DLA Piper's 2006 global revenue tops USD1.8 billion

The revenue result represents a 17% increase when compared to fiscal year 2005, the first year in which DLA Piper reported revenue as a global entity.

In addition to global revenue, DLA Piper announced its profits per equity partner, which were also up for the year 2006 to $1.18 million/£643,000/€928,000, representing an increase of 14%. DLA Piper has continued to perform well in each of its priority practice areas and key markets, while continuing to invest in its existing offices, emerging markets and ongoing operational integration.

In early 2006 DLA Piper opened its first Middle East office in Dubai which currently has over 25 lawyers, including seven partners. The Dubai office operates as the regional hub for the Gulf including all of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
The office continues to expand in order to provide a full range of legal services and in recent months recruited specialist lawyers in real estate, construction and Islamic finance. DLA Piper's commitment to the Gulf region was further demonstrated by the recent appointment of Bruce Mullins who will manage the proposed new office in the Sultanate of Oman, complementing DLA Piper's existing relationships in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Using the most recently available figures provided by American Lawyer /The Lawyer 100 and Legal Business Global 50, these results make DLA Piper one of the world's highest grossing global law firms.

"We are delighted that we have been able to develop so rapidly and strongly in the Middle East and feel that this is the result of the ability to provide the full range of specialist legal services to our clients and of the strength of DLA Piper's global platform which makes it possible to serve Gulf-based business throughout the world as well as in the region,"

said David Church Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East at DLA Piper.

During 2006 DLA Piper was recognised by numerous industry organisations for its growth and continued success around the world:
• Named "Global Law Firm of the Year" by The Lawyer in 2006
• Named "Law Firm of the Year" at the unquote Private Equity Awards 2006 for the second year running.
• Named "Real Estate Law Firm of the Year" by Who's Who Legal Awards in 2005 and 2006
• Named a "Legal Market Trailblazer" by BTI Consulting Group in 2006
• Named "Venture Law Firm of 2006" by Zero2IPO, an independent research firm in China that is regarded as the most authoritative VC/PE research data provider within the Chinese market.
• Ranked first in American Lawyer's recent survey of US firms with global litigation capabilities. DLA Piper was also named on the National Law Journal's 2006 Defence Hot List.

Nigel Knowles, Joint CEO of DLA Piper, said: "As a leading global legal services provider, we have worked to instil an unwavering focus on promoting a culture of collaboration and integration within our 63 offices worldwide. Our financial performance in 2006 was solid and we continue to focus on our strengths and work towards improving areas that we believe will enhance the delivery of our services to clients."

DLA Piper's growth and success has been reinforced by strategic expansion throughout the world. The number of DLA Piper lawyers across the global organisation increased from approximately 2,850 to 3,200, as new offices were established in Dubai, UAE; Atlanta, Georgia; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Phoenix, Arizona. The 90-lawyer Norwegian practice of DLA Nordic, with offices in Oslo and Bergen, became fully integrated into DLA Piper in September 2006. In addition, DLA Piper Group, which is DLA Piper's exclusive alliance of independent law firms, also grew to include new members in Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana and Australasia.

In addition to robust revenue growth, DLA Piper dramatically increased its CSR and pro bono legal work around the world. In 2006, DLA Piper lawyers logged more than 116,000 pro bono hours, representing a 30% increase in the US and a 26% increase in the UK over 2005. In the US, the percentage of the firm's lawyers contributing 20 hours or more pro bono work rose to over 85%, an increase from 63% in 2005.