There was a good mix of firms reflecting activity at the top end of the market, such as KPMG and PWC, who have both had busy years, and there was a strong vote for the Manchester office of a powerful global player, Rothschild.

But it was one of the hungriest teams in the mid-market, Rickitt Mitchell, which won the day. "It's fair to say that one of the firm's key strengths is the fact that it doesn't seek publicity, it just gets on with it".