Clyde & Co partners enjoyed a bumper year in 2012/13 thanks to a 22.7% profit hike, according to LLP accounts filed with Companies House.

Clydes made £81.6m available for distribution among its members, up from £66.5m the previous year.

The filing also confirms a 17% increase in fee income, from £285.8m to £334.6m, broadly in line with unaudited financial results released by the firm last June.

Capital contributions from partners were slashed by nearly two thirds, from £18m in 2011/12 to £6.7m last year.

However, the firm's expenses went up during the same period, from £216.9m to £249.7m, largely due to increased staff costs. Across the group, which includes the firm's outposts in Canada, Australia and the US, employee costs rose by 24.7% from £115.8m to £144.4m as total staff headcount – including support staff – climbed from 2,089 to 2,403.

Elsewhere, DAC Beachcroft's LLP filings show an even greater profit hike, with £31.2m available for distribution among members. The figure is a 42.5% up on the £21.9m available last year.

The audited accounts also confirm a year-on-year fee income rise of 14% for the firm from £163.5m to £186.8m.

However, DAC also increased its net debt over the year from £34m to £38.7m, while its total bank borrowing was also up, growing from £8.3m to £9.2m.

Olswang was another firm to post an increase in its net debt during 2012/13. Its LLP filing revealed a 63% rise in overall debt from £8.4m in 2011/12 to £13.7m last year. The rise in borrowings included a new £3m bank loan.

Turnover at the firm was relatively flat, with £110m total fee income brought in compared with £108.5m last year. Net profit was slightly down, however, falling from £38.5m to £37m.

Earlier this week, LLP filings from Dentons UK arm revealed it too had increased its debt pile during 2012/13, having taken out a further £3m in bank loans.

Ince & Co has also filed its 2012/13 results, with both profit and turnover flat compared with last year. Turnover at the firm was from £61.1m to £61.9m, while profit fell from £20.1m to £19.1m.