Fenwick Elliott

Turnover at construction specialist Fenwick Elliott fell by four per cent in 2011–12, from £10m to £9.6m. Profit for the financial year before members’ remuneration was £3.6m, down from £4.4m in 2010–11, according to LLP filings.

But senior partner Simon Tolson said 2011–12 had been an exceptionally busy year for the firm. In the UK it has been advising supermarkets and companies such as Marks & Spencer on store fitouts, whereas overseas the firm has advised the Turkmenistan and Canadian governments on oil and gas disputes, as well as construction companies in the Middle East and Korea. Around £4.2m of turnover is derived from overseas work, while contentious construction remains Fenwick Elliott’s biggest revenue generator.

The non-contentious practice, which only began to develop seven or eight years ago, has grown to five lawyers, with the firm advising construction company boards on various issues.

As a result of the growth (the firm now has 60 staff and 15 partners), Fenwick Elliott took an extra floor in its Aldwych office in 2012 and is also looking at opening an office in Doha as a means of getting more day-to-day work from companies.