By Beverly Rademacher

Copyright expressandstar

Turnover rose by 14.8 per cent to £166.8 million, an increase of £21.5 million compared to the previous year, and overall profit climbed to £59.4 million, an increase of 13.0 per cent from the previous year.

The strong growth continues Freeths’ trajectory of sustained success, with average annual turnover growth exceeding 10% for more than five consecutive years.

The firm, which has an office in Birmingham, also paid a record staff bonus pool of £4.3 million reflecting its continued investment in a people-focused culture and a recognition of the contribution that all staff make to the firm’s achievements.

Karl Jansen, national managing partner at Freeths, said: “This year’s results are a testament to the incredible dedication of our people and the trust our clients place in us.

“As well as being crowned Legal Business’s Law Firm of the Year in 2024, our continued double-digit growth reflects not only the strength of our legal offering but also our commitment to building a purpose-driven, inclusive and sustainable business.

“As a certified B Corporation accredited organisation, we’re proud to show that commercial success whilst remaining focused on our responsible business goals can go hand-in-hand.”

Committed to responsible business practices, the firm has taken steps to further strengthen its capability in this area. This saw the appointment of the firm’s first director of responsible business, Ben Churchill, in January 2025, along with additional specialist resource to support Freeths’ wellbeing and sustainability programmes.

The firm continued to make progress in key areas such as diversity and inclusion (D&I) and took steps forward in developing an impact-led strategy to take its work to the next level. Following its first Responsible Business Report in 2024, Freeths has committed to annual reporting and will be publishing its next report later this year.

In the financial year, which also marked the conclusion of the firm’s previous five-year strategy, Freeths made significant investments in several technology packages – including additional investment in cyber security, a new online recruitment platform and candidate feedback delivery and a new internal management information system.

Freeths put its success in no small part down to its positive, people-focused culture, which prioritises wellbeing, collaboration, and career development, and this included 20 partner and director hires in the last financial year. With more 1,300 colleagues across 13 offices, the firm continues to attract and retain top talent while delivering exceptional service to high-profile clients nationwide.

The firm’s commitment to growth and its people is evident in its ongoing investment in its office portfolio. During the year, it relocated to larger offices in Bristol and Liverpool and undertook a refurbishment of its London office. This programme is underpinned by strategic recruitment, including numerous senior hires and expanding client bases across all offices.

Karl Jansen added: “The investment in our facilities underscores our dedication to providing state-of-the-art workspaces that not only support hybrid working models but also enrich client experiences.

“In conjunction with talent attraction, development and retention, we have continued our firm-wide focus on our pay gaps (gender and ethnicity) and our board, senior management team and employee networks are fully committed to driving the change required to reduce and, over time, eliminate any pay gaps.

“Technology is increasingly important for innovative and efficient legal service delivery, and we have made several investments this year that are already delivering value for our clients. Artificial Intelligence (AI), and generative AI in particular, is rapidly changing the legal landscape, creating new possibilities for increased efficiency, deeper insights and enhanced client service.

“These strong results reflect our success in achieving the goals of our previous five-year strategy and, importantly, give us a great platform as we launch the next phase.”