The merger between Boston's Bingham Dana and San Francisco-based McCutchen Doyle Brown & Enersen appears to have got off to a strong start after the combined firm this month issued 2002 financial results showing headline partner profits up 20%.

The results saw the 800-lawyer Bingham McCutchen generate combined revenues of $433m (£269.5m), an 8% hike on the two firms' combined 2001 total of $402.5m (£250.5m), while average profits per partner hit $920,000 (£572,600).

The rise in average partner profits compares to Bingham Dana's 2001 average of $870,000 (£530,500), with the smaller McCutchen Doyle achieving $600,000 (£365,900).