdown during the closing months of 2019/20. 

Revenue at the Scottish independent was up 7% to £82m from £76.9m last year, making it 10 years of consecutive growth at Brodies and a 20% increase over the last two years. Operating profits, meanwhile, underwent a more muted 3% rise to £38.5m while profit per equity partner (PEP) suffered a 4% drop to £680,000 amid headcount increases.  Continue reading “‘A fair bit of progress’ – Brodies withstands year-end turbulence to increase revenue and operating profit”

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Revolving Doors: DWF appoints senior hand in critical management refresh as experienced players move to and from G100 firms

The past week has seen some senior hands move to and from large international law firms, not least DWF Group refreshing its c-suite with experience to help CEO Sir Nigel Knowles at a critical time for the business. 

DWF has, following a ‘recruitment process’, appointed the current chair of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer, as its new chairman with effect from 1 August. Meanwhile, Chris Sullivan, who stepped up to become interim chairman, when former chairman Knowles took over from outgoing CEO Andrew Leaitherland in May, will now become deputy chairman.  Continue reading “Revolving Doors: DWF appoints senior hand in critical management refresh as experienced players move to and from G100 firms”

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‘Complacency not an option’ at Penningtons as revenues and profits hike following 2019 merger

Penningtons Manches Cooper produced a strong showing in 2019/20, the firm’s latest financial results show, with revenue and profits both enjoying an uptick following last summer’s tie up between legacy firms Penningtons Manches and Thomas Cooper. 

Revenues rose 17% to £93m over the last financial year, up from £79.5m last year, while overall profits soared to £28m after a disappointing 15% drop last year to £14.5m. Disputes has become the main engine room at the firm, producing more than 50% of Penningtons’ material output following a focus on growing its contentious practices.   Continue reading “‘Complacency not an option’ at Penningtons as revenues and profits hike following 2019 merger”

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Revenues soar at Ince but stop just shy of £100m target after tumultuous year

Adrian Biles

Listed law firm Ince Group, which previously operated as Gordon Dadds, has produced impressive double-digit revenue growth in its first full financial year since the acquisition of shipping specialist Ince & Co. 

Revenues soared an impressive 87% to £98.5m, narrowly missing the £100m target set by Ince Group CEO Adrian Biles last November, while operating profit rose a hefty 72% to £26.2m from £15.2m last year. However, Ince’s organic growth produced a more muted 5% growth, according to the firm’s announcement on the London Stock Exchange.  Continue reading “Revenues soar at Ince but stop just shy of £100m target after tumultuous year”

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Defying gravity – double-digit boost marks a decade of revenue growth for Macfarlanes

Sebastian Prichard Jones

Macfarlanes has reported robust financial results for 2019/20 – its tenth consecutive year of revenue growth – with virtually double-digit increases in turnover and profit per equity partner (PEP).

Added to this, the firm has also announced an 88% retention rate of trainees qualifying next month, as well as the lateral hire of well-regarded finance partner Malcolm Hitching. Continue reading “Defying gravity – double-digit boost marks a decade of revenue growth for Macfarlanes”