Record growth for Exeter law firm

Exeter law firm Browne Jacobson has seen turnover grow 17% to a record £58.9m for 2014-15, up from £50.2m in 2013-14.

All five of the firm’s offices posted impressive organic growth figures with its Exeter office, which opened in August 2012, seeing turnover grow by 40% with its education team posting 16% growth.

During the year the Exeter office also announced the partner appointments of Lynne Rathbone from Stephens Scown and Dale Collins from Bond Pearce whilst adding a number of high profile clients including Cornwall Council, CORMAC, South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust and the University of Brighton to its roster. Victoria Macintosh in its education team was promoted to associate.

The total number of lawyers at the firm nationally has reached 417, while partner headcount rose from 98 to 103 and overall headcount has reached 787 across Browne Jacobson’s five UK offices.

2014-15 saw the firm expand its London operations with a re-location to new offices at 6 Bevis Marks and make a significant investment in its Birmingham office allowing the firm considerable capacity to expand its future headcount and continue to deliver exceptional client service. The year also saw it become 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 plc, Buttress Group, Business Growth Fund, Morgan Sindall plc, ASCL, St John Ambulance, Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humberside Foundation Trust, Churchmarketplace, Red Dog Music, 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 LLC and Bernard Madoff, in relation to recovery of investors’ funds following the collapse of Bernard Madoff’s $40bn-plus Ponzi fraud scheme. The firm’s health team is also acting for all 22 West Midlands clinical commissioning groups on the region’s NHS111 project. 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.

Managing Partner Iain Blatherwick, said: “We have had one of our strongest years ever, comfortably exceeding the targets we set ourselves at the start of the year. The Exeter office has certainly played its part.

“Our sector strategy and emphasis on building a strong relationship with our clients is paying dividends with organic growth being delivered across the board.

“Our commitment to invest across all our five UK offices means we are in a very strong position to continue to drive the business forward.”