Reading: Boyes Turner scoops 2nd in Law Firm of Year

The Lawyer Awards which took place on June 22 are widely regarded as the Oscars of the legal industry and have long been recognised as the profession's premier showcase.

This year, Boyes Turner came second in the highly competitive category of Regional/National Law Firm of the Year. Scottish firm McGrigors took the top spot, Hill Dickinson came third. Local competitors Stevens & Bolton and Thomas Eggar were also shortlisted but were not placed in the top three. The shortlist also included Birketts and Darwin Gray.

Summarising Boyes Turner's achievement in the post-event report, The Lawyer wrote: “One of the few UK law firm's to have made no layoffs, Thames Valley practice Boyes Turner has exhibited consistent growth through the recession. With turnover expected to hit £14.3 million in the 2009/10 financial year, the Reading firm is even set to move to bigger premises. Although it has grown revenues across the piece, its biggest success story was finding a recession-proof practice area.

"Over the past five years it has invested in industrial disease specialisation, notably in high-value asbestos and mesothelioma litigation work. In the last financial year that group's turnover grew by over 200%, to £4m.”

Chief executive Andrew Chalkley said: “To be shortlisted in such a competitive national category is a great achievement. Our focus on building a truly balanced business, resilient to economic cycles has paid off. Over the two year recession we grew by over 10% and maintained profitability. Last year we grew by 5% against an average decrease of 1% for the UK's top 100 law firms and our strategy to further extend our position as the regions premier law firm remains on course.”