Howes Percival LLP recorded a double digit increase in turnover on the last full financial year, driven by substantial increases in new work from both existing and new clients. To handle the increased workload, staff numbers in the law firm’s Norwich office increased by almost a quarter to just over 130 during the financial year, with further recruitment since the number has now risen to over 140.

Andrew Barnes, managing partner in Norwich, said, “It is very satisfying to be reflecting on another period of strong growth for Howes Percival. Our practice in the Eastern region is well rounded with nationally recognised departments and specific experts, who are renowned as local leaders in their field. Over the last year, we have built on this expertise with a number of key new appointments – further enhancing our specialist service to clients. Our aim is to provide a full commercial service for businesses in the region – offering London quality advice at local prices.”

Litigation
This remains a key area for Howes Percival LLP and in the current economic downturn, 2009 is expected to be a very busy year for insolvency work. The team offer solutions to clients across the complete spectrum. In particular, it is highly regarded for its experience and success with complex or specialist insolvency cases. Building on its outstanding reputation for contentious insolvency, the Norwich based team was restructured in June in a drive to expand the firm’s base of non-contentious insolvency work and to target new clients across the UK and Europe.

Last year, the team was a finalist for The Lawyer magazine’s ‘Litigation Team of the Year Award’.

Commercial Property
Last year was an exceptionally busy year for the Commercial Property team who experienced a record year, and the outlook for this sector still remains sound. The team saw an immense amount of work from existing clients and won a substantial amount of new business. Recently, they advised on lettings at Broadland Business Park to City Link and Oceanteam Power and Umbilical.

Estates
Howes Percival LLP’s Estates department experienced an increase in private client and agricultural work. The team provides a full range of services from trusts and tax to partnerships and property, and as estate planning in its broadest sense becomes increasingly specialist there are now very few firms which can offer such a complete service.

In the build-up to the tax changes on 6 April 2008, there were active markets for the sale of development land and purchases of farms, and the housing market’s problems have not affected the value of agricultural property. Rising farmland prices have led to an increase in estate planning work as farms become more valuable and inheritance tax exemptions are under attack.

Corporate
The Corporate Department also enjoyed another successful year. New instructions from existing clients and a steady acquisition of new clients have seen the reputation of the department continue to grow.

Howes Percival LLP’s Banking Department - which provides a comprehensive service for major banks, private funders and corporate, institutional and individual borrowers - experienced its busiest year to date. The department is a panel firm for Bank of Scotland Plc, Lloyds TSB Plc and Clydesdale Plc.

Employment
The Employment Department has developed a strong reputation in recent years and works closely with the firm’s Corporate Department. It provides practical commercial advice in this complex area, complementing the law firm’s full service approach. The team runs free quarterly seminars for local businesses and recently launched two new fixed fee services to assist companies with queries on employment law and to help handle specific types of tribunal claims.