Brabners [1] has reported its eighth consecutive year of growth, with turnover surpassing £60m as the firm grows to almost 600 colleagues and prepares to enter its next phase of client-centred, scalable growth.
The purpose-led independent law firm saw revenue rise by 11.7% to £60.2m for the financial year ending April 2025.
Pre-tax profits (before members’ remuneration and profit shares) also increased to £20.3m, up from £18.1m the previous year.
Strategic expansion: London
Building on this momentum, Brabners has confirmed its plan to enter the London market marked by the opening of its office in the City in mid-2026 — a landmark step that reflects both the firm’s sustained growth and the evolving needs of its clients.
Brabners’ move into the capital represents a natural progression for the firm and will amplify its national reach as well as the support it can offer to clients operating across the UK and internationally.
The move follows the firm’s successful entry into the Leeds market in 2022 and further strengthens its position as a leading independent law firm.
The London office will be anchored by the appointment of two senior partners.
Corporate Partner Stuart Hatcher joins from Forsters, bringing extensive experience in advising privately-owned businesses alongside deep sector expertise in sport, including his role as a director of Brentford FC; and Litigation Partner Russell Strong joins from Gunner Cooke, specialising in high-value commercial litigation and international arbitration.
They will join existing London-based real estate and tax partners Ross Shine and Euri Yoon respectively, establishing a permanent platform in the capital and laying the foundations for Brabners to play an active role in the London market over the coming years.
Operational excellence and sector highlights
Brabners corporate team remained one of the UK’s most active dealmakers, advising on transactions worth more than £500m in the first half of 2025 alone, double the value of the same period in the previous year.
Standout mandates included advising on the sale of a majority stake in the £350m turnover engineering firm William Hare Group.
The firm’s litigation practice also secured a landmark defamation victory in the Supreme Court, while its specialist sports team continued its growth with new mandates for the World Boxing Championships and Wrexham AFC.
The Brabners True North network — which brings together like-minded businesses, business leaders and other organisations who are keen to play their part in unlocking the true economic potential of the North — continues to go from strength to strength and has now grown to over 580 members. The network continues to build its influence in advocating for the positive role that purpose-led business can play in driving economic growth and inclusive prosperity.
Innovation remains central to the firm’s strategy, with significant investments planned in its AI capabilities, technology infrastructure and data analytics — all aimed at enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency.
Culture and excellence
Central to the firm’s performance is its continued investment in its people.
During the period, Brabners was ranked as the UK’s best law firm to work for and the sixth best large company to work for in the UK, reflecting its longstanding commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace.
A key pillar of this approach is social mobility. Brabners actively removes barriers for candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring that access to careers in law is based on potential rather than privilege. As a result, 36% of its current trainee cohort identify as having experienced high levels of socio-economic disadvantage.
This focus forms an integral part of the firm’s wider strategic goal to lead on social impact, a commitment the firm intends to carry into London and its growth plans as it builds its presence in the capital.
The firm’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace has been recognised with various industry accolades, including winning Equality, Diversity and Inclusion awards at both the Manchester and Liverpool Legal Awards.
ESG and social impact
Brabners continues to make progress against its environmental and social targets and remains proud of its certification as a B-Corp. The firm reported a 19% reduction in energy consumption across its office estate during the last financial year, supported by its transition to more sustainable, modern workspaces in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
The firm also continues to support social mobility and community initiatives, notably through the Maurice Watkins Bursary, which provides financial support for aspiring lawyers from diverse backgrounds, alongside its ongoing commitment to the peatland restoration project at Kingsdale Head.
In addition, the Brabners Foundation continues to reinvest the firm’s success into the communities it serves. Since its inception in 2019, more than £210,000 has been donated through 86 grants to charitable organisations across the North. Including £30,000 donated to eight charities in the last year. Current charity partnerships include Wakefield Hospice in Yorkshire, the Be Free Campaign in Liverpool and the North West Air Ambulance.
Robert White, CEO at Brabners, said: “This year’s financial performance provides a fantastic springboard as we begin the next phase of our growth. Most notably marked with our entry into the London market.
What we have achieved in the last year — and in the past eight years — is testament to the quality of our firm, the ambition of our clients and the strength of our relationships with them, as well as the aspiration and commitment of our people.
“Surpassing the £60m revenue mark is a significant milestone. And as we look ahead, our focus remains on delivering client-centred, scalable growth that enhances our ability to invest in exceptional talent, technology and innovation — and above all else that supports and protects our independence.”
Nik White, Managing Partner at Brabners, said: “Our success is driven by our people, and we are incredibly proud to be approaching 600 colleagues across the firm. Fundamental to who we are — and underpinning our ability to attract and retain outstanding colleagues — is our culture.
“Launching in London is a landmark moment for Brabners. It allows us to build our presence in the capital while staying true to our values, strengthening our offering to clients and playing our part as an engaged and responsible member of the London business community.”
For more information, visit: https://www.brabners.com/ [2]