Harbottle & Lewis

West End firm Harbottle & Lewis had another solid year in 2011–12, with turnover rising by 8 per cent to £18.9m from 2010–11’s £17.5m. Profitability also jumped, with net profit reaching £6.1m and average profit per equity partner (PEP) up to £340,000.

Chief operating officer Derek Godfrey said the 21 per cent jump in PEP was due to around 8 per cent (£1.4m) more fee income coming out of a broadly similar cost base, an increase due in part to higher billings from clients derived from lateral hires in recent years.

The firm has previously acted for The Queen, Prince Charles and Kate Middleton when the Royal Family had concerns about paparazzi pictures. In August 2012 it was again called in to represent the royals after photographs emerged of Prince Harry inside a hotel room in Las Vegas.

It is understood that the advice was led by senior partner Gerrard Tyrrell, who heads the media and information, litigation and advertising department, advising high-profile clients on information protection, privacy and defamation.