| Firm Name: | Macfarlanes LLP |
| Headquarters: | London, United Kingdom |
| Num Offices: | Two (London and Brussels)[1] |
| Key People: | Sebastian Prichard Jones[2] (Senior Partner) Luke Powell (Managing Partner) Katherine Milliken (Chief Operating Officer) |
| Practice Areas: | General practice |
| Revenue: | £303.7 million (2021/22)[3] |
| Profit Per Equity Partner: | £2.48 million (2021/22) |
| Num Lawyers: | Approximately 600[4] |
| Num Employees: | Approximately 940 |
| Date Founded: | 1875 (London) |
| Company Type: | Limited liability partnership |
| Homepage: | 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 2nd-highest among UK-based law firms.[3] It is regarded as forming part of the "Silver Circle" of leading UK law firms.[5] [6] [7] [8]
Macfarlanes was founded in the City of London in 1875 by George Watson Neish.[2] In 1894 Neish was joined in partnership by John Embleton Macfarlane and the firm moved to premises in Watling Street.[2] 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.[2] The firm has grown organically over the years to its current size and has never merged.[2]
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]
Macfarlanes' main practice areas are:[22]
Notable alumni of Macfarlanes include: