British law firm
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 2nd-highest among UK-based law firms.[4] It is regarded as forming part of the "Silver Circle" of leading UK law firms.[5][6][7][8]
History
Macfarlanes was founded in the City of London in 1875 by George Watson Neish.[3] In 1894 Neish was joined in partnership by John Embleton Macfarlane and the firm moved to premises in Watling Street.[3] 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.[3] The firm has grown organically over the years to its current size and has never merged.[3]
Vanni Treves was the firm's senior partner from 1987 to 1999.[8][9]
Macfarlanes converted to a limited liability partnership in May 2008.[10]
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.[11] In October 2010 the firm announced that it would be introducing a new senior solicitor level from early 2011.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
In September 2013, Macfarlanes advised Verizon Communications on its acquisition of Vodafone's 45 per cent interest in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion,[15] one of the biggest deals in corporate history.[16]
It was named Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2014[17] and UK Law Firm of the Year 2015 at the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence.[18] In 2023, Macfarlanes was shortlisted for City Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.[19]
In recognition of the firm's efforts to widen its talent pool and improve access to the legal profession,[20] Macfarlanes won Best Social Mobility Strategy at the targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2023.[21]
Main practice areas
Macfarlanes' main practice areas are:[22]
- 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 client
- Private equity
- Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Reward
- Tax
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of Macfarlanes include:
