Firm aims for unified cross-border leadership and top 100 client focus

Eversheds is planning to form an integrated management board with its alliance network within the next three years.

The firm hopes to tighten links with its Eversheds International alliance firms as part of the three-year strategy being drawn up by new chief executive Bryan Hughes.

There are currently two management committees, one for Eversheds LLP, which includes Eversheds' nine offices worldwide, and the other for the 19 members of the Eversheds International Alliance.

Hughes told Legal Week: "Over the last four or five years, we have been developing our international offering and we have reached the stage where we have a comprehensive network, but need to make sure that each part gets to where we need it to go."

He continued: "Our goal is for Eversheds International and Eversheds LLP to come together in a single management forum responsible for the whole of Eversheds' worldwide operations by 2012."

As part of the 2009-12 strategy, the firm has also pulled together a list of its top 100 clients, which will be priority relationships for the firm. In addition, each office and practice area has identified their top five clients, with the firm hoping to secure high-value corporate work from these clients and improve cross-selling.

Financially, Hughes is expecting turnover for 2009-10 to remain flat, however, he expects to see a modest increase in average profits per equity partner (PEP).

Eversheds recently posted a 6% drop in turnover for 2008-09, with revenue falling from £390m in 2007-08 to £366m. PEP fell by 27% to £404,000 from last year's figure of £552,000.

In addition, the firm is hoping to take on a more corporate image over the next three years. Hughes commented: "Given the current market conditions, we want to create a high-performance environment and be perceived as more businesslike. We are going after the top quality, pure City, high-value work."