Exhibit 5


The Directors
Cordiant Communications Group plc
121-141 Westbourne Terrace                     Our Ref: MHL/TDL/559210
London                                         Direct Line: 020 7849 2539
W2 6JR                                         E-mail: mary.leth@macfarlanes.com



25 September 2000



Dear Sirs

Registration Statement on Form F-3

As English  solicitors for Cordiant  Communications  Group plc, a public limited
company  incorporated  under the laws of England and Wales ("the  Company"),  we
have been  requested  to render this  opinion in  connection  with the  proposed
registration  under the United  States  Securities  Act 1933,  as amended  ("the
Securities  Act"),  of Ordinary Shares of 50p each in the capital of the Company
("the  Ordinary  Shares") to be issued  pursuant to the  Company's  Registration
Statement  on Form F-3 filed by the Company  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act with respect to the registration of Ordinary
Shares for issue under the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 4, 2000
made by and among the Company,  Lighthouse  Acquisition,  Inc.,  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company  ("Merger Sub") and Lighthouse  Global  Network,  Inc.
("Lighthouse"),  as amended by an Amendment  Agreement  dated as of September 5,
2000 among the same parties ("the Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant to which Merger
Sub was merged with and into Lighthouse on September 6, 2000.

1        For the purpose of this opinion we have examined  copies,  certified or
         otherwise authenticated to our satisfaction, of:-

1.1      the Certificate of Incorporation  and each Certificate of Incorporation
         on change of name of the Company;

1.2      the  Memorandum  of  Association  and  Articles of  Association  of the
         Company;

1.3      the Merger Agreement; and

1.4      such records of  proceedings  of the Board of Directors of the Company,
         records  of public  officials  and other  documents  as we have  deemed
         necessary or appropriate under the circumstances.

         We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,  the authenticity of
         all documents  submitted to us as originals  and the  conformity to the
         originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

2.       On the basis of and  subject to the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion
         that the Ordinary  Shares will,  when  registered  under the Securities
         Act,  be legally  and  validly  issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable
         (i.e.,  no further  contribution in respect of the Ordinary Shares will
         be required to be made to the Company by the holders thereof, by reason
         only of their being such holders).

This  opinion is limited to the law of England and Wales as  currently in effect
and applied by the courts  thereof  and is given on the basis that this  opinion
will be governed by and construed in accordance with such law.

We  consent to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit to the  Registration
Statement.  In giving such consent,  we do not admit that we are in the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Yours faithfully
/s/ Macfarlanes