Taylor Wessing's Eyles re-elected on back of revenue jump

The firm said preliminary financial results showed a rise in UK fee income of 12 per cent from 2010/11’s £92.1m, driving revenue to £103m.

The partnership voted Eyles in uncontested, six months ahead of the end of his first term.

Having been one of the firm’s business group directors and a management board member, Eyles was first elected in 2009. His second three-year term will run from 1 October 2012.

Eyles told The Lawyer that a deeper penetration of Asia, Middle East and Europe is one of his main goals and that the firm would be “driven by its clients” into markets they feel are important.

He said: “What we hold close is the spirit of innovation and we let that be the driver. We will be wanting to expand both our existing operations and look at new territories too.”

Eyles added that Hong Kong was on the radar for the next 12 months, but that the firm must “stay alive” to the vastly superior rate of growth in south east Asia, which is a “natural source” for clients.

In the UK, Eyles pledged to continue to pursue the firm’s active lateral hire programme over the next three years, particularly in areas such as technology. Other areas he identified were private wealth and litigation.

The early re-election was, said Eyles, a sign of security and continuity for the firm.

He said: “It is great to have the opportunity at a slightly early stage to continue to apply my energy into continued innovation to chase the goals we’ve set.”

He added: “I feel extremely privileged to have been elected for another term. Taylor Wessing has a bold strategy, a culture of innovation and an appetite for change, all of which should serve us well in navigating the right course in a market where the pace of change is electric. I’m genuinely excited by the prospect of helping the firm continue to move forward in realising its potential over the next three years.”

During Eyles’ tenure, Taylor Wessing has opened new offices in Singapore and merged with Austrian firm ENWC (4 May 2012), has increased the number of fee earners from 750 to 900 and hired 23 new partners.

Eyles has also overseen the introduction of the firm’s global key client programme and the re-shaping of Taylor Wessing’s board (9 Jan 2012).