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Martineau Johnson delivers increased profits and investment in people for key markets

25/06/2007

Law firm Martineau Johnson has announced a fee income of £21million for the year ending 30 th April 2007.

This figure represents an £2 million increase on last year’s results and equates to a profit before taxation of £5.6 million.

In a year which has seen the Birmingham and London law firm expand on national and international fronts, this increase has been supported by a number of high profile client wins, as well as a sustained programme of internal promotions and lateral hires.

“We are about building long term profitability through responding to our markets” said Martineau Johnson managing partner Bill Barker, who highlights climate change and sustainability as an example.

“We set out to lead the way in various aspects of the sustainable energy sector, and we have made real progress in the last year.

“For example, the firm played a key role in connection with the finance for a pioneering plastics recycling plant. The facility which will show the way forward for the recycling of plastics for food packaging in the UK, is the product of a multi-million pound investment by Closed Loop London, a company well known for its groundbreaking initiatives in recycling.

The firm has also been appointed by British Energy to handle recovery work for the group’s electricity supply business.

Mr Barker said: “The energy sector has undergone significant change over the last year with increasing importance being placed on supply efficiency and renewable energy sources to secure the UK’s future energy supply and combat climate change.

“Our strategic decision to invest in this sector was backed by the arrival of two new partners, and we are also aiming to become the Midlands’ first carbon neutral law firm.”

Martineau Johnson has also dedicated resources to increased international activity, with senior partner Roger Blears chairing the World Biofuels Markets Congress in Brussels, which was attended by Al Gore.

Mr Blears has also been responsible for the firm’s growing links with China, through its work with Guangzhou China-UK Cambridge Venture Park Co Limited (CUC Venture), which aids firms looking to set up a European base in the UK.

Martineau Johnson continues to play a key role in Multilaw, the international network of legal firms, and has been present at international property conference MIPIM for the second consecutive year.

More recently the firm announced that they are strengthening links with the United States and Canada by linking up with the State Law Resources Inc (SLR). SLR is a national network of independent law firms across North America, headquartered in North Carolina.

“Instructions are increasingly coming to us from an international arena and we have already received a number of new contracts from our time at MIPIM, which will further boost the £1.1billion of deals completed by our property group last year,” Mr Barker added.

The firm’s successful corporate team has welcomed a new M&A partner to its London office and has continued to be involved in high profile deals across a variety of sectors.

These included advising on a venture capital trust investment in an £18.5million management buy-out of Designdock Ltd, which owned the Golddigga clothing brand, and acquisitions by Freshwater UK, a national PR and marketing firm.

Mr Barker says that further strategic investment and recruitment is planned.

“We are now looking to recruit more key people in many of our teams in both Birmingham and London, where our new premises have facilitated future growth,” he said.

“And our focus on expanding sectors, including the emerging energy and Chinese markets will continue to respond to the rapidly changing needs of businesses in these sectors.”

For further information please contact William Barker on william.barker@martjohn.com