Wedlake Bell growth spurt sees firm pull in seventeen recruits in two months

Wedlake Bell has been on a recruitment drive, adding 17 new solicitors in the past two months, as the firm looks to bulk up.

The hiring spree follows a successful financial year for Wedlake that saw the firm increase its turnover by 17 per cent to £19.7m, while profit per equity partner rose by 14 per cent to £262,000.

The firm hired eight solicitors this month to go with five recruits in September plus four trainees. The main practices to benefit have been Wedlake's commercial property division, which had three additions this month, and employment, which had two joiners in October. The banking, media and IP and residential property practices have also benefited.

Sources for Wedlake's hires include Dechert and Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, which provided employment lawyers, as well as Hammonds and Barclays' in-house department.

Wedlake managing partner Julian Cuppage promised to grow the firm following the end-of-year financial results, pledging to double the corporate department and increase its share of the turnover to 30 per cent.