Piper plans to continue its global expansion

DLA Piper will invest in countries where its customers are expanding as part of its plan to become the world's biggest business law firm.

The company, which has about 100 lawyers in Scotland, yesterday outlined its strategic expansion plan as it announced a rise in revenues and profits.

Revenues for 2010 hit 1.27 billion, up just one 1 per cent on the previous year, but Piper also managed to cut its costs by 2.5 per cent, pushing profits up 5.9 per cent to 503 million.

Piper said it had carried momentum into the current year, with revenues in the first three months up 11.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Having completed its takeover of Australia's DLA Phillips Fox in May, it forecast revenues would rise by 15.6 per cent in 2011.

Last year, Piper established a presence in Turkey, Brazil, Portugal and Venezuela, and now has 4,200 lawyers in 76 offices worldwide.

It said it intends "developing the business internationally in jurisdictions where clients are growing their businesses".

Joint chief executive Sir Nigel Knowles said: "Our ambition is to be and remain the leading global business law firm and our absolute focus on our clients and what they need from us now and in the future will enable us to achieve this. Everyone in the firm is focused on continuing to deliver capability and value to our clients wherever they choose to do business."