England - London • Corporate and commercial
The ‘strong partnership practice’ at Farrer & Co regularly advises individuals and firms in professional services firms including silver circle law firms, architects, asset managers, patent agents, FCA-regulated businesses and accountants. Handling major transactions, departures, team moves and disputes, the team also represents clients in the private client field including ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Practice head Jonathan Haley is a ’highly experienced corporate lawyer’ who frequently advises a range of partnerships and individuals, especially in the regulated sectors, on business-critical transactions. Contentious partnership law and investigations expert Anna Birtwistle is ‘a great litigator, sensible, knowledgeable and all round superb’. The ’experienced’ Eleanor Rowswell regularly acts for senior equity partners and LLPs on exits, appointments and disputes with specialisms in team moves, whistleblowing claims, remuneration agreements and discrimination litigation. Another key lawyer is Kathleen Heycock, a specialist external investigator who often assists with senior partner moves between professional services and IT firms, international disputes and acquisitions by regulated partnerships.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The partnership team's collaboration with the firm's private client team make them uniquely well placed to assist clients with landed estates. Jonathan Haley is a standout practitioner. He knows partnerships inside out, is quick and efficient and generally a joy to work with.’
‘A strong partnership practice with some standout individuals. Anna Birtwistle is truly outstanding. She is hard as nails as a litigator, who offers strategic nous, an ability to negotiate even the most difficult of settlements and having her client’s back every step of the way.’
‘A team with a good reputation, having them in your corner makes a difference and they have a tenacious approach in negotiating.’
‘Anna Birtwistle is sympathetic. She showed real empathy towards my cause. She has the ability to understand the legal and practical issues quickly, she is able to pull out the subtle matters and make a case of it. She is a hands on partner on the case.’
‘This practice is unique. We were attracted to them for their knowledge and experience of partnership and LLP law and we have received prompt attention to our requirements for legal advice to 17 different individuals as clients.’
‘First class as always with amazing and instant responses to emails and partners that are accessible. David Smellie and Jonathan Haley know their areas well.'
‘A very good partnership team with expertise in both litigation and structuring and non-contentious issues. They are extremely well regarded.’
‘Jonathan Haley is a highly experienced corporate lawyer who is fantastic with clients and commands total respect. Anna Birtwistle is a great litigator, sensible, knowledgeable and all round superb. Eleanor Rowswell is very experienced and knows her stuff.'
Leading individuals
Jonathan is head of the professional practices group at Farrer & Co. He specialises in partnership and Limited Liability Partnership law, advising a broad range of partnerships and individual partners, including other law firms, surveyors and architects, on their structure, mergers, acquisitions and disposals.
Next Generation Partners
Kathleen is a Partner in the Employment Team who is recognised for her pragmatic and commercial advice. Her national and international practice focusses on resolving high level complex employment law issues for senior executives, individual partners, employers and partnerships. She is experienced in advising and negotiating on contractual issues, employee relations, employee regulatory issues, mediation and litigation. Kathleen has particular experience in advising senior partners and partnerships and is a member of the firm’s Professional Practices Group. She has hands on experience of working in a large international professional services firm during a year-long secondment. She advises senior executives across the City negotiating their entrance and exit, including issues relating to post-termination restrictions. She regularly advises partnerships and employers across sectors on issues such as discrimination, mediation, employee relations, contracts, TUPE transfers and large scale redundancies. Kathleen also focuses on the education sector and is a member of the firm’s Higher Education Group and Child Protection Unit. She is a regular speaker at external national and international conferences and is a member of the Union Internationale des Avocats.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jonathan Haley