Dechert's top City earner netted £2.9m in profits in 2012, according to accounts filed for the firm's UK limited liability partnership (LLP).

However, according to the Companies' House filing, the firm's top earner took home is 7% less than the previous year, when one partner was entitled to a £3.1m profit share.

The figure – highlights the amounts some partners can earn at US firms, which typically use more flexible equity models.

The accounts also show considerable year-on-year increases in profit and income.

Across the LLP, fee income and profit grew 67% and 64% respectively, with income standing at £70m in 2012 and profit climbing to just over half of total revenues at £35.1m.

During 2012, the all-equity partnership had an average monthly member headcount of 43, while the ranks of associates and counsel increasing to 76 from 53 in 2011. This contributed to a growth in staff costs from £11.9m to £17.3m in 2012.

Three of the US-headquartered firm's rainmakers in London are understood to be Camille Abousleiman, financial services partner Peter Astleford, and Neil Gerrard, who in 2012 led the firm's high profile investigation into allegations of fraud at the FTSE 100-listed Eurasian Natural Resources Company (ENRC).

Dechert was dumped by ENRC in late March just weeks before presenting the results of an investigation to the Serious Fraud Office.

The filing also shows that £14.1m of the UK LLP's income is derived from work for clients outside the country.

Elsewhere, accounts recently filed for McDermott Will & Emery's UK LLP show the firm paid out £8.76m to members in 2012, despite generating just £8.26m profit.

A firm spokeswoman said: "The loss for the year is not a trading or cash loss but an accrual accounting loss resulting from an increase in post-retirement payment accruals, i.e. pension provisions for former members."

Total turnover at McDermott in 2012 stood at £20.3m, a 5% increase on the previous year.