Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes LLP
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
No. of officesThree (London, Brussels) and New York City) [1]
No. of lawyersApproximately 600[2]
No. of employeesApproximately 940[2]
Major practice areasGeneral practice
Key peopleDamien Crossley[3]
(Senior Partner)
Luke Powell[4]
(Managing Partner)
Katherine Milliken[4]
(Chief Operating Officer)
Revenue£389.5 million (2025/26)[5]
Profit per equity partner£3.1 million (2025/26)[5]
Date founded1875 (London)
Company typeLimited liability partnership
Websitewww.macfarlanes.com

Macfarlanes LLP is a London-based law firm and a member of the UK's "Silver Circle" of elite law firms.[6]

The firm is ranked as the UK's most profitable major law firm by profit margin and serves a global client base across Private Capital, M&A, Private Wealth, and Disputes.[7][8]

History

Macfarlanes was founded in the City of London in 1875 by George Watson Neish.[4] In 1894 Neish was joined in partnership by John Embleton Macfarlane and the firm moved to premises in Watling Street.[4] 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.[4] The firm has grown organically over the years to its current size and has never merged.[4]

Vanni Treves was the firm's senior partner from 1987 to 1999.[9][10] Macfarlanes converted to a limited liability partnership in May 2008.[11]

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.[12] In October 2010 the firm announced that it would be introducing a new senior solicitor level from early 2011.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15]

In September 2013, Macfarlanes advised Verizon Communications on its acquisition of Vodafone's 45 per cent interest in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion,[16] one of the biggest deals in corporate history.[17]

In July 2026, Macfarlanes advised Ares on the acquisition of French football club Olympique Lyonnais by US businesswoman Michele Kang, following the administration of its parent company, Eagle Football Holdings.[18]

Macfarlanes is among the firms operating a 'pass-first time' policy for training contract students sitting the SQE.[19]

Main practice areas

Macfarlanes' main practice areas are:[20]

  • 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 (2020–2026)
  • Damien Crossley (2026–present)

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Macfarlanes include:

References

  1. ↑ "Contact us". Macfarlanes. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Macfarlanes". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Gapper, John (31 March 2026). "The City law firm that found wealth in private capital". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Key Facts". Macfarlanes. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 Attinger, Oliver (29 January 2026). "The City firms outperforming the market on profitability". Non-Billable. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Silver Circle". The Lawyer. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Macfarlanes Remains Number 1 UK Firm By Profit Margin, Rankings Show". Law.com. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  8. ↑ Attinger, Oliver. "The City firms outperforming the market on profitability". www.nonbillable.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  9. ↑ "Macfarlanes". Legal Week. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Corporate charmer coaxing cash for children's charity". The Guardian. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  11. ↑ "New chief spearheads Macfarlanes' LLP switch". The Lawyer. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Macfarlanes instructed on Four Seasons Debt Restructure". The Lawyer. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Macfarlanes introduces senior associate tier". The Lawyer. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Macfarlanes, Hogan Lovells switched on for £200m BBC TV Centre sale". Legal Week. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Macfarlanes bolts on boutique in funds boost". The Lawyer. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Beioley, Kate. "Macfarlanes and Slaughters lead as Verizon buys Vodafone stake". The Lawyer. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Peston, Robert (2 September 2013). "BBC News - Vodafone sells Verizon stake for $130bn". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Agini, Samuel (27 March 2026). "Ares appoints administrators to owner of French football club Lyon". Financial Times.
  19. ↑ Cheek, Legal (2024-03-21). "Macfarlanes future trainees fear for careers amid firm's 'must pass first time' SQE policy". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  20. ↑ "Practice areas". Macfarlanes LLP. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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