London

UK law firm Ashfords has again reported strong financial results for 2025/26 with revenue increasing by 6% to £65m. The performance has triggered a 7% firm-wide bonus for the fifth consecutive year. Following significant investment in technology and people, profit rose by 3%. Over the past year, the firm has implemented Thomson Reuters’ Elite 3E platform and enhanced its employee benefits package, including increased pension contributions, expanded income protection, paid volunteering leave and the introduction of an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme. Ashfords CEO, Louise Workman, who last year launched a new five-year strategy for the firm targeting sustainable growth, said: “Following a year of significant investment across the firm, it is particularly pleasing to report such a strong set of results. Just as importantly, these results allow us to reward our people, whose expertise, commitment and dedication are central to our success and the service we deliver to clients. Growth at Ashfords is not about scale alone. It is about growing in a way that strengthens our culture, enhances the quality of our work and creates long-term value for both our clients and our colleagues. This year’s results demonstrate that we are successfully delivering on that ambition.” The firm has also continued to attract a strong cohort of lateral hires at partner level. Recent joiners include Thomas Middlehurst and Emma Harris (private wealth), Alexis Karim (corporate), Ben Xu (immigration), and Ben Hogan and David Cave (projects). Other highlights from the year include being named Law Firm of the Year at Bristol Law Society Awards and being shortlisted for Independent Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer awards.

UK law firm Ashfords has been appointed as a supplier on Government Commercial Agency's (GCA) RM6374 Legal Panel for Public Sector framework, providing legal services to public sector organisations across England and Wales. The appointment sees Ashfords named as a supplier across six key lots, an increase from two lots on the previous framework: Lot 1a – Full Legal Service Provision (All Public Sector) Lot 1b – Full Legal Service Provision (Local Government and Local Communities) Lot 1c – Full Legal Service Provision (Health and Social Care) Lot 2 – Focused Legal Support Lot 3 – Litigation and Disputes Lot 4 – Projects and Complex Advice (including PPP) Robin de Wreede, partner and joint head of public sector at Ashfords, said: “Being appointed to the Government Commercial Agency’s new Legal Services Framework is a significant achievement for the firm and reinforces our commitment to supporting public sector organisations with high-quality, commercially focused legal advice. We look forward to building on our existing public sector relationships and helping clients navigate opportunities and challenges across a wide range of legal matters.” For more information about Ashfords' public sector expertise, please contact our public sector & government team.

Ashfords’ partner Deborah Rowntree will chair a panel in the CFO stream at HealthInvestor UK’s Healthcare Summit 2026. Deborah will chair the session ‘Raising capital and managing refinancing risk’. This panel will explore strategies for raising capital in the healthcare sector, with expert insights and practical tips from Nick Essex, acting chief executive officer and chief finance officer of Liaise and Jamie Stuart, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Fortava Healthcare. Healthcare finance partner Deborah Rowntree commented: “Despite ongoing challenges, including continuing economic uncertainty, an evolving political landscape, and regulatory and workforce pressures, the healthcare sector continues to demonstrate considerable resilience. “I am looking forward to joining the panel to explore how organisations can raise capital and manage risk in a changing landscape.” Deborah is a member of Ashfords' specialist healthcare sector team, led by corporate partner Jocelyn Ormond. The team advises health and social care providers across the UK, alongside the investors and lenders that support the sector, on a broad range of legal issues, including complex regulatory, governance and compliance matters. For more information, please contact our healthcare and life sciences team.

Ashfords has been named Property Law Firm of the Year at the South West Property Awards 2026. The judges praised the firm’s regional knowledge and support across the full development lifecycle and ongoing contribution to the industry through research, training and innovation. The awards recognise the achievements of those individuals and organisations in the property and construction sector that have designed, developed and funded the built environment over the last year. Louise Workman, partner and CEO at Ashfords said: “This award reflects the work of colleagues across the firm and is well-deserved recognition of the quality of our people, the strength of our client relationships and the impact we continue to make across the property and development sector.” Ashfords advises developers, investors, landowners, occupiers and public sector organisations on property matters across the UK. Recognised for its work on regeneration, investment, development and infrastructure projects, the firm supports clients at every stage of the property lifecycle.