‘We’ve had our best year ever in the UK and US’ – Linklaters breaks £2bn revenue barrier with double-digit growth

Linklaters has grow to be the primary magic circle agency to announce its 2023-24 monetary outcomes, breaking via the £2bn mark for the primary time after a double digit improve in income.

The agency confirmed document income and earnings, with income climbing 10% from £1.901bn final yr to £2.1bn, and pre-tax revenue climbing 10.3% to £942m, from final yr’s determine of £854m.

This translated to an 8% improve in revenue per fairness associate (PEP) to £1.9m whereas common earnings throughout all companions climbed to £1.8m.

The agency highlighted its UK and US operations as standout performers, stating that each had posted their best-ever outcomes. Its US revenues climbed by 24%. Linklaters’ most up-to-date Corporations Home submitting for the monetary yr ending April 2023 confirmed that the agency’s international income included £823.1m from the UK and £122.2m from the Americas.

Linklaters managing associate Paul Lewis advised Authorized Enterprise: ‘We’ve been very sturdy globally – we’ve had our greatest yr ever within the UK and US, Europe has been very sturdy and, however a difficult market in China, you possibly can look throughout the agency and it’s been sturdy throughout the board.’

‘We wish to be greater within the US’, he added, pointing to the January rent of a six-lawyer M&A group from Shearman & Sterling as an announcement of intent. Led by Authorized 500 Corridor of Famer for $1bn-plus M&A offers George Casey, the group additionally contains companions Heiko Schiwek and Gregory Gewirtz.

‘The group rent in January has been an actual success on all fronts. That was the beginning and in no way the top and we’re actively seeking to rent extra. We’ve modified the system in order that now we have the power to pay at very aggressive ranges,’ Lewis continued.

Discussing the apply drivers for the agency’s progress, Lewis mentioned: ‘As a part of our technique, we’ve centered on six areas: high-end M&A, contentious mandates, advanced financings, restructuring and insolvency, power transition and tech. We’ve centered on investing in these areas, together with lateral hires and associate elections, and after I look throughout the piece on the outcomes, we’re on monitor and people investments are working.’

Within the offers enviornment, Linklaters is advising UK drinks maker Britvic on its takeover by Carlsberg for £3.3bn, reverse Baker McKenzie. The agency can be advising UK homebuilder Barratt Developments on its proposed £2.5bn merger with Redrow, in addition to multinational packaging group Mondi on its £5bn acquisition of DS Smith.

In restructuring, Linklaters’ group suggested Crédit Agricole on the cross-border restructuring of world engineering and development enterprise McDermott Worldwide. In the meantime, in disputes, the agency took on competitors litigation mandates for Visa and has additionally been advising Experian on information safety associated challenges.

Linklaters elected 27 new companions and 49 new counsel in its most up-to-date promotion spherical, assembly its 40% international gender variety goal for feminine associate promotions, and its 15% goal for under-represented minority ethnic companions (UK and US). The agency additionally recorded 55,000 hours globally on pro-bono work – its highest ever.

Nonetheless the agency has seen quite a lot of exits during the last yr, with public M&A associate Dan Schuster-Woldan and antitrust associate Nicole Kar each leaving to hitch Paul Weiss’s formidable London workplace.

Though Linklaters has modified its associate remuneration construction to make it simpler to compete with high-paying US companies, Lewis careworn that competitors goes past cash.

He mentioned: ‘It’s not all about cash. It’s about doing one of the best work for one of the best shoppers. We’re in 21 jurisdictions, and we are able to provide high-end, elite recommendation in all of the locations we’re in. That could be a aggressive benefit since you’re making an attempt to do the massive advanced, cross-border issues and that’s the place we excel, with our seamless community making the distinction.’

‘We’re centered on what we are able to ship somewhat than worrying an excessive amount of about what others are doing,’ he concluded.

elisha.juttla@legalbusiness.co.uk