Private client, disputes and advisory drive standout growth as firm sustains investment in people, technology and client service.
Independent UK law firm Stevens & Bolton has reported a resilient financial performance for FY26, with revenue increasing to £46.7m, supported by strong growth across a number of strategically important practice areas and continued investment in people, technology and client service.
Against a backdrop of challenging mid-market conditions, the firm delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 0.5%, maintained net profit at £19m, marginally grew PEP to £380k and saw top-of-equity increase 2% to £882k.
The result caps a sustained trajectory of growth, with revenue up 61% over the last five years and net profit up 63% over the same period.
Despite continued headwinds in transactional markets, the firm saw standout growth across its private client, disputes and advisory practices:
- Private Wealth Disputes grew revenue by 23.5%, reflecting rising demand for specialist contentious private client advice.
- Property Litigation delivered revenue growth of 15.3%.
- Tax & Trusts recorded the largest absolute revenue increase across the firm, growing 10.4%.
- Employment, Pensions & Immigration grew revenue by 8.8%.
- Both Commercial Litigation and Commercial & Technology also posted year-on-year growth.
The firm's transactional practices continued to make significant contributions despite subdued mid-market deal flow. Corporate held its position as the largest practice area, while Real Estate delivered a robust performance, underlining the disciplined and balanced nature of the firm's platform.
FY26 was also a year of significant investment in the firm's long-term strategy. Highlights included:
- Promoting Krishna Patel to partner in the Corporate team.
- Recruiting Alexa Payet as partner into the Private Wealth Disputes team.
- Strengthening its business services team through senior hires into Finance, People & Talent, BD & Marketing and Tech & Data teams.
- Launching a new website and refreshed brand, sharpening the firm's market positioning.
- Expanding the firm's use of AI and automation tools, supporting the firm's technology and innovation agenda.
- Rolling out an enhanced career framework, recognising performance and development at every level.
- Delivering a curated programme of partner development and operational improvement initiatives.
- Qualifying five new lawyers from the firm's trainee programme, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to home-grown talent.
Managing Partner, James Waddell, said:
"Few would describe FY26 as an easy market. Growth was harder won, transactional activity remained unpredictable and many clients continued to navigate significant economic and commercial pressures. Against that backdrop, we are pleased with a performance that reflects the strength of our diverse practice mix, our collaborative partnership culture and our unwavering focus on our clients' needs.
Our breadth of expertise has delivered 61% revenue growth over the last five years, with particularly strong performances this year from our private client, disputes and advisory teams, alongside a resilient contribution from our transactional practices in a demanding market. We have continued to invest with confidence - in our people, our leadership, our client proposition and our technology foundation.”
