Irwin Mitchell

2011–12 was a big year for Irwin Mitchell with the firm granted five ABS licences in August and the hire of some big-hitting non-lawyers to navigate the post-Legal Services Act market.

Financial progress was steady with the firm recording a 7 per cent rise in turnover from £171.8m in 2010–11 to £183.7m in 2011–12.

The firm’s management claims it is difficult to compare this year’s performance to previous years as this is Irwin Mitchell’s first full 12-month period with its new corporate structure in place with the holding company and overarching parent group Irwin Mitchell LLP.

The firm is split between business and legal services and its turnover figures are boosted slightly by the inclusion of its subsidiaries Coris, investment management business IM Asset Management, debt collection agency Ascent, and its Spanish office IM Abogados.

Group chief executive John Pickering said the firm has invested in bringing more people into the partnership in the past year, as well as a seven-figure investment into the IT infrastructure. Pickering said that Irwin Mitchell has not had to make any major staff or lawyer culls, adding he was happy with the performance in a difficult market and that the eagerly-awaited external investment would help the firm develop its strategy.