Macfarlanes' best-paid partner during 2011-12 took home £1.16m – nearly 50% less than last year's top earner.

The figure, included the firm's recently filed 2011-12 accounts, is down 47% on last year's top payout of £2.2m. However, that figure included payments relating to the partner's retirement.

The accounts also show that the average number of partners at the firm fell slightly during 2011-12 to 70, down from 74 the previous year, with the reduction attributed to retirements.