Katy Dowell
Lewis Silkin managing partner Ian Jeffery would like to point out that the firm has enjoyed three years of double-digit growth.
Lewis Silkin managing partner Ian Jeffery would like to point out that the firm has enjoyed three years of double-digit growth.
He would like The Lawyer to say growth is equally divided among its key practice areas: media, corporate, employment, litigation and property.
And painful though it is to be instructed by interviewees, he’s probably about right.
In 2005 the firm opened in Oxford and the average profit per equity (PEP) partner figure took a severe bashing at just £162,000 - down from £245,000 in 2004.
Three years later and PEP has improved a whopping 104 per cent to £330,000.
The Oxford strategy is beginning to pay off, but more importantly, the firm has been working on high profile cases which have helped boost profitability.
But will Jeffery prefers the entire firm to take the credit in a diplomatic, togetherness style, the limelight has not been equally spread, with key practices “mediascape and peoplescape” - media and employment to you and me - taking more than their fair share.
The employment group got plenty of attention from this reputed publisher after it was instructed to act for Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer in defence of an age discrimination claim brought by former partner Peter Bloxham.
The media practice, meanwhile, worked on cases including the advertising dispute between O2 and Hutchison 3G, while the litigation practice represented Mohammed Al Fayed in the Inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed.
All three cases were landmarks.
The corporate group, meanwhile, has received little attention despite managing some 80 deals in the same period, while real estate (“landscape”) has enjoyed a stream of regeneration work including London’s Elephant & Castle project, but got too little publicity in return.
So come on Jeffery - time to shout about corporate and property.
Previous blogs:
27-June-2008, Walker Morris: Turn down the volume
27-June-2008, Hill Dickinson: A tale of two cities
20-June-2008, LG: "frustrating and disappointing"
13-June-2008, Trowers & Hamlins: set back, or de-railed?
12-June-2008, Stephenson Hardwood: joining the club
11-June-2008, Ward Hadaway, Leeds and Hoyle: the long game
10-June-2008, Lewis Silkin: credit where due?
09-June-2008, Freshfields: equity cull pays off
06-June-2008, Martineau Johnson: mission accomplished?
05-June-2008, Addleshaw Goddard: babies and bathwater
04-June-2008, Technology firms: RPP reveals all
02-June-2008, The magic circle - a new ring leader to emerge?
30-May-2008, Berwin Leighton Paisner: could do better
29-May-2008, Links to take CC's crown?
28-May-2008, FFW: surprise performer
22-May-2008, Herbert Smith lays down the gauntlet
19-May-2008, Second tier is out to impress
