HLW Keeble Hawson

HLW Keeble Hawson rose up the rankings of the UK 200 this year thanks to the October 2011 merger between Yorkshire firms Keeble Hawson and HLW Commercial Lawyers. HLW, the smaller partner, brought 81 employees and 13 partners to the tie-up.

Turnover, counting a full year for Keeble Hawson and the seven months HLW was part of it, rose to £14.1m from £10.6m for Keeble Hawson alone in 2011–12. If HLW’s full year was included turnover would hit around £16.6m.

The cost of the merger was largely accounted for in the 2011–12 financial year. HLW Keeble Hawson recorded a net profit of £2.6m, giving it a margin of 18 per cent, but the firm expects this to improve in 2012–13. That took average profit per equity partner to £144,000. Earnings per partner stood at £115,000.

The firm focuses on personal injury, private client and commercial work and now has offices in Doncaster, Leeds and Sheffield.