Fox Williams

A focus on investment and internal refocusing was to blame for Fox Williams’ revenue falling by 5 per cent in 2011–12, from £14.8m to £14.04m, according to senior partner Tina Williams.

The London firm overhauled its practice to run along sector lines. The five new sectors are financial services; professional practices; technology; fashion (including brands); and natural resources.

The latter is Fox Williams’ newest sector focus, coming on the back of the hire of former McCarthy Tétrault partner Richie Clark in 2007. Clark now heads the firm’s capital markets group, which in April 2012 advised Rialto Energy on its A$86.4m (£55.92m) private placement and subsequent admission to AIM.

While Fox Williams is best known for its professional practices group, the fashion team’s clients include SuperGroup, which capital markets partner James Channo advised on its £125m London Stock Exchange fundraising and main market listing, and Hardy Amies. It is also rapidly building a significant brands practice.

Average profit per equity partner in 2011–12 stood at £290,000, a hefty drop on 2010–11’s £338,000, which as highlighted above Williams blamed on investment in people, IT and marketing. The firm is budgeting for around £335,000 this year.