Boyes Turner

Provisional results for 2009-10 show an increase in turnover of around 7 per cent to £14.3m.

Chief executive Andrew Chalkley says the firm’s strong financial position coupled with its broadly based practice platform bodes well for further, potentially significant, expansion. “We’ve got a good story to tell and sell to certain types of individuals and firms,” he says. “We’re looking to identify opportunities where both parties could really add value.”

Although Chalkley says his firm is in no hurry to strike a transformative merger or snap up a rival, Boyes Turner’s ambition to grow comes through loud and clear. Particularly when he says there is, due to the recession, the Legal Services Act and a profession under severe pressure, currently a “perfect storm”.

“We did set out some years ago to build a balanced firm and it’s fair to say we’re emerging from the recession in better shape than some of our competitors,” he adds. “We’re about to take 30 per cent more space in our building, and what you do with space is fill it.”

The firm’s largest practice area by revenue is now its industrial disease group, launched five years ago with the hire of partner Linda Fletcher from Lawfords Solicitors. The group focuses on high-end personal injury work such as mesothelioma and asbestos ­litigation and contributed around £4m last year.

Boyes Turner’s impressive client roster, which includes the likes of Porsche, Gordam Ramsay, ­Pentax and Guardian Media Group, is likely to make it attractive to any potential joiners.

Chief executive: Andrew Chalkley
Turnover: £14.3m (provisional)
Number of partners: 25
Number of equity partners: 25
Number of lawyers: 70
Number of fee-earners: 98
Main practice areas: Banking, commercial and technology, corporate, ­corporate recovery, dispute resolution, employment, ­personal injury (including industrial diseases), property
Key clients: Bang & Olufsen, Computer Associates, Ericsson, GE, LG, Panasonic, Trader Media Group
Number of offices: One
Location: Reading