Macfarlanes
| File:Macfarlanes logo black.jpg | |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | One |
| No. of lawyers | Approximately 305[1] |
| No. of employees | Approximately 505[1] |
| Major practice areas | General practice |
| Key people | Julian Howard[2] (Managing Partner) Charles Martin[2] (Senior Partner) |
| Revenue | £161.03 million (2015/16)[3] |
| Profit per equity partner | £1.29 million (2015/16)[3] |
| Date founded | 1875 (London) |
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
| Website | www.macfarlanes.com |
Macfarlanes LLP is a corporate law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It advises national and multinational companies, business leaders and high-net-worth individuals in the UK and internationally across the full range of corporate and commercial matters as well as on their private affairs.
In 2015/16 Macfarlanes achieved total revenues of £161.03 million and profits per equity partner of £1.29 million.[3] It is regarded as forming part of the "Silver Circle" of leading UK law firms.[4][5][6][7]
History
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.[7][8] Macfarlanes converted to a limited liability partnership in May 2008.[9]
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.[10] In October 2010 the firm announced that it would be introducing a new senior solicitor level from early 2011.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
In September 2013 Macfarlanes advised Verizon Communications on its acquisition of Vodafone's 45 per cent interest in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion,[14] one of the biggest deals in corporate history.[15]
It was named Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2014[16] and UK Law Firm of the Year 2015 at the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence.[17]
Main practice areas
Macfarlanes' main practice areas are:[18]
Notable alumni
Some of the more notable former Macfarlanes solicitors include:
- David Gauke, Conservative MP and current Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Vanni Treves CBE, former senior partner and chairman of Channel 4
References
- ^ a b "Macfarlanes". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Key Facts". Macfarlanes. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "Macfarlanes' PEP drops 17% from record high to £1.29m". The Lawyer. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Silver Circle". The Lawyer. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ "'Silver circle' firms upset the legal order". The Times. 28 August 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ "Focus: Macfarlanes: Mac to the future". The Lawyer. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
- ^ a b "Macfarlanes". Legal Week. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ "Corporate charmer coaxing cash for children's charity". The Guardian. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ "New chief spearheads Macfarlanes' LLP switch". The Lawyer. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Macfarlanes instructed on Four Seasons Debt Restructure". The Lawyer. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ^ "Macfarlanes introduces senior associate tier". The Lawyer. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ "Macfarlanes, Hogan Lovells switched on for £200m BBC TV Centre sale". Legal Week. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ "Macfarlanes bolts on boutique in funds boost". The Lawyer. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ^ Beioley, Kate. "Macfarlanes and Slaughters lead as Verizon buys Vodafone stake". The Lawyer. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ Peston, Robert. "BBC News - Vodafone sells Verizon stake for $130bn". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ "Macfarlanes, Mishcon de Reya and LV among prize winners at British Legal Awards 2014". LegalWeek.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ^ "Winners". Chambers Europe. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ "Practice areas". Macfarlanes LLP. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
