Top firms in the money as turnover rises by 20%

A string of top firms have reported their annual results in the last week, with turnover increasing around 20% but the rise in profits per partner more varied.CMS Cameron McKenna led the way with a 19% rise in income to 162 million, with profits per partner up 24% to 421,000.

Its profit margin has risen 2% to 30%, and operating profit up 1% to 33%.

Equity partners are taking home 225,000 to 500,000.Managing partner Dick Tyler said Camerons has benefited from 'strong performances in a number of our core businesses', including mergers and acquisitions, projects, banking, insurance and property.Meanwhile, Ashurst Morris Crisp's billings have also risen 19% to 155 million, with average profits per equity partner up 10% to 600,000.Profit shares at either end of its ten-year lockstep are 800,000 and 320,000, a 6.6% rise on last year.Managing partner Justin Spendlove said the firm's aim 'is to continue to replicate the practice spread we have in London across Europe, and elsewhere in the world'.Addleshaw Booth & Co's turnover rose 22% to 75.3 million, with profits per equity partner up 11% to 240,000.

The firm said it has 143 quoted public limited companies as clients, as well as 169 financial institutions, 89 public sector bodies and 16 FTSE 250 companies.Managing partner Mark Jones said the firm was 'well ahead of the financial projections contained in our original five-year plan'.

South-west firm Clarke Willmott & Clarke unveiled a record growth in fee income, the 15% rise taking it to 15.7 million, with property the star performer.

Net profit rose 7% to 3.75 million, with average profit per equity partner at 130,000.

The spread was 93,000 to 145,000.Managing partner David Sedgwick said the firm's future business strategy will see it develop its 'vertical sector market strengths further', in particular in the agricultural and environment areas, personal injury work, house developers, retail and leisure management, commercial development and financial services.Neil Rose