National/Regional Firm of the Year

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WEIGHTMANS - Patrick Gaul

Four consecutive years of revenue growth were capped by two significant strategic mergers in 2011, first with Vizards Wyeth in London and then Mace & Jones in Liverpool, adding 200 staff and an estimated £20m in revenue points to a firm definitely in ascendancy.

 

 

This award highlights the UK-based national or regional firm (with headquarters outside of London) that has made the greatest progress over the past year in advancing its strategy. Key factors taken into account will be evidence of strong management, impressive financial performance and increased market share across the firm’s major practice areas.

 

Four consecutive years of revenue growth were capped by two significant strategic mergers in 2011, first with Vizards Wyeth in London and then Mace & Jones in Liverpool, adding 200 staff and an estimated £20m in revenue points to a firm definitely in ascendancy.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

BRODIES
Bill Drummond

The only firm in the Scottish peer group of the LB100 to record double-digit compound annual growth in revenue in the last five years, Brodies continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Its focus on the Scottish market, with the addition of a complementary Brussels office in 2011, has paid dividends.

GATELEY
Michael Ward

A new entrant into the Major UK category of the LB100 in 2011, the firm posted a record increase in turnover for the financial year thanks to the acquisition of 200 staff from Halliwells. The significant increase in revenues means the firm broke into the top 50 law firms for the first time.

HARPER MACLEOD
Lorne Crerar; Martin Darroch

Harper Macleod has defied LB100 convention in recent years: it has continued to grow revenues year-on-year since 2008. The firm is posting revenue and profit growth that most Scottish firms can only dream of, with fee income up by 14% to £17.1m and profit per equity partner climbing by 38% to £224,000.

HILL DICKINSON
Peter Jackson

Continued impressive financial performance saw the firm break the £100m mark for turnover in 2011 and enter the Major UK peer group of the LB100 for the first time. The firm has made significant progress over the last five years to become a dominant force in the North West.

SHAKESPEARES
Paul Wilson

An astonishing 71% leap in turnover is the result of this Midlands firm pulling off four mergers since 2007, including recently amalgamating Shakespeare Putsman, Berryman and Needham & James. These significant strategic plays are intended to set the firm on course to be competitive in a very difficult market.

STEVENS & BOLTON
Richard Baxter

A standout performer among the amorphous mass of firms in the South. Its turnover growth of 13% to £17.1m is light years ahead of the other firms in the region, while net income grew by 28%, with only a handful of firms in the entire LB100 showing better growth.