Burges Salmon

Burges Salmon LLP is a law firm based in Bristol, England, and one of the 50 largest in the UK.

About Burges Salmon

Burges Salmon is a UK law firm with a diverse national and international client base, including FTSE-listed companies, government departments, public bodies, executives and high-net-worth individuals.

The firm operates throughout the UK and in all major European and international jurisdictions. Burges Salmon works with independent law firms around the world to meet clients’ international needs. The firm currently has 79 partners and has sector expertise in a range of areas including energy, transport, food and farming, real estate, financial services and infrastructure. Burges Salmon’s turnover for the 2012 / 2013 financial year was £73.7 million, with an operating profit of £23.5m and profit per equity partner of £423,000.^[4][5][6]

The firm undertakes numerous corporate responsibility initiatives,^[7] and collaborates with a wide range of organisations to contribute to three main areas: community, education and environment. The firm was a founder member of the Legal Sector Alliance.^[8]

In 2012, Burges Salmon chose the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, as its charity of the year - raising £84,000 to help support the expansion of the hospital.^[9]

In 2013, the firm became a founding sponsor of Aardman and The Grand Appeal’s Gromit Unleashed public art exhibition – sponsoring Aardman’s Classic Gromit sculpture at London Paddington station.^[10]

The firm publishes an annual review called Insight.^[11]

History

The origins of the firm go back to 1841 when Edward Burges set up as a sole practitioner. His father and grandfather had both been lawyers before him. Following the death of the founder in 1890, the practice was continued by his son W.E Parry Burges who formed a partnership with a Mr Sloan, resulting in the name becoming Burges & Sloan. In 1947 the partnership was joined by Stuart Evans, who was then practising alone as Salmon, Cumberland and Evans. The firm's move to Narrow Quay House in 1982 saw the shortening of the name to "Burges Salmon".

In 2010 Burges Salmon re-located from Narrow Quay to its current head office at One Glass Wharf ^[12] in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.^[13] In 2012, the firm also moved its London offices from Chancery Exchange to New Street Square, enabling it to operate from both Bristol and London.

The firm's recent history has been characterised by continued independence and a focus on consolidating a position as one of the UK’s leading law firms.^[14] Working across numerous industry sectors and core practice areas, the firm has built a formidable reputation in sectors including energy, transport, food, farming and land, real estate, financial services and infrastructure.

Burges Salmon has authored a number of publications including the Burges Salmon Guide to Nuclear Law and the Burges Salmon Guide for Landowners and Farmers, also known as The Pink Book.

In 2008, allegations were made against Burges Salmon that sub-prime loans may have been mis-sold to farmers, and was investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. In October 2010 the Solicitors Regulation Authority announced that it had closed the investigation with no further action.

Notable deals / cases in 2013

1. Advised longstanding client FirstGroup on the sale of eight of its London bus depots in a deal worth around £80m ^[15]
2. Helped the Discovery Channel to successfully defend a fierce trade mark and passing off challenge by AETN.^[16]
3. Advised Business Growth Fund as it invested £3.9 million to support growth for travel product pioneer Trunki.^[17]
4. Represented Eurostar in a case which set new standards in complex procurement and rail disputes.^[18]
5. Advised Leeds United FC on a test case which saw West Yorkshire Police ultimately lose an appeal relating to charges for match day policing.^[19]
6. Advised the Competition Commission on the corporate aspects of the sale of Edinburgh Airport for £807.2m at the end of April 2012.^[20]
7. Advised longstanding client Milk Link on its merger with Arla Foods amba, creating one of the first ever mergers between a UK and a foreign co-operative.^[21]
8. Advised Cardiff City Transport Limited (trading as Cardiff Bus) in its successful defence of a major claim brought by a competitor before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).^[22]

Industry Awards

1. Lawyer Awards 2013 ^[23]

Competition Team of the Year – Runner-up

Litigation Team of the Year - Shortlisted

Corporate Restructuring Team of the Year - Shortlisted

Private Wealth Team of the Year - Shortlisted

1. Insider South West Dealmakers Awards 2013

Corporate Law Firm of the Year - Winner ^[24]

1. European Pensions Awards 2013 ^[25]

European Pensions Law Firm of the Year - Shortlisted

1. Knowlist Awards 2013 ^[26]

IT Team Achievement Award - Winner

1. Legal Business Awards 2013 ^[27]

Competition Team of the Year – Shortlisted

Energy & Natural Resources Team of the Year – Shortlisted

1. British Legal Awards 2012 ^[28]

Commercial Team of the Year – Winner – for work with the NDA on the decommissioning of Dounreay

Litigation and Regulatory Team of the Year – Shortlisted

1. Bristol Law Society Awards

Law Firm of the Year – Winner (national category)

1. The Lawyer Awards 2012 ^[29]

Competition / Regulatory Team of the Year – Joint Winner

1. LawCareers.net Awards ^[30]

Best Trainee Solicitor Recruiter - national firm winner for seventh consecutive year

References

External links

• Burges Salmon website
• Profile in Chambers UK and the Chambers Student Guide
• Burges Salmon talks the talk, The Lawyer, 26 March 2008
• Lorraine Cushnie, Burges Salmon assists FirstGroup with rail triumph. The Lawyer, 15-Dec-2005

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