Pinsent Masons has re-appointed John Cleland as its managing partner, as the firm's accounts show it paid out 13% more to its highest-paid member than the previous year.

The firm's highest-paid member took home £1.2m in 2017-18, while the firm's key management collectively earned £6.5m – a near 10% increase on the previous year's sum.

Pinsents' limited liability partnership accounts also show a modest staff headcount increase across all of the firm's offices, with the number of staff growing from 2,443 to 2,525. That growth contributed to staff costs rising 6% to hit £194m.

Equity partner headcount grew by seven to 181, and by just two within its non-equity partner ranks to 234.

Cleland, who stood unopposed for the role, first took the reins at the firm in 2014. Since then, Pinsents has undergone a period of international expansion, opening seven offices including in Australia and Ireland. 

Under Cleland's tenure the firm has also diversified, acquiring flexible working service Vario in 2016 and diversity consultancy firm Brook Graham in 2017. Last year, the firm sold its online compliance solutions business Cerico to Dow Jones.

The firm will launch a new base in Frankfurt next month, where it expects to hire at both associate and partner level, with three laterals already in the pipeline.