Freshfields turnover takes a hike

While the provisional 17.6 per cent increase of £110m looks spectacular, it is tempered by the fact that last year's figures only partly covered the Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber merger. Last year's £625m only included nine months of Bruckhaus fees, as the merger was operational from August 2000.
Average profits per partner should be down to around £690,000 from £750,000. The drop is in line with other magic circle firms, which are expecting a decrease of some 10 per cent. Plateau partners at Freshfields, who last year made £960,000, may make between £850,000 and £900,000.