Spanish heavyweight Cuatrecasas is leading a group of independent European firms posting strong year-end results by recording a 21% rise in turnover.

Cuatrecasas achieved revenues of E198m (£136m) for the firm's financial year, which ended on 31 December, 2006.

The results follow a busy year in Spain's corporate market, with the firm merging with Portuguese firm Goncalves Pereira Castelo Branco.

The Spanish firm becomes the latest independent European firm to post strong results for 2006.

Barcelona-based Roca Junyent announced turnover of E32m (£22m) citing a 20.3% increase on its 2005 performance. Roca has attributed the growth to increased corporate activity which saw Roca take lead counsel representing Abertis on its E2.5bn (£1.7bn) merger with Autrostrade as well as advising Banco Sabadell on its E990m (£679m) sale of Landscape Promotions.

Madrid-based firm Gomez Acebo & Pombo, meanwhile, announced an 11% turnover increase to reach E47.5m (£33m). The firm attributed E2m-E3m (£1.4m-£2m) of the rise to its hire of a chunk of defunct domestic independent firm Mullerat.

In Italy, Slaughter and May ally Bonelli Erede Pappalardo is expecting a revenue increase of 30%, bringing its 2006 turnover to approximately E130m (£89m) up from E100m (£67m) in 2005.