Thomas Eggar

South-East firm Thomas Eggar’s revenue rose by 1 per cent to £34.6m in 2011–12, while its average profit per equity partner (PEP) hiked up by 14 per cent to £249,000. The increase in PEP, however, was largely due to a reduction in the number of equity partners at the firm.

As far as practice areas go, litigation was a strong performer, contributing 35 per cent of the total revenue in 2011–12. The hire of new property dispute resolution partner Ross Berridge in London from CMS Cameron McKenna gave the practice a boost.

The firm’s corporate, property and private client groups all contributed roughly equally in terms of fee income. Thomas Eggar indicated that although corporate and property transactional work was harder to come by, demand for general corporate work, intellectual property and IT, and private-client tax advisory work was strong.

In April 2012, Thomas Eggar’s partners elected litigation head Victoria Brackett as the firm’s first-ever female managing partner. It also revealed plans to revamp its overall management function.

Brackett cited that the firm has budgeted for minimal growth in profit and revenue for 2012–13, but that a strategic priority for the firm is to secure a London merger or acquisition, a plan first mooted two years ago.

Another priority for management is to look at ways of making the workflow process more efficient. As Brackett said, lawyers need to recognise that certain elements of complex transactions and litigation cases can be standardised.

Thomas Eggar’s key clients include Nuffield Health, Lonrho, ASDA, Micheldever Tyres, Pret A Manger and Glanmore Investment.