Turnover (£m): 12.1
RPL (£k): 186

Turnover increased fractionally at Wilsons, creeping up from £12m in 2009-10 to £12.1m last year, still some way off the heights of 2007-08’s £13.4m. Net profit dipped from £3.3m to £3.2m, while average profit per equity partner dropped from £151,000 to £137,000.

To get the figures back in shape, managing partner Jonathan Stephens is keen to develop the firm’s April 2011 strategic acquisition of niche agriculture Burges Salmon spin-out Ebery Williams.

Both litigation and property were particularly strong last year for Salisbury-based Wilsons, generating a combined 43.3 per cent of revenue. This included agricultural litigation and property, which managed to ride the recession virtually unscathed. Stephens hopes to grow total revenue by 12 per cent in the current year.

Last year, Wilsons signed up for a new head office in Salisbury, which will provide 25 per cent more space. The firm is planning a ­recruitment drive this September in a bid to up the numbers across all three of its offices in Salisbury, Bristol and London.