Global law firm DLA Piper saw its profitability improve sharply in 2010, though income was flat.

The firm, which has over 4,200 lawyers in 30 countries, recorded a 5.9% rise in profits to £503m on income up just 1% to £1.27bn. It declined to disclose average profit per equity partner.

Profitability was boosted by a 2.5% fall in costs and the turnover figure benefited from the inclusion of the US arm, which is not financially integrated.

Joint chief executive Sir Nigel Knowles said the results represented strong progress in the firm’s bid to be the leading global law firm.

Income climbed 11% in the first quarter of 2011 and the firm expects annual revenues to rise by 8.5% for the full year, excluding the integration of DLA Phillips Fox on 1 May.

He added: ‘Against the backdrop of a tough global legal services market our performance demonstrates the advantages of the firm’s diversity of services and geography.

‘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.’

He insisted that linking the joint revenue figures with the US practice was justified as the two firms were one business.

Knowles said the key change from the years before the financial crisis was in the change in buying patterns of clients.

‘In 2004, ’05 and ’06 the boot was on the foot of the law firm and now it’s with the client.

'There has been a move to value and it’s not just about quality and execution anymore.’

In related news, Knowles said a 'paradigm shift' is about to hit the legal sector with the introduction of alternative business structures.