Corporate Law at Macfarlanes | Career Guide

The corporate team at Macfarlanes is widely viewed as a specialist, partner-led group that combines large-firm corporate resources with a boutique, high-touch approach. The practice is especially well-known for:

• Advising owner-managed and family-owned businesses on disposals and governance.

• Acting for private equity houses and financial sponsors on buyouts, exits and co-investments.

• Working on high-value domestic and cross-border M&A where bespoke deal structures and tax planning are required.

• Handling capital markets work for premium-listed and AIM companies, including IPO advisory and secondary placings.

The team's reputation rests on technical excellence in company law and commercial contracts, close partner involvement, and an ability to design pragmatic, commercially-focused solutions for sophisticated clients. For aspiring solicitors, this means exposure to nuanced legal issues early on and a strong emphasis on drafting precision and client-facing skills.

Expect a mix of corporate work, with common recurring matters being:

• Mergers and acquisitions: sell-side and buy-side transactions, management buy-outs, vendor and purchaser-side work that often involves bespoke warranties, completion mechanics and escrow arrangements.

• Private equity: fund-backed deals, complex shareholder arrangements, and co-investor governance issues.

• Equity capital markets: IPO preparations, placings and admission documentation, adviser negotiations and disclosure work.

• Corporate governance and shareholder disputes: advising on board composition, shareholder agreements and complex stakeholder negotiations.

• Reorganisation and restructuring: intra-group reorganisations, share reorganisations and squeeze-out procedures.

On larger matters you will regularly coordinate with the firm's tax and trusts teams; Macfarlanes' integrated approach means corporate lawyers learn to think across disciplines. Cases are often confidential and high-value; while specific client names vary, the emphasis is on sophisticated, commercially driven outcomes rather than volume work.

Macfarlanes offers a traditional two-year training contract with seats designed to build commercial and technical competence. For corporate-track trainees you should expect at least one corporate seat, supported by complementary seats such as tax, private client or litigation to broaden commercial context and drafting skills. Typical features include:

• Structured technical training and workshops on company law, M&A mechanics and documentation.

• Partner-led supervision, with early responsibility for drafting documents, due diligence reports and parts of client communications.

• Opportunities for secondments to private equity clients, in-house teams or overseas offices, which are valuable for commercial understanding and networking.

• Access to formal mentoring and regular performance reviews focusing on commercial awareness, drafting accuracy and client-handling skills.

• For candidates qualifying via the SQE, the firm recruits solicitors who have completed SQE1 and SQE2; the firm's learning model supports both LPC graduates and SQE candidates.

Progression from associate to senior associate and partner at Macfarlanes typically rewards both technical skill and the ability to originate or build client relationships. Associates are expected to contribute commercially from the outset - for example by identifying transaction risks, suggesting deal structures and assisting fee-earning partner activity.

Macfarlanes recruits through vacation schemes, graduate applications and lateral hires. The competition is strong; successful applicants demonstrate legal accuracy, commercial insight and cultural fit. Practical strategies:

• Tailor your application: Use specific examples of commercial awareness - recent M&A headlines, financing trends or sector shifts - and link them to how corporate lawyers add value. Generic statements about "wanting to do M&A" are less convincing than a short analysis of why a particular sector story matters to buyers, sellers or advisers.

• Evidence technical ability: Include examples of drafting, negotiating or transactional work (pro bono, moots, mini-pupillages or paralegal roles). If you have prepared a share purchase agreement clause, explain the commercial purpose and a drafting choice.

• Prepare for assessment centres and interviews: Expect competency questions, a commercial awareness exercise and possibly a practical drafting or case-study. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural answers and be ready to explain your reasoning on a hypothetical deal scenario.

• Practice tests and exercises: Develop speed and accuracy with problem-spotting exercises (for example, identify warranty, tax and regulatory issues from a fact pattern). Time yourself on reading and summarising term sheets.

• Networking and informational interviews: Speak to junior lawyers and trainees to understand day-to-day work. Use LinkedIn thoughtfully and request short, focused conversations. Many candidates find vacation schemes or insight days invaluable; track deadlines using a tool such as YourLegalLadder alongside firm websites and LawCareers.Net.

Common pitfalls to avoid are: over-reliance on vague commercial phrases, poor attention to factual details in exercises, and failing to link legal technicalities to commercial consequences.

The corporate desk is typically partner-led and fast-paced with peaks around deal closings and market-driven periods. You should expect:

• A blend of focused drafting work (long-form agreements, disclosure schedules) and rapid turnaround tasks (email updates, due diligence questions).

• High-quality supervision but a strong expectation of ownership: juniors often draft significant documents and are accountable for accuracy.

• Collaborative culture across practice areas, reflecting the firm's integrated advisory model; corporate lawyers frequently collaborate with tax, trusts and private client teams.

• Remuneration in corporate seats is competitive for City firms; trainees and junior associates are paid according to market bands which vary with the firm's policy and the London market. For the most current figures consult resources like Chambers Student, Legal Cheek and YourLegalLadder which maintain up-to-date market intelligence.

Work-life balance varies with deal cycles; firms such as Macfarlanes aim to manage workload through team planning, but realistic expectations include occasional long hours around completions.

If you are targeting Macfarlanes' corporate team, use a structured plan that combines research, skills practice and networking:

• Research the firm: Read Macfarlanes' corporate team pages, recent press releases and market commentary. Use firm profiles on Chambers Student, Legal Cheek and YourLegalLadder for recruiter insights and timetable tracking.

• Build commercial knowledge: Read the Financial Times, The Economist and sector reporting on prominent industries (private equity, technology, real estate). Prepare short written summaries linking commercial drivers to legal issues.

• Practice technical tasks: Draft short SPA clauses, prepare a due diligence checklist for a target company, and complete mock case studies under timed conditions.

• Gain transactional exposure: Seek paralegal roles, vacation schemes or pro bono transactional clinics. Even advisory or research tasks that involve company law or contract drafting are relevant.

• Prepare interview material: Develop a concise 'commercial pitch' (60-90 seconds) describing a recent deal or market trend and why it matters from a legal perspective.

Useful resources: YourLegalLadder, Chambers Student, LawCareers.Net, Legal Cheek, Financial Times and The Economist.

Following a disciplined preparation plan and demonstrating specific, evidence-based examples of commercial and technical skill will materially increase your prospects when applying to Macfarlanes' corporate team.