Los Angeles’ ‘big four’ law firms have posted robust figures for 2005, with a combined income of $3.6bn (£2bn), as they begin to challenge the leading New York firms in terms of profitability and size.

O’Melveny & Myers posted the steepest climb in profits per equity partner (PEP), with figures rising 23% to $1.62m (£927,000), against $1.31m (£752,000) in 2004.