Slaughter and May
Slaughter and May is a leading British international law firm founded in 1889 by William Slaughter and William May, who departed from the firm Ashurst to establish it at 18 Austin Friars in London.[1][2] Headquartered in London, the firm operates offices in Brussels, Beijing, and Hong Kong, focusing primarily on high-value corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and regulatory matters for FTSE 100 companies and multinational clients.[3] With around 115 partners and 583 associates, it maintains a lean structure emphasizing quality over scale, achieving estimated revenues of £625 million in 2023/24 and profit per equity partner around £4 million, reflecting its elite status within the UK's "Magic Circle" of law firms.[4][1][5] The firm has built a reputation for excellence in advising on landmark deals, such as Arm Holdings' largest IPO since 2021 and multiple awards-winning transactions in Asia, including Cirrus Aircraft's HK$1.5 billion listing and Vinda International's delisting.[6][7] Its partner compensation model, characterized by equal profit sharing rather than performance-based tiers common in competitors, fosters a collegial culture but has drawn scrutiny for potentially limiting aggressive growth.[5] Slaughter and May's independent stance—eschewing mergers and prioritizing target-side advice—has sustained long-term client relationships amid evolving market dynamics, though it occasionally cedes bidder mandates to rivals.[8] Notable controversies include its advisory role to Carillion during the construction giant's 2018 collapse, where a parliamentary committee faulted the firm for pursuing fees from the distressed entity, and protests by environmental activists over representation of energy sector clients amid the firm's sustainability pledges.[9][10] These incidents highlight tensions between commercial imperatives and external expectations, yet the firm's consistent rankings and deal successes underscore its enduring influence in global legal practice.[11][12]