Pinsent Masons has retained pole position in the Aim client rankings, despite increasing competition from firms including Charles Russell Speechlys and Wragge Lawrence Graham over the past quarter.
According to the latest data by Adviser Rankings, Pinsent Masons increased its total yield of Aim-listed clients from 60 to 61, while its closest rival Carey Olsen also grew its total from 44 to 45.
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co and Kerman & Co were among the biggest growers, increasing their totals from 36 to 39 and from 32 to 36 respectively.
Meanwhile, recently-merged Charles Russell Speechlys made its debut in the rankings with a combined 26 Aim-listed clients – sandwiching the firm between Osborne Clarke and Fladgate.
Charles Russell Speechlys’ Aim-listed clients include pharmaceuticals company Bioventix, private equity group Origo Partners, and security business Westminster Group.
Corporate partner Clive Hopewell said: “The nice thing about the merger is that the two firms have complementary practices. Legacy Speechlys has a strong private equity practice, as well as financial services and funds. Bringing that together with Charles Russells’ corporate finance team gives us a very strong source of work.”
The firm is seeking to expand its Aim practice, not just in financial services but in other areas including technology, media and telecoms.
In contrast, during the quarter running to 6 January 2015 Stephenson Harwood saw its tally of Aim-listed clients slide by five, from 39 to 34. The drop follows the de-listing of clients including China Food Co and Radiant Growth Investments.
Addleshaw Goddard and Pinsent Masons, which jointly lead the pack in terms of total Aim 100 clients, both lost ground over the last quarter with their totals dropping from eight to seven.
Slaughter and May was one of just a handful of firms to see their Aim 100 client value increase during the period, rising from £4.4bn to £5.1bn – largely because each of its four clients within the category also hold a spot in the Aim UK 50.
Addleshaw Goddard, Osborne Clarke and Pinsent Masons can also count four Aim UK 50 clients each, although it is Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co that comes closest to Slaughters’ lead by client value in that category with a total of £2.6bn.
| Total Aim clients | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank Jan ’15 | Rank Oct ’14 | Firm | Total clients Jan ’15 | Total clients Oct ’14 |
| 1 | 1 | Pinsent Masons | 61 | 60 |
| 2 | 2 | Carey Olsen | 45 | 44 |
| 3 | 2 | Memery Crystal | 44 | 44 |
| 4 | 5 | Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co | 39 | 36 |
| 5 | 5 | DLA Piper | 36 | 36 |
| 6 | 9 | Kerman & Co | 36 | 32 |
| 7 | 7 | Appleby | 35 | 34 |
| 8 | 4 | Stephenson Harwood | 34 | 39 |
| 9 | 8 | Fieldfisher | 33 | 33 |
| 10 | 12 | Eversheds | 29 | 27 |
| 11 | 11 | Berwin Leighton Paisner | 29 | 28 |
| 12 | 10 | Fasken Martineau | 28 | 29 |
| 13 | 12 | Norton Rose Fulbright | 27 | 27 |
| 13 | 14 | Osborne Clarke | 27 | 26 |
| 15 | X | Charles Russell Speechlys | 26 | X |
| FTSE Aim 100 clients | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank Jan ’15 | Rank Oct ’14 | Firm | Total clients Jan ’15 | Total clients Oct ’14 |
| 1 | 1 | Addleshaw Goddard | 7 | 8 |
| 1 | 1 | Pinsent Masons | 7 | 8 |
| 1 | 3 | Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co | 7 | 7 |
| 4 | 4 | DLA Piper | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 4 | Eversheds | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | 6 | Osborne Clarke | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | X | Bird & Bird | 4 | X |
| 7 | 7 | Ogier | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 7 | Olswang | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 7 | Slaughter and May | 4 | 4 |
| 11 | 11 | Ashurst | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | 11 | Herbert Smith Freehills | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | 7 | King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | 11 | Mayer Brown | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | 11 | Memery Crystal | 3 | 3 |
| FTSE Aim UK 50 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank Jan ’15 | Rank Oct ’14 | Firm | Total clients Jan ’15 | Total clients Oct ’14 |
| 1 | 1 | Addleshaw Goddard | 4 | 5 |
| 1 | 2 | Osborne Clarke | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | Pinsent Masons | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | 5 | Slaughter and May | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 2 | Eversheds | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 | Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | 9 | Ashurst | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | 9 | Bird & Bird | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | X | Covington & Burling | 2 | X |
| 7 | X | DLA Piper | 2 | X |
| 7 | 9 | DWF | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | 5 | Herbert Smith Freehills | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | 9 | Mayer Brown | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | 5 | Memery Crystal | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | 9 | Morrison & Foerster | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | 9 | Olswang | 2 | 2 |
Source: Adviser Rankings
