Birchams edges closer to top 50 ranking

Bircham Dyson Bell remains on track to achieve its goal of cracking The Lawyer's top 50 league table within five years, posting a half-year turnover of £13.5m.

The figure is a 22 per cent increase on last year, and follows Birchams' 8 per cent increase in turnover in 2004-05 to reach £24.6m, ranking it 77th in The Lawyer UK 100 Annual Report.

The firm had seen substantial growth under former managing partner Michael Wood, from £18.8m in 2002-03. Wood stepped down in August to be replaced by Guy Vincent.

Vincent said Birchams remained committed to growth in a manner evidenced by its merger with niche social housing practice Jenkins & Hand in April.

Plans to convert to a limited-liability partnership by the year's end have been delayed, with a working party created to report to senior partner Ian McCulloch in the New Year.

Average half-year growth for firms in The Lawyer's top 50 was 12 per cent, with bottom-end turnover reaching £22m.