The Vacancy

We are recruiting an Associate / Senior Associate with two to six years' PQE to join our successful Funds Formation and Sponsor Solutions group.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in private capital, private wealth, M&A and disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, Partner-led team where you'll develop and learn from experienced lawyers and business professionals. Our size means you'll be given genuine responsibility early on and often be involved at the heart of client matters, gaining insight into how our high-quality legal advice is developed and delivered to help clients overcome their most pressing issues.

You'll work closely with senior colleagues who are approachable and who want you to succeed. You'll be encouraged to get involved in client and business development activities, and you'll be recognised for your contribution.

The majority of our work has a cross-border focus, so you'll often collaborate with global clients and specialist advisers in overseas jurisdictions. You'll build connections with international law firms, broaden your experience, and be part of a multidisciplinary team that comes together to achieve the best results.

We also place real importance on your development. Our training and mentoring programmes are second to none, and designed to help you strengthen your legal and commercial skills.

Above all, you'll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, where you'll be recognised and appreciated, and encouraged to succeed.

Practice overview

Our Funds Formation and Sponsor Solutions group consists of eight Partners, one Senior Counsel, four Senior Associates, 14 Associates, five Trainee Solicitors, 15 Paralegals and one Senior Knowledge Lawyer.

Our Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions group combines market leading funds and M&A expertise to advise sponsors, managers, investors and service providers across the full spectrum of global funds. We support at every phase of the lifecycle, providing counsel to UK and international managers on establishing funds in multi jurisdictions advising institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and family offices on primary fund investments, co-investments and secondaries. Combined with our extensive sponsor-side experience, we have sharp market insight and positions us at the forefront of evolving industry practice. In addition, we advise on transactions across private capital and investment management, including seed capital arrangements, GP stake transactions, continuation vehicle structures and preferred equity solutions.

The role

We are looking to add a dynamic and skilled individual to our team. The successful candidate will engage in a diverse range of high-quality fund formation work, including:

• acting as lead associate on private fundraisings;
• assisting with initial regulatory and tax structuring and jurisdictional analysis;
• drafting and negotiation of fund documentation including limited partnership agreements, side letters, subscription agreements, and offering documents;
• providing and coordinating international guidance on regulatory matters affecting fund formation;
• advising on incentive arrangements;
• advising sponsors on their business and ongoing operational matters, including their global structuring, regulatory compliance, incentive and remuneration arrangements, governance and internal policies; and
• supporting other practice groups on the fund formation aspects of wider transactions, including M&A transactions and secondaries.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced associate who meets the following criteria:

• two to six years' post qualification experience from a leading institutional private funds practice or in-house at a private capital manager;
• primarily focused on fund formation (private equity, private debt, venture capital, infrastructure and real assets);
• a genuine commitment to develop professional and legal skills and the profile of the team; and
• articulate and confident to deliver at the highest standard within a team of highly competent associates.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.

Key people

Stephen Ross
Partner, Head of Fund Formation

Stephen Ross is head of the firm's private funds and investment management group. He practices private investment fund formation and related corporate, investment management and regulatory work.

Stephen is recognised for his significant experience advising on funds supporting illiquid strategies (including private credit, equity, venture, real assets and food technology). He has led on some of Europe's largest multi-billion dollar fundraisings and has been a key player in private capital for some thirty years.

Prior to joining Macfarlanes, Stephen led private investment funds teams at both US and Magic Circle firms. He also spent nine years as Group General Counsel at Europe's largest alternative investment manager, where he also sat on the Executive Board, before returning to private practice. Thanks to this breadth of experience, Stephen has a deep understanding of the legal and business issues affecting our private capital clients.

Stephen is recognised in all the leading legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

Harriet Miller
Partner

Harriet advises fund managers and institutional investors on establishing and managing private funds across asset classes, including private equity, credit and real assets. She combines technical expertise with practical judgement, helping clients design structures that are commercially competitive and aligned with investor needs.

Her practice spans the full fund lifecycle - structuring and fundraising (including co-investment, managed accounts and hybrid vehicles), negotiating terms with investors, and advising on team incentives such as carried interest. She also works closely with the Corporate and M&A and Tax teams to ensure structures are effective for capital deployment and tax efficient.

Harriet has significant international experience, regularly advising on funds established in Luxembourg and other key fund jurisdictions, and gained first-hand insight into US investor expectations during a secondment in New York.

Recognised by Law.com International as a Female Rising Star in 2024.

The Company

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.