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VIEW ALLThe firm saw growth across its key practice areas, with particularly strong performances from the Corporate and Real Estate transactional practices (+18%); with the specialist Business Crime (+24%); and Construction (+20%) teams also delivering robust year-on-year growth.
Revenue grew by 6.3% to £60.5m in the year ending April 30, up from £56.9m in the previous 12 months. Profit also increased, alongside continued investment in people and technology. 2021 saw the reappointment of Craig Emden for his second four-year term as Managing Partner. This reappointment provided the firm with the platform to implement a three-year growth plan developed and agreed by the firm’s partners. The plan is built on six pillars: Clients, People, Growth, Reputation, Smart Working and Responsible Business.
In pursuit of its new targets, Howard Kennedy has stepped up its recruitment of new talent alongside a commitment to promoting excellent performance and talent from within the firm. The firm has welcomed eight new partners across a range of practice areas during the financial year, reflecting the broad-based growth to which the firm aspires. These lateral appointments are in addition to the two promotions to the partnership announced in May 2021 of Rebecca Davison and Jade Chalmers.
The firm has continued to attract high quality work from both existing and new clients. Some highlights include:
The high quality of work undertaken and the continuing investment in the firm’s people has led to a further improvement in the rankings achieved in the major legal directories and recognition in The Times’ Best Law Firms guide. 20 Howard Kennedy lawyers were individually ranked in Chambers UK, with several Next Gen lawyers being recognised for the first time. Similar recognition was achieved in the Chambers High Net Worth Directory, with a further eight partners ranked.
Managing Partner Craig Emden said, “Growing our revenue is important as it enables us to invest in our people, technology and working practices, which ultimately benefits our clients. We have developed a robust and practical plan, which we are now implementing and beginning to see the results in the high-quality talent and work that we are attracting.
“In order to achieve our goals, including reaching annual revenue, of £80m, we acknowledge that we need to be bold. Recognising the need to enable individual growth for those already at the firm, and for those from outside the firm wishing to join our partnership, we have introduced a new career level as an enhancement to our all-equity partnership. Under the new two-tier structure, a newly created level has been introduced for those wishing to join the partnership as partners on a fixed share basis with an equity stake in the firm.
“Our progress on the strategy will enable us to continue to deliver strong growth in the current financial year. The strength of our practice also puts us in a strong position to consider other growth options, should this help us achieve our objectives."
Craig Emden, Managing PartnerGrowing our revenue is important as it enables us to invest in our people, technology and working practices, which ultimately benefits our clients. We have developed a robust and practical plan, which we are now implementing and beginning to see the results in the high-quality talent and work that we are attracting.
Our lawyers are experts in their fields. Through commentary and analysis, we give you insights into the pressures impacting business today.
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