Macfarlanes
{{Short description|British law firm}}
{{Infobox Law Firm
| firm_name = Macfarlanes LLP
| logo = Macfarlanes logo.svg
| headquarters = London, United Kingdom
| num_offices = Two (London and Brussels){{cite web|url=https://www.macfarlanes.com/contact-us/|title=Contact us|access-date=11 January 2018|publisher=Macfarlanes}}
| key_people = Sebastian Prichard Jones{{cite web|url=http://www.macfarlanes.com/our-firm/key-facts.aspx|title=Key Facts|access-date=26 October 2010|publisher=Macfarlanes}}
(Senior Partner)
Luke Powell
(Managing Partner)
Katherine Milliken
(Chief Operating Officer)| practice_areas = General practice
| revenue = £303.7 million (2021/22){{cite news|title=UK Top 50 Full Results: PEP Hits a Wall As Uncertainty Lingers|url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2020/09/15/uk-top-50-full-results-pep-hits-a-wall-as-uncertainty-lingers/|access-date=18 February 2021|newspaper=Legal Week|date=15 September 2020}}
| profit_per_equity_partner = £2.48 million (2021/22)
| num_lawyers= Approximately 600{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/directory/m/Macfarlanes/|title=Macfarlanes|access-date=25 October 2010|publisher=The Lawyer}}
| num_employees = Approximately 940
| date_founded = 1875 (London)
| company_type = Limited liability partnership
| homepage = [http://www.macfarlanes.com/ www.macfarlanes.com]}}
Macfarlanes LLP is a London-based law firm.
In 2021/22, Macfarlanes achieved total revenues of £303.7 million and profits per equity partner of £2.48 million, respectively the 28th-largest and highest among UK-based law firms.https://www.law.com/international-edition/2024/09/11/uk-top-50-ranked-by-profit-per-equity-partner/?slreturn=2024110894937 It is regarded as forming part of the "Silver Circle" of leading UK law firms.{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/silver-circle/128316.article|title=Silver Circle|access-date=25 October 2010|publisher=The Lawyer|date=3 September 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article559686.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612003103/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article559686.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2011|title='Silver circle' firms upset the legal order|access-date=25 October 2010|work=The Times|date=28 August 2005}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/focus-macfarlanes-mac-to-the-future/1005957.article|title=Focus: Macfarlanes: Mac to the future|access-date=3 November 2010|publisher=The Lawyer|date=1 November 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/wiki/1172865/macfarlanes|title=Macfarlanes|access-date=26 October 2010|publisher=Legal Week|date=14 December 2009}}
History
Macfarlanes was founded in the City of London in 1875 by George Watson Neish. In 1894 Neish was joined in partnership by John Embleton Macfarlane and the firm moved to premises in Watling Street. The firm's offices suffered bomb damage during the Second World War. In 1958, the firm moved to a new office, Dowgate Hill House. In 1962, the firm adopted its current name Macfarlanes, named after then-senior partner Craig Macfarlane. The firm has grown organically over the years to its current size and has never merged.
Vanni Treves was the firm's senior partner from 1987 to 1999.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/may/09/voluntarysector.childprotection|title=Corporate charmer coaxing cash for children's charity|access-date=26 October 2010|work=The Guardian|date=9 May 2008}}
Macfarlanes converted to a limited liability partnership in May 2008.{{cite news |title=New chief spearheads Macfarlanes' LLP switch|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/new-chief-spearheads-macfarlanes-llp-switch/132542.article |work=The Lawyer |date=6 May 2008 |access-date=10 October 2012 }}
In September 2010, Macfarlanes advised Four Seasons Health Care, the largest UK-based care home group, on the restructuring of its £1.6 billion debt facilities.{{cite news|title=Macfarlanes instructed on Four Seasons Debt Restructure|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/macfarlanes-instructed-on-four-seasons-debt-restructure/1005547.article|access-date=23 August 2011|newspaper=The Lawyer|date=20 September 2010}} In October 2010 the firm announced that it would be introducing a new senior solicitor level from early 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/macfarlanes-introduces-senior-associate-tier/1005873.article|title=Macfarlanes introduces senior associate tier|access-date=26 October 2010|publisher=The Lawyer|date=25 October 2010}} In July 2012 Macfarlanes advised Stanhope, backed by Mitsui Fudosan UK and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, on its purchase of the BBC Television Centre.{{cite news|url=http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2192595/macfarlanes-hogan-lovells-switched-on-for-gbp200m-bbc-tv-centre-sale|title=Macfarlanes, Hogan Lovells switched on for £200m BBC TV Centre sale|access-date=14 January 2012|newspaper=Legal Week|date=18 July 2012}}
In January 2012, Macfarlanes was joined by a nine-strong team from the boutique specialist hedge fund law firm, D Harris & Co International Limited, to complement the firm's existing hedge funds practice.{{cite news|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/macfarlanes-bolts-on-boutique-in-funds-boost/1010935.article|title=Macfarlanes bolts on boutique in funds boost
|access-date=15 October 2012|newspaper=The Lawyer|date=16 January 2012}}
In September 2013, Macfarlanes advised Verizon Communications on its acquisition of Vodafone's 45 per cent interest in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion,{{cite web|last=Beioley|first=Kate|title=Macfarlanes and Slaughters lead as Verizon buys Vodafone stake|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/news/practice-areas/corporate-news/macfarlanes-and-slaughters-lead-as-verizon-buys-vodafone-stake/3009005.article|publisher=The Lawyer|access-date=9 September 2013}} one of the biggest deals in corporate history.{{cite news|last=Peston|first=Robert|title=BBC News - Vodafone sells Verizon stake for $130bn|work=BBC News |date=2 September 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23933955|access-date=9 September 2013}}
It was named Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2014{{cite web|title=Macfarlanes, Mishcon de Reya and LV among prize winners at British Legal Awards 2014|url=http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2383931/macfarlanes-mishcon-de-reya-and-lv-among-prize-winners-at-british-legal-awards-2014|publisher=LegalWeek.com|access-date=2 December 2014}} and UK Law Firm of the Year 2015 at the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence.{{cite web|title=Winners|url=https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/118899/267370/|publisher=Chambers Europe|access-date=18 May 2015}} In 2023, Macfarlanes was shortlisted for City Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.{{cite news|title=The Lawyer Awards 2023: Who's made the shortlist|url=https://www.thelawyer.com/lawyer-awards-2023-shortlist/|access-date=22 May 2023|newspaper=The Lawyer|date=22 May 2023}}
In recognition of the firm's efforts to widen its talent pool and improve access to the legal profession,{{cite news|title=Macfarlanes recognised for Best Social Mobility Strategy at targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2023|url=https://www.macfarlanes.com/press-releases/2023/macfarlanes-recognised-for-best-social-mobility-strategy-at-targetjobs-national-graduate-recruitment-awards-2023|access-date=22 May 2023|newspaper=Macfarlanes|date=22 May 2023}} Macfarlanes won Best Social Mobility Strategy at the targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2023.{{cite news|title=Targetjobs Award Winners 2023|url=https://targetjobsawards.co.uk/winners/2023|access-date=22 May 2023|newspaper=Macfarlanes|date=22 May 2023}}
Macfarlanes is among the firms operating a 'pass-first time' policy for training contract students sitting the SQE.{{Cite web |last=Cheek |first=Legal |date=2024-03-21 |title=Macfarlanes future trainees fear for careers amid firm's 'must pass first time' SQE policy |url=https://www.legalcheek.com/2024/03/macfarlanes-future-trainees-fear-for-careers-amid-firms-must-pass-first-time-sqe-policy/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Legal Cheek |language=en}}
Main practice areas
Macfarlanes' main practice areas are:{{cite web|url=http://www.macfarlanes.com/practice-areas.aspx|title=Practice areas|access-date=22 August 2015|publisher=Macfarlanes LLP}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
- Antitrust/competition
- Commercial, brands, IP and IT
- Construction and engineering
- Corporate and M&A
- Derivatives and trading
- Employment
- Finance
- Financial services regulation
- Insurance
- Investment management
- Lawtech
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Pensions and pensions de-risking
- Private capital solutions
- Private client
- Private equity
- Public policy
- Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Reward
- Tax
}}
List of senior partners
- Herbert James (1984-1987)
- Vanni Treves (1987-1999)
- Robert Sutton (1999-2008)
- Charles Martin (2008-2020)
- Sebastian Prichard Jones (2020-)
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of Macfarlanes include:
- David Gauke, Conservative MP and former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
- Sir David Tang, noted socialite (joined as a trainee solicitor, but left before completing his training contract)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.macfarlanes.com/ Macfarlanes website]
- [http://www.privatecapitalsolutions.com/ Macfarlanes Private Capital Solutions website]
{{Magic Circle}}
{{Law firms of the United Kingdom}}
Category:Law firms of the United Kingdom