Burges Salmon

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Overview

Depending on your point of view, Bristol-based Burges Salmon is either a a top-class regional firm or a national player that just happens to have only the one office.

While itself banging the 'single-site national firm' drum with considerable zeal, Burges Salmon undoubtedly holds its own against key regional rival Osborne Clarke (OC) and has a far higher profile than smaller southwest outfits like Bevan Brittan and TLT. Burges Salmon was ranked in 46th position in the 2008-09 Legal Week Top 50, bringing in total fees of £64.2m and partner profits of £409,000. And the firm has shown little sign of softening its stance on the one-site philsophy, while OC, by contrast, has branched out as far as Scandinavia and Silicon Valley.

History

The firm traces its roots back to the 18th century. One of the founders of the Bristol Law Society was Daniel Burges, and his grandson Edward Burges founded the firm as sole practitioner in 1841.

The practice was continued by WE Parry Burges and a partnership under the name of 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.

Culture

Key departments

The firm is a recognised heavyweight in regional terms across a broad range of practice areas, including corporate finance - where only OC is a serious rival - banking, real estate and IP/IT.

On the national stage, transport and asset finance are major strengths, with the firm a national leader in the rail sector in particular, as evidenced by clients including First Group and Merseyrail. The firm is also highly rated for projects work.

As befitting a firm in the rural idyll of the southwest, Burges Salmon has a top-notch agricultural law team.

National/international coverage

As mentioned above, Burges Salmon talks up its 'national' ambitions but remains in geographic terms firmly rooted in the southwest, with Bristol the location for its sole fee earning centre.

Key clients

Major clients cited by the firm include Orange, the Crown Estate, BAE Systems, Bank of Scotland, the Ministry of Defence and transport giant First Group.

Leading partners

The firm is led by managing partner Peter Morris and senior partner Stephen McNulty.

Other notable partners include Alan Barr and Chris Godfrey in corporate/M&A, transport partner Nick Olley, energy partner Ian Salter, disputes partner Paul Haggett, private client partner Catherine Hallam and banking and finance partner Sandra Forbes, who in 2006 was appointed as the firm's first-ever female department head, taking over the helm of the firm's corporate and financial institutions department.

Career prospects

In 2008, the firm announced its largest round of partner promotions in recent years, making up half a dozen new partners. That represented an improvement on the previous year's mark of five - and just four in 2006.

Salaries

Recruitment

For graduate recruitment, your contact is Katy Main on 0117 902 7797; for legal recruitment, it's Alexandra Flatman on 0117 902 7733.

Work-life balance

Diversity

The firm's diversity and inclusion policy can be found by clicking here.

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