Wilsons

Wilsons had an unusual year in 2011–12. The firm’s figures — with turnover rising to £13.3m from £12.1m the previous year — brings turnover back to the heights of 2007–08’s level. Net profit also increased, from £3.2m to £4m.

But this news was skewed by the firm’s protracted court battle with two agriculture partners, including former head of agriculture at Burges Salmon Peter Williams, who joined Wilsons in April 2011 to help launch the firm's new Bristol office.

Finally in November 2012 it was announced that Wilsons was offloading its Bristol office to Michelmores, with the pair joining the firm after a brief stint as consultants at Veale Wasbrough Vizards.

That aside, the firm’s managing partner Andrew Roberts, who joined from Boodle Hatfield in February 2012, attributes growth to steady progress across most departments, in particular its charity sector (the firm acts for Help for Heroes), employment law and schools law.

Wilsons acts for a number of new academies, including the UK’s first state boarding school Wellington Academy. The firm is also regarded as having one of the UK’s leading private client practices.