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European law firm Fieldfisher has posted a 7.5% increase in firmwide revenues, and an increase in profit per equity partner (PEP) of 8.7% for the 2015/2016 financial year.
Global (unaudited) revenues for the nine office firm rose to £121.5m from £113m in FY14/15 and average profit per equity partner reached £550k this year, up from £506k last year.
All staff - across fee-earning departments and business services teams - have shared in the firm's success, with all eligible employees receiving a bonus.
Fieldfisher's Dispute Resolution practice has had a particularly successful year, alongside Financial Markets and Products; Technology Outsourcing & Privacy and Public and Regulatory.
The firm has continued to invest significantly across Europe, with a number of significant lateral hires made over the last year that extend the firm's expertise in both sectors and key geographies. In Europe, the firm hired energy transactional specialist Daniel Marhewka to its Munich office (May 2015), as well as Africa specialist François de Senneville in Paris (Jan 2016). In the UK, the firm has strengthened in Finance and Financial Services – with the arrival of Matt Hinxman and regulatory specialist Azad Ali - and in Energy, with oil & gas partner Stuart Carter joining the firm in June 2015. Vivien Davies, a Middle East and North Africa expert who speaks Arabic, joined the firm's Dispute Resolution group in November.
There has also been significant recruitment in the technology space: digital media expert Tom Guida joined in London (January 2016), and two new partners – Rob Sheldon and Sam Jardine – joined the Manchester office at the end of 2015. In addition the firm recruited a three partner Life Sciences patent litigation team in February this year, including internationally renowned litigator Diana Sternfeld, Nicole Jadeja and Rebecca Baines.
Internally, the firm has promoted three to partner: Jonathan Zimmern (Personal Injury & Medical Negligence; London), Tim Van Canneyt (Technology, Outsourcing & Privacy; Brussels) and Jennifer Santos (Tax, Brussels).
Michael Chissick, who was re-elected for a second term as managing partner in December, said: "As a firm we have big plans for growth and these results put us on a strong footing to achieve them. We have continued, and will continue, to invest in the firm's growth and development and I'm thrilled that all employees have been able to share in this success: they've all played an important role over the last twelve months."