Turnover (£m): 35.2
Average PEP: 300
Equity spread (£k): 110-350
Profit margin (%): 13
RPL (£k): 154

Nottingham-based Browne Jacobson has traditionally played its cards close to its chest, particularly when it comes to ­profitability, but it happily trumpeted a record turnover of £35.2m last year, up by 6.3 per cent on 2009-10’s £33.1m.

It has also made the rare step of releasing its net profit figure this time around, which stands at £4.5m, representing a margin of 13 per cent.

The Midlands-based firm, which has ­offices in Birmingham and London, has ­recruited steadily over the past year and ­activity levels have risen by 9 per cent, with strong growth in health and procurement and the retail sector. Browne Jacobson is also one of only a handful of firms ­tapping into the recent boom of academy ­conversion work, along with Foot Anstey.

The firm’s management board introduced a new 2.5 per cent performance award as part of a firmwide initiative last year to ­enable all lawyers to share in a successful year.

Managing partner Iain Blatherwick is an understated figurehead for the firm, ­following in the footsteps of predecessor Brian Smith by building up consensus among partners with quiet conversations rather than taking a more dogmatic ­approach to leadership.