Scots make their mark in UK league

Eight firms feature in survey of UK's top-earning 100

News, 29 August 2006

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Eight Scottish legal firms are among the 100 biggest revenue earners in the UK, according to a table compiled by The Lawyer magazine.

The publication's annual survey of the top 100 UK firms places two Scots firms in the top 50, Dundas & Wilson at no 47 with turnover of £53 million and McGrigors at no 49 with £51.5 million.

They are followed by Maclay Murray & Spens (no 52, £48.7 million), Shepherd & Wedderburn (63, £36.4 million), Dickson Minto (76 equal, £29 million), Tods Murray (83, £23.4 million), Brodies (92 equal, £20.1 million) and Burness, in for the first time at no 100 with turnover of £18 million.

Dundas & Wilson's role as one of two principal firms advising on the demutualisation of Standard Life Insurance Company has helped it remain the biggest-earning Scottish firm.

In terms of revenue per lawyer, however, top place goes to private equity specialists Dickson Minto, whose £483,000 average takings make them third best in the UK behind Slaughter & May and Avalons.

And the achievement of Clifford Chance, the UK no 1, in becoming the first law firm to break the £1 billion turnover barrier, means that its revenue alone is equivalent to that of the entire profession in Scotland.

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