Ballard Spahr Chair Arthur Makadon said the firm experienced a 22 percent rise in profits per equity partner (PPP) last year, from $430,000 in 2009 to $525,000 in 2010. Ballard Spahr was able to grow its gross revenue by about 1 percent, from $270 million in 2009 to $273.6 million in 2010, thanks to a smaller reduction in billable hours than there was in headcount, Mr. Makadon said. The firm's revenue per lawyer (RPL) grew 10.5 percent, from $555,000 to $615,000.
Mr. Makadon said that though the firm had fewer lawyers, they were all busier, helping bump up revenue and RPL. He said it was far and away the firm's litigation practice that helped push up revenue. That included intellectual property litigation. He said the firm had to hire litigation attorneys throughout 2010 to help keep up with the demand.