Kennedys has recorded a 9% rise in revenue for the 2012-13 financial year, up from last year's figure of £109m to £117m.

The news comes after the firm recently sealed a merger with specialist aviation and aerospace law firm, Gates and Partners. The deal, which came into effect on 1 June, is expected to add £10m to Kennedys' revenues next year.

The firm has not finalised this year's profits per equity partner figure, which last year came in at £390,000.

Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas (pictured) says: "Kennedys is going from strength to strength despite the challenging economic climate. Our success continues to be predicated on client need and organic growth. The strategy is simple but highly effective: focus on a particular sector and add real value to our clients by combining legal knowledge and industry insight.

"I expect this strategy to lead to further expansion in the coming 12 months as we invest in our network to be in the places our clients need us to be. The merger with Gates and Partners should be seen as a signal of our intent."

The Gates union, under the Kennedys banner, will allow Kennedys to provide full legal advice to the aviation sector while strengthening its aviation and liability offering to its insurance and reinsurance clients. The merger has taken Kennedys' partner count to 174, with 20 partners joining from Gates.

The firm has made seven lateral hires since November last year, most recently Claire Bushen and David McKie who joined in May from DAC Beachcroft and Norton Rose respectively. Bushen will be based in the firm's Manchester office whiel McKie will be in London.

For more, see Kennedys to merge with aviation firm Gates and Partners.