The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Clients hold the tax team at Macfarlanes LLP ‘in the highest regard’, impressed by its ‘highly knowledgeable legal advice and prompt response times’. Private equity, M&A and cross-border work are core strengths. Highlights include acting for Pernod Ricard on its €5.6bn acquisition of Vin & Sprit (the owner of Absolut Vodka), and advising Phoenix Equity Partners on the tax structuring of its £96.5m acquisition of Ashtead Technology Rentals. Mark Baldwin, Ashley Greenbank and Elizabeth Sherwood are well regarded.

Within EU and competition , tier 6

Macfarlanes LLP continued its impressive record in the merger control environment, advising Pernod Ricard on its acquisition of V&S (owner of Absolut Vodka) from the Swedish government. On the behavioural side it represented Threshers in relation to the OFT’s tobacco cartel investigation. The ‘first-rate’ Marc Israel heads the team, which includes Jane Tyler.

Within Financial services, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP advises on regulatory issues relating to banking, broking, investment management and insurance matters. Following Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the practice advised several clients on prime brokerage and custodian arrangements. Bridget Barker is a key contact, and David Berman has joined from Dresdner Kleinwort.

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

Macfarlanes LLP advised Partners Group Global Opportunities on its migration from the Channel Islands Stock Exchange and AIM to the Official List, while other clients include JPMorgan Cazenove. Tim Lewis is recommended.

Within M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals, £250m+, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP is the smallest firm in the upper echelons of this table but ‘stands up to the Magic Circle’ and ‘deserves its place among the very best’. It completes a smaller volume and value of deals than its larger rivals, but also wins some of the most sought-after transactions, such as acting as international deal counsel to longstanding client Pernod Ricard on its €5.6bn acquisition of Vin & Sprit, even though the deal had no English law content. It also worked alongside Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz advising Alcoa on its joint purchase of a US$14bn stake in Rio Tinto with Chinalco (advised by Clifford Chance). These deals were led respectively by practice head Tim Lewis- ‘one of London’s best lawyers, who finds innovative ways of solving problems’ - and the ‘superb’ Graham Gibb, who exudes ‘calmness and incredible knowledge’.

Within Partnership

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

Savvy investors such as Alchemy and 3i appreciate the comprehensive, integrated and specialist service offered by Macfarlanes LLP, where first-rate transactions, tax, finance and fund structuring services combine within an ‘intimate’ unit. The 13-partner team, which includes Charles Meek and the ‘uber smooth’ Charles Martin, completed a variety of standout transactions in 2008, notably advising Goldman Sachs on a portfolio acquisition of 20 buyout investments from ABN AMRO.

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

Macfarlanes LLP is held ‘in the highest regard’ by clients, who include ING Real Estate, Virgin, Pernod Ricard and E.ON. Mark Baldwin is ‘highly knowledgeable’.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Macfarlanes LLP’ highly rated team is commended for its ‘unique combination of Magic Circle firm acumen and boutique firm service ethic’. ‘Outstanding’ team head Iain Mackie comes highly recommended, as does ‘first-rate litigator’ Geoff Steward, who is ‘extremely efficient and has great tactical awareness’. A recent highlight was advising Trafigura in the UK’s largest group litigation action, relating to personal injury and damages claims in the Ivory Coast.

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

Well known for its work for private equity borrowers, Macfarlanes LLP’s efforts to diversify by expanding its range of lender and corporate borrower work is now paying dividends. Julian Howard’s ‘outstanding’ six-partner practice is deemed ‘excellent on all counts’, and advised on some surprisingly large transactions in 2008, notably advising Alcoa on a £1.2bn facility to fund its Rio Tinto dawn raid.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 7

The ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ team at Macfarlanes LLP recently secured the high-profile mandate for the Four Seasons Health Care group to restructure its £1bn debt.

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

Headed by Bridget Barker, the team at Macfarlanes LLP is highly recommended for the full range of funds work. For open-ended regulated funds, clients include Aberdeen Asset Management and Fidelity, while regular private equity clients include Alchemy, Gresham and Hermes. Tim Cornick is recommended.

Within Employee share schemes, tier 5

Rob Collard at Macfarlanes LLP is ‘knowledgeable’.

Within Employment, tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP offers ‘advice that is always very commercial, delivered quickly, and empathetic’. The team advised E.ON on a highly complex, multinational restructuring involving a cross-border TUPE transfer. It also received a number of instructions from former employees and prospective employers following the collapse of Lehman Brothers. ‘Epitomising the firm’s “can-do” attitude’, Seán Lavin and Dan Lavender are recommended.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP partners Hugh Arthur and Jane Marshall are ‘proactive’, ‘helpful’, and ‘clear communicators’. Marshall’s project management skills attract particular praise, and Camilla Barry and Ben Long are ‘clear on complex matters’.

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

Macfarlanes LLP’s ‘first-class’ three-partner team is led by John Hornby, who enjoys an exceptional reputation in the field. The practice focuses on the sale and purchase of estates, and benefits from the strength of the firm’s excellent wider private client practice. Tristan Ward is ‘personable and understanding’.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 5

Macfarlanes LLP’s practice, which benefits from being part of the firm’s strong wider private client group, is headed by Owen Clutton, who is ‘professional, knowledgeable and good at communicating complex issues in a way that is easy to understand’. Recent highlights include advising a US environmental protection charity on proposed arrangements designed to promote co-operation and joint ventures. Edward Reed is recommended.

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

Macfarlanes LLP’s practice head Charles Lloyd ‘is an excellent strategic worker’, whose cases ‘tend to be high value and complex’. ‘What sets them apart is their first-class private client department’. The group has recently been involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional cases. Willie Manners is recommended, and the team includes a number of ‘very dedicated assistants’.

Within Heritage property

Within Overview,

Some predicted that the stability of private client work would lead to City firms building up their capabilities in the area once again, and the news that Allen & Overy LLP spun off its private client practice in 2009 - it is now boutique firm Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP - surprised many. Only a few firms have the full reach across every practice incorporated within private client, but the mixture of traditional ‘old money’ and ‘new money’ practices, and international teams, ensures that all the bases are covered. Macfarlanes LLP offers high-quality advice to a range of private clients. The firm has a full-service capability and regularly assists international clients thanks to a regular stream of referrals from firms across the globe.

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

Macfarlanes LLP’s ‘superb’ team ‘responds with solid, practical advice’ and performs to high standards ‘at every level’. Jonathan Conder is an ‘excellent department head’, and Sebastian Pritchard-Jones ‘intuitively comprehends clients’, and ‘provides robust and understandable advice backed up by an excellent intellect’. The ‘outstanding’ group handles onshore and offshore work and regularly assists international clients in the UK. Owen Clutton’s ‘technical knowledge is impressive’; Robin Vos’ strengths include ‘his ability to combine an understanding of UK law and principles in a wide variety of areas’; Nicholas Harries ‘provides well-thought-out and practical advice’; and Edward Reed is ‘a market leader in providing advice to the French community in London’.

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

The team at Macfarlanes LLP provides a service ‘characterised by consistency, accuracy and timeliness - they have a strong work ethic that is second to none’. The impressively broad real estate practice acted for various Arora Family trusts on the acquisition of property valued at £300m around the UK’s major airports. The very able Simon Hillson leads the team, in which Patrick Holmes is recommended for his experience in the hotel and leisure field. Charles Horsfield is ‘especially knowledgeable, commercial and pragmatic’, Dominic Cunliffe ‘does a first-rate job’, and John Hornby is also recommended.

Within Construction, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP has a broad practice, and ‘technically very bright’ lawyers who ‘have a real understanding of commercial issues’. Clients include consultants, such as architects Kohn Pederson Fox on London’s Pinnacle development, and education sector clients, such as Christ’s Hospital School and Lambeth College. Patrick Holmes heads the non-contentious group, while the ‘first-class’ Simon Nurney’s contentious team promoted Douglas Wass to the partnership in 2008.

Within Environment, Macfarlanes LLP is a third tier firm,

Macfarlanes LLP’s team is ‘highly attuned commercially’ and displays ‘legendary attention to detail’ under practice head Paul Davies, who has ‘unrivalled knowledge of the environmental consultancy market’ and is ‘the man you want on your side if you are in for a tough deal’. The practice’s dedicated climate change team regularly handles high-profile contentious matters, and also advises on regulations, M&A and restructuring. The group recently advised Mitsubishi Rayon on its £1bn acquisition of Lucite.

Within Planning, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP has an ‘excellent success rate’ in heavily contested public inquiries, and helped secure a landmark judgement in the Court of Appeal quashing affordable housing policy in Blyth Valley, the first case pursuant to s113 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Ian Ginbey provides a ‘dedicated, professional service’ across a range of matters that includes advising leading homebuilders, niche expertise in aviation planning, and unique contests such as the Brit Oval cricket ground redevelopment - the first time that inquiry evidence has been heard in camera.

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

The Macfarlanes LLP property finance group is described as ‘exceptional, offering very good response times, real depth of knowledge, all in a good team which is always available’. The practice serves a good spread of borrowers and lenders, and new client wins include Aggmore Ventures and European Land. Recent highlights include advising Arora International Hotels on the £210m financing of the APP portfolio acquisition, and acting for a string of high-profile lenders such as Rabobank, Erste Bank, Bank of Scotland and ING Real Estate Finance. Head of the group Orla MacSherry does ‘an excellent job, is highly responsive and very thoughtful with the advice she gives’.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Macfarlanes LLP’s instructions span the commercial, residential and agricultural sectors. It acted for Chelsea Harbour in relation to restrictive covenant issues. Willie Manners is recommended.

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

MacFarlanes LLP has an ‘extremely well run and well-regarded department’, which is best known for corporate work in the advertising sector, and has also been successfully defending both Budweiser and Areva before the ASA. Contentious partner Geoff Steward is ‘extremely well informed on branding issues’. Non-contentious partner Rupert Casey ‘has exceptional commercial skills and is a superb team player with a gift for client communication’. The firm also has a strong sports sponsorship practice, with Casey advising Reebok on the terms of the sponsorship contract of Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Within Intellectual property, tier 6

Macfarlanes LLP has ‘a close-knit, personable IP group’ that is ‘excellent, confident with technology and pretty much unflappable’, with a strong stable of brands clients. Team head Geoff Steward has ‘experience of IP litigation at the highest level’.

Within Sport