Partner pay at Eversheds Sutherland fell in 2016-17, with average partner profits, management pay and the remuneration of its best-paid partner all declining on the previous year, the firm's limited liability partnership accounts (LLP) have revealed.

The firm – formed by last year's transatlantic merger of Eversheds and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan – has filed its 2016-17 LLP accounts for Eversheds Sutherland (International), which cover the firm's business outside of the US.

The accounts show pay for key management personnel fell by more than 20% from £7.67m to £6.01m, although it is understood that this came on the back of a reduction in the size of the group by one member.

The key management team includes chief executive Lee Ranson, managing partner Keith Froud and the members of the firm's executive committee, although the firm declined to confirm the exact size of the group.

Despite boosting turnover by 8%, last May Eversheds reported falling net profit and profit per equity partner for 2016-17, and the latest LLP accounts state that the firm's highest-paid partner is estimated to have received £1.4m for 2016-17, marginally down on the equivalent figure of £1.43m for the preceding year.

However, average remuneration per member increased slightly, rising from £386,000 to £391,000.

Eversheds officially combined with US firm Sutherland on 1 February 2017 in a non-financially-integrated deal under the Eversheds Sutherland moniker.

According to the accounts, the UK-headquartered arm of the business provided £144,000 of legal services to its US arm during 2016-17, with £384,000 in legal services provided by legacy Sutherland to the international LLP.

The firm's debt increased during the year, with the amount due to creditors within one year rising almost 20% from £80.5m to £96.2m. Of that, bank loans and overdrafts more than doubled from £8.3m to £18.5m, while the amount due to trade creditors increased by 21.5% from £21.3m to £25.9m.

Staff costs also rose sharply to £191.9m, up 10% from £174m the previous year.

Total turnover for the group increased to £435.3m in 2016-17, up 7.5% from £404.8m. The UK provided the lion's share of that revenue – £345.7m – with the rest of Europe contributing £50.6m and the rest of the world £39.1m.

In addition to the US tie-up, the firm also merged with Singapore's Harry Elias Partnership in February, in a deal that gave Eversheds a 33% stake in the 90-lawyer firm.