Leaders
Hot 100: Iain Blatherwick, Browne Jacobson
Browne Jacobson’s managing partner Iain Blatherwick has had a lot to do since taking over at the Midlands-based firm in 2009.
Last year saw a cracking return on his investment in time and effort with a record year of growth in 2011-12 showing a 17 per cent rise in turnover, from £35.2m to £41.3m.
Blatherwick calls the landmark year’s figures a “phenomenal achievement” but is keen to downplay his part in that. He attributes the success to a “mix of having really good people who work hard and focusing across all our key areas”.
The year saw double-digit growth in Nottingham (16 per cent), Birmingham (16 per cent) and London (26 per cent) around its key sectors of health, insurance, education and the public sector.
Motivating people is a key priority for Blatherwick and, in a year of significant expansion, average profit per equity partner is estimated to have risen by 5 per cent, from £300,000 to £315,000 while the management board followed 2010-11’s 2.5 per cent performance award with a 7 per cent award paid to employees this summer.
Along with financial growth, Blatherwick has steered through office openings in Exeter and Manchester and the move into its new 60,000 sq ft Mowbray House Nottingham offices.
Blatherwick is keeping a steady hand on the tiller - however, with 8 per cent growth half way through this financial year, Browne Jacobson currently looks like a hot stock.
