Big Four London Law Firms’ Profits Rise as Brexit Approaches

• M&A boom and regulatory advice helps boost profits at firms

• Tech and global data drive work across legal practice areas

London’s biggest law firms have posted rises in profits this year and say they are prepared for Brexit due to their international structure and cross-border work.The big four “magic circle” firms make a large proportion of their revenues outside the U.K. and Europe and say that Brexit won’t significantly change their business plans.

Freshfields and Clifford Chance posted profit increases of 12 percent or more, with Freshfields’ net income rising to 683 million pounds ($904 million), and Clifford Chance partnership profit rising ...