(L-R): Chris Booth, Claudia Coleman, Gordon McCreath, Emma Reid, Richard Foley and Fred Banning of Pinsent Masons

Finalists: Clifford Chance, Clyde & Co (highly commended), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Latham & Watkins, Osborne Clarke, Pinsent Masons, White & Case

Pinsent Masons was a clear winner for the judges of the flagship Law Firm of the Year award.

Over three years, Pinsents' financial performance has been impressive, with revenue climbing by 24% and profit per equity partner jumping up 36%.

Significantly, it has achieved this growth against a backdrop of international expansion. It has opened six international offices during the past five years, to take its office tally to 21 locations across Europe, Africa and Asia.

New offices in 2015-16 include Duesseldorf, Sydney and Melbourne, with a South Africa launch lined up for the start of 2017. The firm recently announced the hire of an eight-strong team from Bowmans, including two partners, as well as three further partners from local firms ahead of its January launch in Johannesburg.

It has also been steadily growing headcount in London as it focuses on a clearly defined strategy of becoming a leading international player in five key sectors by 2019, including infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and technology. Its efforts appear to be paying off, with recent panel wins including Dixons Carphone Warehouse, Capita, Serco and The Co-operative Bank.

The firm has also taken a lead when it comes to innovation and diversity. In 2014, it bought a majority stake in Cerico, which helps corporates deal with compliance and risk, while the firm has also continued to grow its flexible lawyering service Vario. More than a third of partner promotions in the past two years have been female.

As one judge concluded: "Impressive revenue growth, new offices, more tier-one recommended practices, the sector focus – they ticked all the boxes."

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