Macfarlanes
London·Brussels
Private equity·Tax·High net worth
Macfarlanes' private client practice holds Band 1 Chambers rankings for both Private Wealth Law and Private Client Tax, widely regarded as the most highly-regarded practice of its kind in the City.
Why this firm
The most highly-regarded private client practice in the City
The only Silver Circle firm with a genuine, dedicated private client practice for ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Deliberately independent: no overseas offices, instead a referral 'international alliance of the unaligned' with elite firms abroad
One of the most selective mid-sized firms in London, with an intentionally small intake to keep training close and personal
What this firm looks for
Drawn from Macfarlanes's own recruitment materials
Based on the firm's published recruitment materials, graduate recruitment commentary and stated values.
Brainpower plus resilience to client demands
Training Principal Jat Bains has said the firm wants brain power, but also people who work well with others and are resilient to the demands of clients, alongside commerciality, ambition and a genuine desire to work at the firm specifically.
Application-blind, attributes over CV padding
Bains states the application process isn't about who you know or how many internships you've done, it's about personal attributes. The firm runs most of its vacation scheme and training programme assessment scored application-blind.
High-touch exposure to a narrow specialism mix
Macfarlanes is a deliberately small-intake firm built around private capital, private wealth, M&A and disputes, and says trainees work directly alongside partners in small teams because of that scale, rather than diluted seat rotations at a much larger firm.
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