FBC Manby Bowdler

Turnover at FBC Manby Bowdler dipped in the 2011–12 financial year by 4.9 per cent, from £12.9m to £12.3m. However, top-line growth was not the firm’s main goal, claimed managing partner Kim Carr.

FBC Manby Bowdler has been focusing on managing the knock-on effect of the restructuring that followed the 2008 merger between FBC Solicitors and Manby Steward Bowdler. Last year, this led to several more job losses on the residential conveyancing side.

The firm counterbalanced this by taking on two partners, former MFG Solicitors partners Sarah Baugh and Tom Devey, to boost its agricultural offering.

Litigation contributed the largest proportion of 2011–12 turnover, with 40 per cent of revenue derived from contentious matters including personal injury. The firm is also looking to expand in areas such as planning in 2013.

FBC Manby Bowdler operates out of offices in Bridgnorth, Telford, Shrewsbury, Willenhall and Wolverhampton. There was no change to the lockstep in 2011–12, while the equity spread also remained static. Capital contributions ranged from £22,500 for those at the bottom of equity to £45,000 for those at the top.