Holman Fenwick Willan

Turnover at Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) grew by 10 per cent in 2011–12 from £112.5m to £123.9m.

In contrast average profit per equity partner slipped by 2.7 per cent from £540,000 in 2010-11 to £525,000 last year.

Over the past few years, HFW has pinpointed its international development and expansion as the key to powering top-line growth. It was an early entrant into the Australian market and in 2010–11 the firm launched in Brussels, Geneva and, in Perth, a third Australian office.

In October 2011 it added a 14th office to its global network in São Paulo, from legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG), to support the eight-partner strong aviation and aerospace team HFW took from its rival the previous financial year.

The firm has also established a strong presence in Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China, driven by its dominant litigation practice which represents 83 per cent (£102m) of global turnover.

However, last year there was a slight change to the story, with a strong London performance and a 19 per cent increase in revenue from £56.2m to £67.1m underpinning total growth.