The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP has a strong mid-market offering, with a dedicated commercial practice advising a broad stable of international and domestic companies as well as a number of entrepreneurs and start-ups. Headed up by Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp, the four-partner team recently advised EJ Gallo on the transfer of its logistics and warehousing arrangements from the previous incumbent to Kuehne + Nagel. It also advises Universal Music Group on contingency arrangements relating to the manufacture and distribution of physical media across the EU.

Within Corporate tax, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP ‘understands the needs of the client’, and has ‘excellent commercial sense’. The team is active in investment funds, including the structuring of private funds, and transactional matters, and recently advised Haymarket Financial on the tax structuring of its €400m fundraising with the Australia Future Fund. Ashley Greenbank and Damien Crossley are the figures to note.

Within EU and competition , tier 5

The team at Macfarlanes LLP is led by the highly respected Marc Israel and has been advising on some high-profile matters for some major clients. Of particular note is its work for Pinewood Laboratories, where Israel led a team which persuaded the OFT to open a rare abuse of dominance investigation into Reckitt Benckiser regarding activities relating to its market-leading heartburn medicine Gaviscon; the case resulted in the first fine for such a case since 2003, and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the health sector.

Within Financial services, tier 4

Bridget Barker heads the group at Macfarlanes LLP, with David Berman noted for non-contentious issues and Barry Donnelly for contentious matters. The team recently advised on compliance reviews, and on the application of client money rules and regulatory issues surrounding the establishment of an innovative fund, as well as handling FSA disputes and market abuse issues.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Robert Boyle leads the team at Macfarlanes LLP, and notably advised Vallar on its £707m IPO in 2010. Elsewhere, the ‘fantastic’ team advised JP Morgan Securities on a £140m rights issue and warrant placing by Imperial Innovations Group. Graham Gibb is recommended.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m,

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP’s London team is praised for its ‘intense work ethic’, and practice head and newly appointed office head Ronan O’Sullivan has ‘a great style’ and ‘a quick, analytical mind’. The firm represented Jacobs Engineering on its $913m acquisition of Oslo-listed Aker Solutions. The group was strengthened recently by the arrival of Garrett Hayes from Macfarlanes LLP.

Within M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 250m+, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP attracts glowing reviews from clients; ‘they are pretty faultless’, and ‘a cut above’. The highly regarded Charles Meek has taken over the reins of the overarching corporate team, while Matthew Blows and Ian Martin oversee the M&A group. The firm’s commitment to developing and maintaining key relationships with international law firms has seen a continued rise in work with a global flavour, for the likes of ICAP and Air Liquide. Standout matters included advising Brit Insurance on the $1.3bn cash offer by Apollo Management, and Brazilian pulp and paper producer Suzano Papel e Celulose on its acquisition of the AIM-listed FuturaGene. Graham Gibb is singled out as a star of the practice, and senior partner Charles Martin has been spending an increasing amount of time at the deal coal face.

Within Partnership Partnership

Within Private equity: transactions , Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Headed by Charles Meek, Macfarlanes LLP’s 11-partner group provides ‘excellent’ advice to both sponsors and management. As well as acting on a number of disposals for marquee client Alchemy Partners, the team has picked up work for a number of new clients including JC Flowers, which it is advising on its investment in Kent Reliance Building Society. It also acts for 3i, Oakhill, Indigo Capital, and Greenhill Capital Partners. Charles Martin, Simon Perry and Ian Martin are praised for their ‘commercial and pleasant’ approach and ‘up-to-the-minute knowledge’.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP provides ‘good client service’ and ‘understands the market’. It acts for a broad range of high-profile names including Virgin, Alchemy Partners, Silverfleet, and Royal Bank Equity Capital, and has strength in areas such as contentious VAT, private equity, real estate, and structuring investments to offset VAT exposure. Mark Baldwin is recommended.

Within Fraud: civil , Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP is advising the joint liquidators of the largest Madoff feeder funds; and is also representing the former CEO of Baugur in connection with a $2bn claim made by Glitnir. Head of litigation Iain Mackie is ‘an intelligent and hardworking partner, with a very attractive manner, and is calm in difficult moments’. Charles Lloyd is also recommended.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP is very active in cross-border disputes, and has a broad practice, serving a varied client base. Group head Barry Donnelly ‘combines excellent technical knowledge with strategic awareness’, and is currently representing WestLB in a complex dispute with Nomura.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Iain Mackie leads the practice at Macfarlanes LLP, and his recent work includes acting for the Municipalities of Haugesund and Narvik in claims against Depfa Bank concerning swap transactions. Geoff Steward advised in a High Court breach of contract dispute.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 5

Led by ‘strong operator’ Julian Howard, Macfarlanes LLP’s seven-partner team provides ‘first-class’ advice to a balanced array of lender and borrower clients including 3i, Haymarket Financial, JD Wetherspoon, and RBS. Active across refinancings and new-money deals, Christopher Lawrence recently advised Graphite Capital on its acquisition of Teaching Personnel.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP’s Francis Bridgeman is ‘highly skilled in advising boards which are dealing with difficult stakeholders’. Acting predominantly for stakeholders, the team is comprised of ‘consistently outstanding legal advisers, who are able to advise on complex financial and operational restructurings’.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 5

MacFarlanes LLP advises finance houses, pension funds, hedge funds and corporates on structuring complex, bespoke transactions. Christopher Lawrence’s team now includes experienced structured finance specialist Rachel Kelly, who joined from Clifford Chance.

Within Investment funds, Macfarlanes LLP is a first tier firm,

Providing ‘excellent service from high-quality lawyers’, Macfarlanes LLP’s well-resourced team includes experts across private, listed and retail funds. Practice head Bridget Barker, ‘a real star in the funds world’, is recommended for private funds matters, along with Stephen Robinson and Stephen Sims. The team advised Azini Capital on fundraising for Azini 2, which acquired Apax’s venture capital portfolio, and acted on Montagu Private Equity’s fourth fund. ‘Trusted adviser’ Tim Cornick is recommended for open-ended funds, where clients include Fidelity and Old Mutual; and Robinson and Matthew Blows are recommended for listed funds, and have been advising on restructuring matters. Mark Baldwin is ‘one of the best tax thinkers in the City of London’.

Within Employee share schemes, tier 5

Rob Collard at Macfarlanes LLP is ‘highly responsive and pragmatic’.

Within Employment, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP is known for its work in the financial services, retail and media sectors on matters of reputational risk, and assists Lotus Formula 1 with day-to-day advice. Daniel Lavender and Séan Lavin are recommended for complex contentious matters.

Within Immigration,

Also notable for their work in the area of immigration are: Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP; Macfarlanes LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; RadcliffesLeBrasseur; Russell-Cooke LLP; Simons Muirhead & Burton; Steeles Law LLP; Travers Smith LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Pensions, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP ‘responds promptly to any queries and stands up for the interests of its clients’. The firm recently advised on the funding of the £950m EMI Group pension fund; assisted Pernod Ricard on the successful conclusion of funding negotiations in relation to the Allied Domecq Pension Fund; and acted for IMG in successful Court of Appeal proceedings. Head of the pensions group Hugh Arthur has an enviable market reputation, as does Jane Marshall. Camilla Barry is also held in high esteem.

Within Agriculture and estates, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP fields a ‘brilliantly inventive and tireless’ three-partner team, featuring the ‘knowledgeable’ John Hornby and ‘very astute’ Tristan Ward. Handling a range of diverse, high-level instructions, it recently arranged the partition of a substantial landed estate in the south of England between spouses and family trusts following a divorce. The practice can draw on the exceptional tax expertise of the private client team.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 5

Edward Reed heads the charities and philanthropy practice at Macfarlanes LLP, which in 2010 set up the Gender Rights and Equality Action Trust (GREAT) to promote the equality of women in Africa. Owen Clutton is now a consultant to the practice.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘superb’ Charles Lloyd heads the ‘thorough’ and ‘nice-to-deal-with’ contentious trusts and probate team at Macfarlanes LLP, which handles a mix of complex international litigation, mediation and offshore litigation. The team benefits from the firm’s sterling private client practice, and acts for an impressive client base of entrepreneurs and blue-chip companies. Simon Day ‘gets to grips with the intricacies of a case’, and Nicholas Pryor and Willie Manners are also singled out for praise.

Within Heritage property, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP has considerable expertise in tax planning for chattels, including conditional exemptions, and advises a number of landed estates with significant art collections.

Within Overview,

The market is divided between firms with international offices in fertile hunting grounds for wealthy individuals such as Geneva or the Middle East – the likes of Withers LLP and Charles Russell LLP – and those which operate, very successfully, from a UK office, such as Macfarlanes LLP and Farrer & Co. Withers LLP stands out for its superb international reach, with offices in Milan, Hong Kong, Zurich, Geneva, the British Virgin Islands and the US, and covers every conceivable aspect of private client: multi-jurisdictional pre-nups, charitable legacies, landed estates, complex tax and trust structuring, cross-border probate, succession planning and international trust disputes. Macfarlanes LLP is unusual in its dedication to maintaining market-leading corporate and private client practices, and has a strong entrepreneurial client base. Farrer & Co is well known for advising members of the Royal Family and aristocracy, and is also a forward-looking and comprehensive private client practice with international expertise.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Macfarlanes LLP is a first tier firm,

Capable of handling the most complex tax and trusts matters for its entrepreneurial client base, the team at Macfarlanes LLP is hard to beat. The team is renowned for the exceptional consistency of its lawyers, notably the ‘smart and articulate’ Sebastian Prichard Jones, ‘outstanding’ Jonathan Conder, ‘first-rate’ Helen Darling, ‘experienced’ Edward Reed, and ‘hands-on and imaginative’ Piers Barclay. Clients appreciate the ‘incredible intellectual ability’ of the team, and its ‘cutting-edge’ advice. Oliver Court is one to watch.

Within Commercial property, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP has a formidable institutional client base which includes Legal & General and Royal London Mutual Insurance Society. Among a number of high-end residential schemes it is advising Brookfield on Strata, the 43-storey tower in Elephant & Castle. Arora International Hotels is a significant client, for which recent work includes advising on four Premier Inn hotel developments near major airports. Charles Horsfield, David Sanders and the ‘very thorough and pleasant’ Dominic Cunliffe are recommended.

Within Construction, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP recently advised European Land in negotiating the next phase of the Merchants Square development, which includes a 42-storey residential tower in Westminster. Simon Nurney is recommended for litigation, and Doug Wass for non-contentious work.

Within Environment, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP’s team is ‘very imaginative and constructive in its approach to legal issues’, and its service ‘combines professionalism and discretion’. It frequently represents multinationals in cross-border litigation, and also recently advised on M&A, real estate matters, and climate change regulations. Paul Davies has ‘exceptional’ environmental law expertise, and Simon Nurney and Dan Lavender are recommended for contentious issues.

Within Property finance, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP represents borrowers and lenders, and recently advised LXB Retail Properties on its £26.5m facility with DeutscheHypo; and Partners Group on its subordinated facility to refinance 5 Canada Square. Colin Morgan now heads the practice following Orla MacSherry’s departure.

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP has a pedigree practice advising landlords and wealthy families in property disputes. In 2010, the team continued to advise Castle House Developments on its new Strata building in Elephant & Castle. Practice head Willie Manners is recommended.

Within Brand management, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

At Macfarlanes LLP, practice head Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp and Geoff Steward (‘the only lawyer you need for contentious IP’) advise high-profile brands including Converse, Virgin and Informa. They recently acted for 1Malaysia in its successful claim to the rights in the Team Lotus brand name, and represented Anheuser-Busch Inbev in the ECJ appeal against the Czech brewers of Budweiser Budvar. Rupert Casey is recommended for licensing advice.

Within Franchising, Macfarlanes LLP is a second tier firm,

Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp heads Macfarlanes LLP’s seven-partner team, which offers the full range of legal services required to start up, roll out, operate, develop and exit franchises. The team continued to assist KFC in a significant refranchising programme, including the disposal of 15 company-owned stores to existing and new franchisees. Other high-profile clients include Pret A Manger, Village du Pain (the master UK franchisee of Le Pain Quotidien), Krispy Kreme and Gaucho Grill. Rupert Casey is recommended for licensing matters.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP’s group head Geoff Steward is ‘extremely experienced, capable, thorough and enthusiastic’. Rupert Casey handles licensing issues for Anheuser-Busch and Umbro.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP has particular expertise in electronic trading platforms, with clients including BATS, Calyon and ASPOne. International work included advising Tech Mahindra and the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection. Rupert Casey draws praise for his ‘delivery, availability and clarity’. Clients also recommend ‘tremendous litigator’ Doug Wass.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP represents DC Thomson & Co, one of the UK’s largest publishing companies, as well as Incisive Media and EMI. Assistant Sophie Holt advised Virgin on digital plans for a number of Richard Branson’s publications. Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp heads the team.

Within Sport, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP continued to advise Nike in a dispute with Commonwealth Games England 2010. The firm has a significant practice in Formula One, where practice head Jeremy Courtenay-Stamp is acknowledged for his expertise, and the team has been providing commercial and contentious advice to the 1Malaysia group (the owner of Team Lotus).