Beachcroft asked its members to contribute £5m in capital during the last financial year, the firm's limited liability partnership (LLP) filings have revealed.

The UK top 25 firm asked members for a substantial capital increase of £5m in 2008-09, compared to only £658,000 the previous year, according to its 2008-09 account filings with Companies House.

Meanwhile, cash in hand at the bank increased to £1.9m in 2008-09 compared with £735,000 the previous year, while the firm's bank overdraft increased from £4.4m at 1 May 2008 to £6.8m at 30 April 2009. Overall, net debt grew from £7.8m to £9.6m.

Beachcroft's operating profit reduced to £23.2m during the last financial year from £25.2m in 2007-08, with the firm attributing this in part to the start-up costs of three new premises, including the opening of its first Irish office in Dublin in March 2009.

Total staff costs, including salaries, bonuses, social security and pension, increased to £64m from around £58m the previous year, with the average number of fee earners and support staff increasing to 1,410 from 1,180 in the consolidated group in 2007-08.

The highest-paid member took home £452,000 compared to £457,000 the previous year. Beachcroft reported turnover of £121m in 2008-09 against average profits per equity partner of £301,000.