Legal Insights
Slaughter & May
Slaughter & May
A brief history of
A brief history of
Alin George Ilinca
Aug 25, 2025
Slaughter & May: A Brief History Of
1889 → William Slaughter and William May leave Ashurst to form their firm.
1889 → They open the first office at 18 Austin Friars.
1895 → William May remarks in his diary that they have over 300 clients.
1930s → The firm advises more merchant banks than any other firm.
1974 → First city firm to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
1985 → Firm advises on many of Britain’s privatisations.
2002 → Offices moved to One Bunhill Row in London.
2007 → Expands to Brussels, Belgium.
2008 → Plays a key role in the financial crisis.
2009 → Opens an office in Beijing, China.
2015 → Represents more FTSE 100 clients than any other firm.
2015 → Partners earn highest PEP in UK.
2021 → Founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.
2022 → Wins Corporate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.
2023 → Becomes first major law firm to set social mobility targets.
2023 → The London office achieves 100% green electricity.
2024 → Named Employer of the Year at the Student Social Mobility Awards.
2024 → Launches solicitor apprenticeship scheme.
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Slaughter & May: A Brief History Of
1889 → William Slaughter and William May leave Ashurst to form their firm.
1889 → They open the first office at 18 Austin Friars.
1895 → William May remarks in his diary that they have over 300 clients.
1930s → The firm advises more merchant banks than any other firm.
1974 → First city firm to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
1985 → Firm advises on many of Britain’s privatisations.
2002 → Offices moved to One Bunhill Row in London.
2007 → Expands to Brussels, Belgium.
2008 → Plays a key role in the financial crisis.
2009 → Opens an office in Beijing, China.
2015 → Represents more FTSE 100 clients than any other firm.
2015 → Partners earn highest PEP in UK.
2021 → Founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.
2022 → Wins Corporate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.
2023 → Becomes first major law firm to set social mobility targets.
2023 → The London office achieves 100% green electricity.
2024 → Named Employer of the Year at the Student Social Mobility Awards.
2024 → Launches solicitor apprenticeship scheme.
📩 Don’t miss the next article, event, or opportunity — sign up to Equal Opportunity and get everything straight to your inbox.
Slaughter & May: A Brief History Of
1889 → William Slaughter and William May leave Ashurst to form their firm.
1889 → They open the first office at 18 Austin Friars.
1895 → William May remarks in his diary that they have over 300 clients.
1930s → The firm advises more merchant banks than any other firm.
1974 → First city firm to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
1985 → Firm advises on many of Britain’s privatisations.
2002 → Offices moved to One Bunhill Row in London.
2007 → Expands to Brussels, Belgium.
2008 → Plays a key role in the financial crisis.
2009 → Opens an office in Beijing, China.
2015 → Represents more FTSE 100 clients than any other firm.
2015 → Partners earn highest PEP in UK.
2021 → Founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.
2022 → Wins Corporate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.
2023 → Becomes first major law firm to set social mobility targets.
2023 → The London office achieves 100% green electricity.
2024 → Named Employer of the Year at the Student Social Mobility Awards.
2024 → Launches solicitor apprenticeship scheme.
📩 Don’t miss the next article, event, or opportunity — sign up to Equal Opportunity and get everything straight to your inbox.
