Commended by one client as a ‘Rolls-Royce firm across the board’, Macfarlanes LLP is highly skilled at handling complex cross-border litigation for leading banks and asset managers. Advising corporates on financial regulation and market abuse matters are also strengths of the team. Barry Donnelly is ’utterly astute and fierce in the protection of his client’s interests’, and leads the practice with Matt McCahearty, a ‘very experienced litigator with strong strategic skills’. Laura Bridgewater specialises in complex regulatory investigations, and is skilled at handling high-profile FCA enforcement investigations. Lauren Roberts is ’always on top of the detail’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The banking litigation personnel we have worked with at Macfarlanes are fantastic commercial as well as legal advisors. They don't abstract legal advice - whilst they have incredible technical and legal nous, their advice is always practical and tailored to our commercial objectives. Furthermore, their fees are always extremely competitive without any compromises on quality of service.’
‘Matt MacCahearty and Christopher Charlton are fantastic performers. Their advice is always on point and demonstrates a keen understanding of the law, the court process and our commercial objectives. ’
‘Macfarlanes are a Rolls-Royce firm across the board.’
‘Barry Donnelly is utterly astute and fierce in the protection of his client's interests, but fair and reasonable with it, which means he gets good results from Judges.’
‘Matt McCahearty is a very experienced litigator with strong strategic skills and a very good client manner.’
‘Strong litigators in anything with a banking or finance angle.’
Key clients
- The British Bankers’ Association
- Thirteen Bitcoin Developers
- NatWest (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland)
- OWH SE i.L. (formerly known as VTB Bank (Europe) SE)
- CFE Finance Group
- Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG (Safra)
- Sucden Financial Limited
Work highlights
Representing 170 banks as members of The British Bankers’ Association in parallel US/UK proceedings relating to an alleged conspiracy to manipulate the US Dollar LIBOR interest rate benchmark. This is the largest banking litigation case in the history of the English Court.
Acting for a number of core Bitcoin Developers in the highly publicised claim by Dr Craig Wright, who claimed to have created Bitcoin and released it publicly in 2009 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
Defending NatWest in multi £billion collective proceedings relating to alleged FX manipulation. This includes successfully applying to the UK Supreme Court for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s November 2023 judgment regarding the test of certifying collective proceedings on an opt-in or opt-out basis.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Barry Donnelly; Matt McCahearty
Other key lawyers
Laura Bridgewater; Lauren Roberts; Christopher Charlton