Burges Salmon LLP
The ‘very experienced’ Burges Salmon LLP professional negligence team primarily focuses on claimant-side disputes. The firm is one of the leading practices in pensions professional negligence work. The practice is headed by Andrew Burnette, a specialist in significant claims against solicitors, surveyors, auditors, and financial services professionals. Other key names include Justin Briggs, Suzanne Padmore, and Kelly Whittaker, who are described as ’excellent both in terms of their knowledge and experience, and their responsiveness both to counsel and the clients.’
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Burges Salmon team has acted in a wide range of professional negligence cases.’
- ‘The Burges Salmon professional negligence team are very experienced not only in professional negligence work but also the underlying subject matter, e.g., insurance, pensions, etc. They have real strength and depth.’
- ‘I have worked a lot with Justin Briggs, Suzanne Padmore and Kelly Whittaker. They are all excellent both in terms of their knowledge and experience, and their responsiveness both to counsel and the clients.’
- ‘Justin Briggs has in-depth knowledge of negligence relating to pensions schemes and is a very experienced litigator. Able to add real value in complex cases through the strength of his legal analysis and attention to detail.'
- 'Kelly Whittaker is an excellent litigator who is building up extensive experience of professional negligence actions - she operates well above her years and is totally dedicated to the cases she works on.’
- ‘They have been involved in the biggest pensions prof neg cases of recent years and so really know what they are doing in this area. Their case load is very prestigious which reflects their standing in the market.’
- ‘Justin Briggs is a brilliant lawyer and quite an academic thinker which means he adds real value to a case overall.'
- 'Kelly Whittaker is a phenomenally hard worker.’
Key clients
- PSGS Trust Corporation Ltd
- Astrel 1 UK Loan S.A.R.L & Others
- Ten Financial
Work highlights
- Advised Astrel 1 UK Loan S.A.R.L & others on a sizeable surveyor negligence claim against a market leading firm regarding the overvaluation of two neighbouring mansions in St James' Park, London, which stood as security for a £30 million bridge-to-sell loan.
- Represented the Trustees to the Robert Horne Group Pension Scheme in a high-value claim against a leading pensions consultancy and an international law firm stemming from errors committed in the closure of a defined benefit scheme to future accrual and in implementing other scheme changes.
- Instructed by Ten Financial LLP and its principal in connection with claims brought by two former clients in the Commercial Court regarding failed investments.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Andrew Burnette