Winner: Mills & Reeve Both the Scottish firms in this category – Brodies and Anderson Fyfe – drew praise from the judges for the clarity of the strategic thinking set out in their entries. The ambitious Brodies aims to “destroy the myth of the so-called Big Four in Scotland without creating a London presence”. In autumn 2006 it acquired Bishops Solicitors in one of the most significant mergers in Scotland in recent years. That deal, combined with a concerted round of recruitment, helped it secure a 43% rise in revenue against an equally impressive 33% increase in profits in its last financial year. Anderson Fyfe has set itself apart from many firms that conduct volume legal work by investing in its debt recovery and re-mortgage practice. It has moved to secure a pre-eminent position in these markets in the belief that this will complement, rather than hinder, its transactional practice. A decision to target utility debt paid off when it was appointed debt recovery agent for Scottish Power.
At the other end of the UK, Exeter-based firm Michelmores has undertaken targeted expansion across its key practice areas, including private client, taxation and commercial litigation. It has also initiated a corporate and social responsibility programme in order to boost environmental awareness within the firm and improve its contribution to the local community.
