Beiten expansion reaps rewards as firm posts record profit and turnover

Germany's Beiten Burkhardt posted a record turnover for 2005, with revenues up 20 per cent.

The firm's turnover grew to €83.2m (£58.1m) from €69.2m (£48.3m) in 2004.

Revenue per lawyer also increased at the firm, rising 12 per cent to €405,000 (£282,800) from €362,000 (£252,800). Revenue per partner rose 13 per cent to E1.8m (£1.3m) from E1.6m (£1.1m) in 2004.

Hans-Peter Mechlem, the partner responsible for Beiten's finances, told The Lawyer: "The rise was a result of us increasing our number of lawyers by 9 per cent and better productivity."

The German best friend of Berwin Leighton Paisner had a busy 2005. The firm expanded its operations in Central and Eastern Europe by doubling its office space in Moscow and launching a new office in Kiev.

New partners at Beiten included corporate finance specialist Robert Michels, who joined from Shearman & Sterling, and tax partner Christopher Riedel, who moved across from boutique Söffing & Partner.

The firm scooped one of the largest takeover transactions of the year when its advised Adidas on its €3.1bn (£2.16bn) acquisition of rival Reebok in August.