Browne Jacobson announces financial results for 2020/21 with record turnover

Law firm Browne Jacobson, which has an office in Exeter, has announced its financial results for 2020/21 with turnover rising 5% to a record £85m for the year ending 30 April 2021.  This increase marks a 44% increase in revenues since 2015, when the firm’s turnover was £58.9m.

Key highlights during the year included a series of high profile client wins including, amongst others, Sport England, JD Sports, REAch2 Academy Trust, and GLF Schools and a series of panel appointments and re-appointments including the NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative, Cornwall Council and Midland Heart. The firm also advised Aspen Phoenix NewCo, the company that acquired Paperchase, on securing a sustainable outcome for the business, its customers, suppliers and 1000 employees.  

The year also saw a number of key lateral hires including James Coles as head of the property litigation team, Bettina Rigg as the firm’s first head of higher education and commercial disputes resolution partner Sophie Ashcroft. The firm also announced 29 partner, legal director and senior associate promotions.

Richard Medd, Managing Partner at Browne Jacobson, said: “We have achieved brilliant financial results in a challenging year for many businesses. The start of the year saw Covid impact on many parts of our business, butthat also brought opportunities for us and I am delighted to say all parts of the firm ended the year very strongly.

“Looking ahead we predict more growth for 2021-22 as the country eases itself out of lockdown with our focus firmly on helping our clients navigate through very challenging times.

“For me the defining memory of the past year has been the incredible resilience, creativity and flexibility shown by our people and clients in adapting to the changing environment we found ourselves in. I couldn’t be prouder.

“It’s has been a year that has seen us support our clients through their biggest challenges, from the NHS to the thousands of private businesses, schools and other bodies that have needed our help to guide them through the pandemic. This is testament to the reputation we have as trusted advisers in our key target markets and we are particularly delighted that we were able to support the pandemic response, including helping with the establishment of Nightingale hospitals and advising clients involved in the ventilator challenge.”

2020 – 21 saw the firm launch its new strategy, building on its reputation as a leading national firm, including a focus on advising businesses and institutions which play a key role in society across the private and public sectors. The firm also introduced ‘One Firm, wherever you are’ – a new approach giving each employee the right to choose where they wish to work. The launch coincided with the unveiling of its new Manchester office which has been specially designed to reflect the firm’s commitment to flexible ways of working in a post pandemic world.

The firm also made significant progress delivering on its commitment to equality and diversity. The firm appointed Oliver Holmes, the firm’s first Head of Diversity & Inclusion, was ranked one of the top five leading employers in the country by the Social Mobility Foundation and hosted the UK’s largest virtual work experience and legal career insights event under our FAIRE (Fairer access into Real Experience) initiative with over 7000 attendees taking part.

Richard Medd added: “We have made significant progress towards our commitment to deliver true diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We have seen fantastic engagement and had open, supportive and honest conversations to help us celebrate our differences and address our challenges. This work, alongside the principles enshrined in One Firm, wherever you are’ and our commitment to the environment  and reducing our carbon footprint perfectly reflects our values as an inclusive, flexible employer.”