Law firm makes modest progress in pandemic year as turnover nudges over £9m mark

Prominent pan-Humber law firm Bridge McFarland saw turnover increase slightly and margins widen in its latest results.

The Grimsby-founded limited liability partnership, now headquartered in Lincoln, brought in fees of £9 million in the year to April 30, 2021, up from £8.9 million in the previous 12 months.

Operating profit was up from £3.1 million to £3.8 million.

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In the members’ report accompanying the results, Christopher Hubbard and Stephen Oldridge told how “the members consider the performance for the year to be satisfactory and expect a similar level of profitability to continue into the future”.

Staff numbers were down from 179 to 162, with 10 managerial and administration roles and seven secretarial positions removed. Two fewer partners also closed the year, dominated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The bottom line was supported by a government Covid grant of £420,599, on top of £154,511 received in the previous financial period.

Hull, Louth, Market Rasen and Scarborough complete the office footprint for the full-service firm, established when founding partner, the late John Bridge, was asked by his Sheffield employer – Keeble Hawson Steele Carr – to set up an office in his hometown in the mid-Seventies.

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