Foot Anstey

West Country firm Foot Anstey added a Bristol base to its office network in October 2011. The new office proved an instant success, powering to 30 per cent ahead of revenue budget, a key factor behind Foot Anstey’s overall turnover rising by 11.7 per cent to £22.9m in 2011–12, securing it a place in The Lawyer’s top 100 at number 99.

The success of Bristol is clear from the rise in headcount since its launch, going from five partners and four support staff in October 2011, to 11 partners and four associates by January 2013. Lateral hires in Bristol included corporate specialist Will Whitt, Islamic finance expert Imam Qazi and regulatory specialist Chris Pritchett, all from Burges Salmon.

Several decisions on non-core departments also contributed to Foot Anstey’s financial wellbeing. This includes the transfer of its non-core childcare teams to three smaller firms: Everys in Exeter, Nash & Co in Plymouth, and Pardoes in Taunton.

While net profit dropped from £5m to £3.7m, managing partner John Westwell noted that any additional profit at the firm was invested in the 11 lateral hires across the firm’s five offices for 2011–12. Average profit per equity partner nudged up from £201,000 to £203,000 while the firm’s overall profit pool grew by 23 per cent from £5m to £6.19m.