Global firm Herbert Smith Freehills today became the latest City giant to trumpet profit rises for the year ending 30 April, announcing pre-tax profits up 7% to £278m.

Profit per equity partner rose 5% to £840,000. 

The provisional figures were underpinned by revenue growth up 7% on 2014/15, to £870m. 

Sonya Leydecker (pictured), joint chief executive, said that 2015/16 was the third consecutive year of significant progress.

‘Our global corporate practice surpassed last year’s performance, and despite uncertainty in the world economy, advised on over 100 cross-border deals. 

‘A further highlight was the excellent performance of our global disputes practice which continues to handle some of the most complex and high-profile cases. Our finance and real estate practices also performed strongly.’

Highlights of the year included strengthening the firm’s presence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with expansion into South Africa via a new office in Johannesburg; Saudi Arabia with the launch of an association with Riyadh firm Nasser Al-Hamdan and opening in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Audited figures will be released later in the year, the firm said.