Macfarlanes managing partner and COO

Luke joined the firm in 2004, became a partner in 2007 and became co-head of our M&A group in 2018. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day running of the firm, Luke will remain a fee earner and will continue to lead client relationships after his appointment. Howard Corney will become the sole head of M&A from 1 May 2022.

In recognition of the growth of the firm, we have decided to appoint our first Chief Operating Officer and we are pleased to announce that Katherine Milliken has been appointed to this role with effect from 1 May 2022 to work alongside Luke and Sebastian Prichard Jones. Katherine joined the firm in 2013 having previously spent almost a decade at Inchcape plc, latterly as General Counsel. Katherine has spent most of her time at the firm working on special projects including most recently playing a leading role in shaping the firm’s response to the Covid pandemic.

Julian will retire as a partner but will remain with the firm as a consultant. Julian has served as the firm’s managing partner since 2010 and has been instrumental in steering the firm through some of the most successful years in its recent history.