The highest-paid partner at Hill Dickinson received £405,000 during 2011-12, according to the firm's recently filed accounts.

The figure, which 5% up on last year's top figure of £385,000, compares to the firm's average profit per equity partner figure of £228,000.

The 2011-12 financial year marked a strong 12 months for Hill Dickinson, which saw profits before tax grow by almost 15% to £31m. The firm last summer reported a 10% increase in turnover to £110m, with the positive performance enabling it to reduce net debt by £3.8m to £11.6m.

Profit available for discretionary distribution among partners also saw a sharp rise, up 31% from £12.3m the previous year to £16.2m.

The accounts also show that total staff numbers increased by 35, up from 1,307 to 1,342, despite secretarial and administration headcount falling by 22 to 270 from 292.

The firm, which has offices in Sheffield, Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, London, Greece and Singapore, saw overall employee costs rise to £45.9m during the year, up 9% from £42.2m.

In a statement, managing partner Peter Jackson (pictured) and senior partner David Wareing said: "The increase in billed revenues rose across all of our offices and business groups. We achieved strong organic growth in our fraud, commercial litigation, corporate, marine and health businesses.

"The growth also reflects the continuing success of our strategic investments in international offices and the breadth of our service range generally."

The firm recently agreed heads of terms to move into a new 32,000 sq ft London premises at Broadgate Tower in the spring without the need to subject partner to a previously mooted lock-in.