Record profits push partner earnings past £1m and trigger a £3.5m bonus pool for Shoosmiths staff
Shoosmiths has delivered its strongest financial performance to date, with partner profits soaring by nearly 30% and firm-wide bonuses totalling £3.5 million set to roll out next month.
The national law firm announced on Tuesday that its profit per equity partner (PEP) had exceeded £1 million for the first time in its history, marking a significant milestone driven by a 30% increase in partner earnings year-on-year.
The firm’s net profit rose by 16% to £76.6 million, with total revenue climbing 5% to £217.2 million. The bumper year has enabled Shoosmiths to award a 5% salary bonus to 1,300 eligible staff, recognising what it described as a year of “hard work, strategic focus, and dedication.”
Chief Executive David Jackson said the firm’s stellar financials were a direct result of a refined focus on high-impact legal services and deeper client relationships.
“I’m so proud that the hard work and dedication of our people has translated into fantastic outcomes for our clients and an amazing financial performance for our firm,” Jackson said. “We’ve been super clear about where we think we can add most value to our clients, and as a result, they’ve trusted us with more of their business-critical work in those areas.”
Shoosmiths has also doubled down on integrating artificial intelligence into its daily operations. In a headline-grabbing initiative, the firm has pledged to release an additional £1 million into a collegiate bonus fund once employees collectively make one million prompts into Microsoft Copilot AI.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe innovative scheme, reported earlier this year by Legal Cheek, excludes partners and business services directors from bonus eligibility but still encourages them to use the tool. The aim, says the firm, is to foster a culture of tech-driven efficiency and collaboration, rewarding those who embrace AI-powered solutions in their workflows.
Shoosmiths’ rising profile has also drawn attention from aspiring lawyers. According to the Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2025, the firm recruits approximately 22 trainees annually, offering starting salaries of £32,000 in regional offices and £43,000 in London. These new recruits will be joining a firm on the rise—one which is clearly unafraid to share the spoils of its success.
The bonus scheme and AI initiative appear to be part of a broader strategy to retain top talent, incentivise innovation, and maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly tech-forward legal industry.
Despite challenges across the UK legal sector, including economic headwinds and fierce competition for major clients, Shoosmiths has managed to carve out a solid financial niche. Their model appears to prioritise targeted growth, operational efficiency, and employee recognition—a combination that has paid off handsomely this year.
As law firms continue to adapt to new technologies and evolving client expectations, Shoosmiths’ blend of traditional legal excellence with forward-thinking initiatives like the Copilot challenge may set a blueprint for others hoping to thrive in the modern era.
