Firms

Macfarlanes

Web: www.macfarlanes.com

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: www.macfarlanes.com

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Survey results

Survey results

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others?

''Reputation for training'; 'probably get more interesting work than most'; 'I have had three seats and sat with three partners so I am undoubtedly getting good experience'; 'quality of lawyers''

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms?

''I like the look of the trainee retention rates'; 'more education and less menial tasks/admin'; 'a lot more hands-on and you get recognition for the work that you do'; 'the longer-standing members of the firm certainly seem to treat you with more respect here than elsewhere''

Best thing about the firm?

''More client contact'; 'much friendlier colleagues'; 'more supportive atmosphere'; 'intense education programme and plenty of support for when things don't quite go to plan'; 'trust given and the power of the brand name''

Worst thing about the firm?

''Decision-making at higher levels can be opaque'; 'minimal client contact'; 'unpredictable hours - as for all law firms'; 'poor partnership opportunities'; 'lack of perks'; 'the firm's blue blood reputation''

Best moment?

''Being told I'm doing a good job - makes it seem worthwhile'; 'helping out with the firm's annual cabaret'; 'getting a job on qualification!'; 'a client sending me personally a bottle of champagne as a thank you for my role on a large transaction (it was very nice champagne)'; 'organising a presentation for visiting Chinese judges''

Worst moment?

''Scanning a lot of documents!'; 'realising that you have made a mistake'; 'realising the length of the shift that needed to be worked before I could go on holiday...'; 'left without clear instructions and a tight deadline and an assistant who wouldn't help'; 'being asked to stay late whilst my supervisor went home'; 'e-disclosure'; 'staying through the night to set up an electronic data room''

The Lex 100 verdict

The Verdict

The firm

Macfarlanes' size relative to its City peers is in no way a hindrance to its ability to compete on top-level mandates. The firm continues to engage in high-end corporate work, and remains strong in funds and private equity deals. It also has a highly rated private client practice, and is notable for brand management work.

The star performers

Acquisition finance; Agriculture and estates; Brand management; Commercial Property; Construction; Contentious trusts and probate; Corporate tax; EU and competition; Environment; Financial Services; Flotations: small and mid-cap; Investment funds; M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Planning; Private equity; Property finance; Property litigation; VAT and indirect tax.

The deals

Representing WestLB in a complex dispute with Nomura; acting for the Municipalities of Haugesund and Narvik in claims against Depfa Bank concerning swap transactions; advised EJ Gallo on the transfer of its logistics and warehousing arrangements from the previous incumbent to Kuehne + Nagel; advises Universal Music Group on contingency arrangements relating to the manufacture and distribution of physical media across the EU; advised Vallar on its £707m IPO in 2010.

The clients

3i, Oakhill; Air Liquide; Brit Insurance; Greenhill Capital Partners; Haymarket Financial; ICAP; Indigo Capital; JC Flowers; Pinewood Laboratories; Reckitt Benckiser; Suzano Papel e Celulose.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended Private Client team of the year, Real Estate team of the year.

The Verdict

The 'excellent' quality of training at City firm Macfarlanes is something that trainees continue to rave about. Although not as big as some of its corporate rivals, the firm has a 'strong reputation' particularly in private equity, private client and brand management and handles a 'very high' quality of work often for some very famous clients. The atmosphere here is described as 'friendly' and you will find that there is a lot of support available for when 'things don't quite go to plan'. Compared to peers at similar firms trainees feel that they get a more 'intense education programme' and the work is 'lot more hands-on with ample recognition for what you do'. Expect to be given a significant amount of responsibility from day one and the fact that work is done in small teams means that there are plenty of 'friendly partners who will always make sure they have time to answer your questions'. 'Attending an all-parties negotiation meeting' or 'organising a presentation for visiting Chinese judges' are just two examples of current trainee experiences. Trainees would like to have more client contact and the firm's 'blue blood reputation' can at times be frustrating for some trainees. More perks would also be appreciated and better food. However, despite its size, Macfarlanes impresses with top-drawer clients, quality lawyers, varied mandates and fantastic training - the firm's annual cabaret event and bottles of champagne from satisfied clients don't sound too bad either!

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Emma Carrington Smith, first-year trainee, Macfarlanes LLP
Departments to date: Private client, funds and financial services
University: Exeter
Degree: Law, First Class

8.10am: I arrive at the office earlier than usual as I am going to a client meeting with my supervisor this morning. I check my emails, post and voicemails before having a quick look at the news. I then re-read some background notes for the meeting before we jump in a taxi.

11.30am: Back at the office I have a quick chat with my supervisor about how we think the meeting went. There is some follow-up work for me to do in the next few days. In the meantime I am working on the regulatory aspects of a corporate deal. We have previously asked overseas lawyers in a variety of jurisdictions questions about the law in their country. My job is to draft part of a vendor due diligence report based on their answers. It is quite a big task and I am learning some rather obscure bits of Thai law in the process!

1.00pm: Lunchtime. I meet a few of the trainees in the firm's café. It is really warm outside so we grab some food and head to Lincoln's Inn to make the most of the good weather.

1.40pm: Back at the office, I check my emails. One of our clients is about to invest in a investment fund and we are negotiating the side letter. Yesterday we requested that an extra paragraph be inserted into the letter and I can see from one of the emails that lawyers for the fund have rejected the extra wording. This is not a very contentious point but it is important for our client. I draft an email explaining why our client cannot move on this point. I send my draft email to the assistant working on the matter and, once approved, I send it to the other lawyers.

2.00pm: I carry on working on the vendor due diligence report. As I review the overseas advice it is clear we need to go back to our client to confirm certain things in order to make the report as strong as possible. I will probably be asked to draft the email later so I make a list of the points we need to check.

4.00pm: I sit in on a call my supervisor is having with a client. The FSA recently issued some guidance and I have been helping to draft an opinion on our interpretation of the FSA rules and the options for the client. We discuss this and the client seems reassured by the end of the call.

5.00pm: It is time for my department's weekly educational seminar and this week it is on private equity funds. Each week one of the team presents on a different topic and around once a month we have an 'education update' in order to keep up to speed with any legal or regulatory changes.

6.10pm: Back at my desk I see that I have received an email confirming that the extra paragraph for the side letter has been accepted. This is good news and our client can now arrange for the letter to be signed. I carry on working on the due diligence report, updating it as further information comes in.

7.30pm: I write a to-do list for tomorrow and, although I should probably go to the gym, I head off to meet some friends at a local bar instead!

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 20 Cursitor Street, London EC4A 1LT

Telephone: 020 7831 9222

Fax: 020 7831 9607

Website: www.macfarlanes.com

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Senior partner: Charles Martin

Managing partner: Julian Howard

Who we are: Macfarlanes is a leading city law firm. We are recognised for the quality of our work, not just in dealing with the full range of corporate and commercial matters, but also in advising our clients on their private affairs.

What we do: Our main areas of practice are in banking and finance; commercial; competition; corporate and M&A; employment, pensions and benefits; financial services regulatory; investment funds; IP and IT; litigation and dispute resolution; private equity; commercial real estate; restructuring and insolvency; and corporate tax.

What we are looking for: Ambitious trainees who will thrive on responsibility and challenge, and who are ready to begin their careers on day one.

What you'll do: A combination of hands-on training involving real responsibility and challenge, continuous education and training in a broad range of legal topics, and professional skills courses.

Perks: Life assurance, pension scheme with company contributions, private healthcare, discretionary performance-related bonus scheme and season ticket loan.

Sponsorship: LPC and CPE/GDL course fees, maintenance allowance for LPC students (£7,000), maintenance allowance for GDL students (£7,000 in London, £6,250 elsewhere)

Facts & figures