Big boost for profits and turnover at Ashurst Morris Crisp

Ashurst Morris Crisp has announced a 24% increase in turnover along with a 'significant' rise in profits per partner, which the firm expects to place it ahead of City rival Norton Rose in the profitability rankings.

Ashursts lawyers have billed 130 million this year compared with 105 million in 1999.

Ashursts' managing partner, Ian Nisse, said the firm is ahead of its 125 million budget and plans to tell staff the increase in profits per partner by the beginning of next week.

He said: 'We are ahead of Norton Rose and Simmons & Simmons, and I think we might be level pegging with Herbert Smith.' Mr Nisse said the firm has managed to improve its profitability by increasing efficiency.'Our financial systems are very efficient and our people work extremely hard.

We started improving the whole infrastructure about three years ago.

The first year was a bit flat because we were making big investments.

The second year showed signs of improvement and this year we have seen further improvement,' he said.

Anne Mizzi