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H1 2015/16: ‘All signs are looking positive’ – Fieldfisher posts first half revenues up 8%

Fieldfisher has banked £58.4m for the first six months of the 2015/16 financial year, an 8% rise on last year, which saw UK firms stoke optimism of the domestic market.

Fieldfisher’s revenue in the six months to 31 October rose on the back of a buoyant disputes practice and a resurgent UK real estate market. The firm’s half-year revenue of £58.4m is £4.1m more than this time last year, when income for the first six months of 2014/15 stood at £54.3m.

The performance puts Fieldfisher on track to surpass record revenues generated in the last financial year, when the firm posted a 9% rise to take its income to £113m.

Fieldfisher managing partner Michael Chissick told Legal Business: ‘The growth has come from activity levels; not from mergers or laterals. Dispute resolution is flat out, with the arbitration group really driving us forward. It’s been a few years since I’ve been trumpeting our real estate group, but that’s been really strong as well.’

The firm, which reported gains in Düsseldorf and Paris, has had a string of client wins this year and was reappointed to educational company Pearson’s panel earlier this month. 

Chissick concluded: ‘We’re busy so there is optimism that we will have a decent second half but I won’t be complacent. All signs are looking positive. Growth only matters if we’re outperforming out competitors.’

Fladgate was the first UK firm to reveal its half-year results last week when it reported a 12% rise in turnover to £19.1m.

tom.moore@legalease.co.uk