About machon editing
editing and proofreading
for the corporate legal and financial world
Our edits, comments, and suggestions are always returned to you in track changes in Word. You receive this mark-up version along with a “clean” version so that you can readily track any changes made, and easily make a compare version. Even with short, high-pressure deadlines. In other words, you remain in control of document management and determine your document’s final form.
And all our work is always strictly confidential. We are happy to sign or provide a non-disclosure or confidentiality statement and adhere to the requirements of being on an insiders list, when needed.
About our expertise
Stephen manages to improve a text without infringing on personal style. He also seeks to understand and anticipate the procedure and requirements of the publisher, making the journey towards publication swift, efficient and surprisingly uneventful. A true professional – fantastic to work with!
Stephen always understands the point, and if not (due to poorly written English) he always asks so that he does not change the meaning. The outcome is always superb, very clear and highly professional… he is quick and efficient. Also, his trainings for the firm have very much improved the overall quality of our lawyers’ drafting.
Stephen always gets the nuance right. He’s responsive, understanding; he understands it’s all about context.
Stephen is one of a kind, by far the best legal editor I have ever come across. Extremely fast, reliable and professional. He always gets it right. And on top of that, always fun to work with.
Stephen’s editing work goes way beyond reshaping a simple translation. He is a skilled editor, getting the tone right whether it is an op-ed for a newspaper or full-blown academic publications. I love working with him, he is the best!
Our services
Editing and reviewing
We carefully edit and review documents to ensure that the text, whether drafted directly in English or prepared as a translation, is readily comprehensible and consistent with contemporary legal writing style. We also edit and review scholarly articles and dissertations on law, tax, and finance being prepared for publication in your or the publisher’s house style. We would also be happy to brainstorm and work with you on effective contemporary website texts and client communications.
You’re always in control
Our edits, comments, and suggestions are always returned to you in track changes in Word. You receive this mark-up version along with a “clean” version so that you can readily track any changes made, and also easily make a compare version. Even with short, high-pressure deadlines. In other words, you remain in control of document management and determine your document’s final form.
Training and workshops
We regularly help legal practitioners get to the next level in their professional communication in English. Years of hands-on training experience enables us, in our workshops, to deconstruct many of the myths surrounding effective legal writing and legal English. And, using focused exercises, to guide legal practitioners in attaining a style that fuels their self-confidence. Not to mention client satisfaction.
About translations, post-editing and editing/reviewing
Translating services
- Does the translator work with CAT tools and other translation technology?
- What sources will the translator use when creating your terminology database? What sources do you want the translator to use?
- If it’s a big project, will one dedicated translator be working on the project?
Post-editing
- Does the translation agency provide post-editing services? If so, what is the post-editor’s expertise and credentials?
Editing/reviewing
- Does the translation agency also provide editing/reviewing services? If so, what do these services consist of? What do you understand is needed and will be provided? And of course, does the editor/reviewer have the requisite skills and expertise?
Speak with your translator / translation agency about these questions to assist you in making an informed choice.
Legal editing
A legal editor reviews a document critically from both a language and a legal point of view. A legal editor focuses not only on spelling, grammar, and a house style, but equally on proper usage, punctuation, structure, efficacy of argumentation, legal terminology and terms of art, consistency, accuracy, and drafting style. And makes appropriate concrete suggestions on how to improve all of these. A legal editor can also help to reduce word count, and ensure references and citations are accurate and consistent. This also means a legal editor is able to sustain focus and attention to detail when reviewing lengthy complex texts. In short, a legal editor is an active partner in the drafting process.
A legal proofreader, or copy editor, corrects spelling and grammar, and aligns a written document of a legal nature with a specific house style. A legal proofreader does not check for consistency, use of legal terms, legal usage, accuracy of citations, or effectiveness/credibility of argumentation.
machon editing is committed to providing added value, accuracy and quality as an active partner in the legal drafting process. We guarantee timely delivery, at market-friendly fees, and strict confidentiality.
Stephen Machon
Before founding machon editing, Stephen was with De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek for more than 12 years as senior English editor and editorial services coordinator, where he regularly edited and reviewed client communications, advisory work, contracts, notarial deeds, and court and Commission submissions, to name just a part of his work. Stephen also regularly gave in-house bespoke workshops on good legal communication.
Stephen served for more than 6 years as chair of FINLEGSIG, the financial and legal English special interest group of SENSE, the Society of English-language professionals in the Netherlands.
LinkedIn profile
Our fees
Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss a fee quote.
All our assignments are subject to our general conditions.
Contact us
Postal address
machon editing
KNSM-laan 361
1019 LG Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 6 537 546 99
E-mail: info@machonediting.com