Slaughter and May

Slaughter and May
Name	Slaughter and May
Headquarters	London
Founded	1889
Practice areas	Corporate law, M&A, Competition, Finance, Litigation, Tax
Key people	(see text)
Website	(omitted)

Slaughter and May is a leading London-based law firm known for its role in high-value mergers, corporate finance, competition, and litigation matters. Founded in the late 19th century, the firm has advised governments, multinational corporations, banks, and prominent individuals on cross-border transactions and disputes. It remains influential in City of London legal practice, international arbitration, and public policy debates.

History

The firm traces origins to partnerships formed in Victorian London with connections to Incorporated Council of Law Reporting, Queen's Bench, Exchequer Division, King's Bench, and firms advising the City of London Corporation. Early partners appeared in matters before the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal (England and Wales), and during events such as the Second Boer War. In the 20th century the firm advised clients during the First World War, the Great Depression, and the Second World War, working alongside solicitors and barristers engaged with the Royal Courts of Justice, the Bank of England, and the Board of Trade (United Kingdom). Postwar expansion saw involvement in privatizations under governments shaped by figures like Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher, and transactions involving entities such as British Petroleum, British Steel Corporation, and Rolls-Royce. In recent decades the firm has counselled on matters touching the European Union institutions, European Commission, the Commercial Court, and international disputes linked to the International Court of Arbitration and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Practice Areas

The firm advises on mergers and acquisitions involving companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, corporate restructurings tied to entities like Tesco plc and Barclays, and capital markets transactions involving HSBC Holdings plc and Lloyds Banking Group. Its competition practice engages with the Competition and Markets Authority and responds to proceedings before the European Commission and national competition authorities in cases resembling those of Microsoft and Google. In finance the firm works on syndicated lending with banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland and Deutsche Bank, securitizations referencing practices of JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, and debt restructurings analogous to those of Lehman Brothers. Litigation and arbitration practice spans the Commercial Court, proceedings under the Arbitration Act 1996, ICSID-style arbitrations involving states, and cross-border disputes featuring parties like Glencore and Shell plc. The tax practice interacts with the HM Revenue and Customs framework and cases resembling rulings by the Tax Tribunal (UK). The firm also provides advice on corporate governance with reference to the Financial Reporting Council and shareholder matters influenced by rulings involving Activision Blizzard and Unilever.

Corporate Structure and Offices

Structured as a traditional partnership headquartered in London, the firm maintains offices in major financial centres including addresses comparable to those in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Brussels. Its people include partners and associates who have moved between the firm and institutions such as the Bank of England, European Investment Bank, UK Treasury, and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The firm’s alumni list features individuals later prominent at organizations like Bar Council, Law Society of England and Wales, International Bar Association, and who have served as judges at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the House of Lords (UK) prior to its reform. The firm engages with global networks and collaborates with firms based in jurisdictions including New York City, Singapore, Sydney, Frankfurt am Main, Paris, and Tokyo.

Reputation and Rankings

The firm is consistently ranked highly by legal directories such as ""Chambers and Partners"" and ""The Legal 500"", and appears in publications covering Financial Times rankings and league tables by Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters. It is often compared with Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy, and Herbert Smith Freehills among the Magic Circle (law firms). The firm's work has been recognized in awards by organizations including the British Legal Awards and mentions in reports by the Economist. Its reputation for advising on high-profile M&A and cross-border litigation has led to endorsements from corporate clients such as BP, Vodafone, Imperial Brands, and multinational banks like Goldman Sachs.

Notable Cases and Clients

Historically the firm has advised on transactions and disputes involving British Airways, Barclays, Rio Tinto, Pearson plc, Marks & Spencer, AstraZeneca, and GlaxoSmithKline. It has acted in mergers akin to those involving Sainsbury's and Asda, corporate reorganizations resembling Abbott Laboratories deals, and takeover defenses paralleling Morrison Supermarkets matters. The firm has represented sovereign entities and state-owned enterprises in matters similar to litigations involving Argentina, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan and advised on privatizations comparable to transactions with BT Group and National Grid plc. In finance and capital markets it has worked with investment banks including Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, and UBS. In competition and regulatory matters it has advised on cases comparable to investigations of Apple Inc. and Amazon (company). Litigation and arbitration engagements include cases with commercial counterparties like Siemens and BHP.

Pro Bono and Corporate Social Responsibility

The firm's pro bono initiatives have supported charities and NGOs such as Shelter (charity), Amnesty International, LawWorks, and Refugee Council. It participates in access-to-justice programs linked to institutions such as Citizens Advice and Pro Bono Economics, and has partnered with academic institutions including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, and King's College London for training and secondments. Corporate responsibility work has encompassed environmental and sustainability advising aligned with standards like those promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme and investor frameworks advocated by Principles for Responsible Investment.

Category:Law firms of the United Kingdom