DWF has announced its financial results for the year ending 30 April 2025, reporting an 8% increase in group net revenue to £466m, up from £434m the previous year.
The firm did not disclose profit or profit per equity partner (PEP) in its release, but the topline growth continues the firm’s upward trajectory under outgoing CEO Sir Nigel Knowles.
Knowles stepped down in August this year, after overseeing a 60% rise in revenues and more than a trebling of profitability over his five-year tenure. The change in leadership came after the firm appointed former EY UK & Ireland chair Steve Varley as independent non-executive chair in July 2024.
The firm’s new CEO Matthew Doughty, who stepped into the role on 1 August, said in a statement: ‘This is another strong performance for our business, demonstrating the value of our integrated legal and business services offering and the trust our clients place in us. These results are a credit to our colleagues around the world, whose dedication ensures we continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.’
The firm has acted on various high-profile deals in 2025, including the acquisition of two landmark office buildings in Warsaw, a major water infrastructure project in the north west of the UK, and the $50m sale of renowned jeweller Fabergé.
Doughty added: ‘We are entering the new financial year with confidence, backed by strong first quarter growth. This confidence is underpinned by continued investment in technology, global expansion and our responsible business agenda.’
DWF made headlines for being the first law firm to list on the LSE’s main market in March 2019. However, its time as a publicly traded law firm was relatively short-lived, as the firm delisted after being taken over by mid-market private equity house Inflexion in October 2023, to become the largest UK law firm owned by PE.
In April the firm launched a redundancy consultation in order to cut costs in its commercial and central services divisions.
At the same time, 2024-25 saw the firm continue its international expansion. It completed its acquisition of Australian claims management business Proclaim in September 2024, adding 320 colleagues across nine jurisdictions to its claims management and adjusting arm.
The firm also snapped up a 62-strong insurance litigation team, including nine partners from Australian firm Hall & Wilcox’s London team, and integrated a further 28 lawyers, including nine partners, from the insurance and civil litigation practice of Canadian firm Bélanger Sauvé into its Canadian business Whitelaw Twining.
