Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was the only magic circle firm to see profits per equity partner (PEP) fall during 2010-11, with PEP dipping by to £1.308m, down from £1.406m, while revenue stayed broadly static at £1.14bn.

Despite the drop in profits, the firm remains second only to Slaughter and May as the most profitable firm in the UK top 50 and has also seen greater PEP growth over the last five years.