Linklaters is reporting a massive 22 per cent hike in profits for the last financial year as the firm celebrates its best set of results for years.

Average profit per equity partner (PEP) has soared to £818,000, with top equity partners on over a million. Turnover was up ten per cent to £793m after a particularly strong second half of the year.

The numbers represent a 12 per cent outperformance of budget, which will trigger a profit-related pay scheme for all staff.

The bonuses, which are separate from work-related associate bonuses and are paid to fee-earning and non-feeearning staff, are thought to amount to an average of £1,700 per person.

The figures may still be adjusted as the firm calculates value of work in progress and bad debt provisions.