LAYTONS ETL MARKS 150 YEARS WITH CHARITABLE PLEDGE AND EXPANSION DRIVE
Few firms in the City of London can boast a heritage spanning a century and a half, but Laytons ETL enters its 150th year with not only a storied past but a dynamic present.
To mark this milestone, the firm has launched an ambitious charitable initiative, pledging donations of £150 to 150 different causes throughout 2025. The first tranche of recipients will receive their contributions in March, with additional charities nominated by the firm’s staff over the course of the year.
The initiative is not merely a gesture of philanthropy, according to Michael Kashis, Managing Partner CEO at Laytons ETL. “2025 marks 150 years since Edward John Layton, along with his son, founded our firm in Budge Row,” he says. “The long history that followed has included being bombed out twice during the Blitz as well as the ups and downs that accompany a century and a half of doing business.
“Laytons ETL is thriving as we embark upon this anniversary year, and we wanted to do something to mark this landmark in a way that makes a meaningful contribution to the community while also reflecting the values, priorities and experiences of our people. This isn’t just an exercise in charitable giving, it’s an exploration and celebration of who we are, and the things that mean the most to us.”
The firm’s 150th anniversary comes at a time of considerable growth. Preliminary figures suggest Laytons ETL recorded revenues of £11.7 million in 2024, a 24.5 per cent increase on the previous year. By 2027, the firm has set its sights on reaching £20 million in turnover. Such ambitions are underpinned by a period of strategic expansion, including its move into new Grade A office space on Cannon Street—just a short distance from its original premises in Budge Row.
In recent years, Laytons ETL has significantly broadened its reach. A longstanding participant in international legal networks, the firm has cultivated a strong reputation in multi-jurisdictional matters, bolstered further by its 2021 integration into ETL GLOBAL, a German-headquartered professional services network with a presence in over 50 countries and a workforce of 24,000.
Further expansion followed in 2022 with the acquisition of real estate specialists Cannings Connolly, while in 2024, Laytons ETL made another decisive move, onboarding 14 lawyers from the UK arm of US firm Armstrong Teasdale. These hires, spanning corporate, business immigration, commercial real estate and dispute resolution, underline the firm’s commitment to strengthening its core practice areas.
While much of its recent growth has been through strategic acquisitions, Laytons ETL has also seen notable organic expansion since the pandemic, positioning itself as a robust player in the City’s competitive legal market.
Beyond the charitable initiative, the firm plans a series of celebrations throughout 2025, bringing together colleagues, clients and business partners to mark the milestone. With a renewed focus on growth and international collaboration, Laytons ETL’s 150th anniversary is shaping up as not just a commemoration of its past but a springboard for its future.
