Stephen is a leading practitioner in the private investment funds sector. Stephen’s practice covers private fund formation across a wide range of illiquid strategies (including private credit, equity, venture, real assets and food technology), cornerstone investing, GP equity stakes, and hedge funds. This makes Stephen a natural fit for Macfarlanes given the firm’s comprehensive corporate, private equity and private client practices.

Stephen joins from Sidley Austin LLP, where he has been a partner for the last nine years including as a Global Practice Area Coordinator and Head of Private Funds London. Prior to Sidley, Stephen was, for 10 years, Group General Counsel and a member of the Executive Board at Man Group plc, Europe’s largest hedge fund manager. Before joining Man, Stephen was a partner at Clifford Chance LLP, where he was Co-Head of the firm’s Private Funds group.

Senior Partner Sebastian Prichard Jones comments: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to the firm. The alternative asset management space has been one of our key drivers in recent years and remains an area of focus for us. Stephen’s experience and market reputation will augment our alternative asset management offering and provide new impetus to our growth.”

Stephen Ross comments: “Macfarlanes is a firm I have long admired and I am honoured to be joining. I believe the firm’s disciplined focus on the private and alternative investment industry, complemented by leading private equity, tax, regulatory and private client coverage, is compelling to clients.”