Macfarlanes has re-elected its senior management team, with managing partner Julian Howard and senior partner Charles Martin chosen to serve further three-year terms.

The new terms will be Martin's (pictured) third as senior partner and Howard's second as managing partner. The re-elections were approved by the firm's partnership at the beginning of the year, with the new terms starting next May.

Unlike several other City firms, the process did not involve a formal vote, with both appointees understood to have been unopposed for re-election. 

Martin was first elected for his first term in May 2007, taking over the senior partner role from Robert Sutton.

Former banking head Howard took over from previous managing partner Simon Martin in 2011, when he decided to full-time fee earning in the firm's corporate practice.

Macfarlanes enjoyed a successful year in 2012-13, with revenue climbing 11.6% and profit per equity partner (PEP) increasing by 9.5%. 

Martin led the Macfarlanes team on Vodafone's $130bn (£84bn) sale of its 45% stake in US mobile operator Verizon Wireless. He, alongside corporate partner Graham Gibb, also acted for Verizon as a result of Macfarlanes' relationship with US firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, who were also advising on the deal.

The firm has made several lateral hires this year. Its most recent recruit was Baker & McKenzie energy and projects partner Scott Brodsky, who joined the firm's commercial practice. 

Earlier this month Macfarlanes added to its commercial real estate practice with the hire of Ashurst partnee Anthony Burnett-Scott. He followed in the footsteps of partners Clare Breeze, who joined from Shearman and Sterling in July, and Ann Minogue who also joined from Ashurst in August.