England - London • Private client
Burges Salmon LLP ‘delivers a high quality of service’. The nimble team receives a steady flow of instructions from many of the largest and most significant institutional landowners, estates and agri-businesses nationally. It has immense experience in succession and wealth planning matters as well as in complex trusts, wills and probate; another core area of focus is advising on capital tax issues. The practice has many experienced practitioners including department head Tom Hewitt. Kevin Kennedy plays a key role in many high-value agricultural disputes, while Ross Simpson garners praise for his work on a wide range of matters from land reform and community rights to buy issues, to advising on Scottish agricultural holdings and crofting. Maddie Dunn has particular expertise in farming partnership and tenancy disputes, as well as the full gamut of disputes that arise from rural land ownership and equine matters. Sian Edmunds is no longer at the firm following her move to an in-house position.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The rural team have excellent strength and breadth across the sector. In a changing landscape they have engaged in thought leadership which puts them apart from their competitors and much appreciated by clients. Kevin Kennedy and Emma Folkes. They both have excellent knowledge and deliver pragmatic advice in a timely fashion'.
‘Tom Hewitt is a very experienced private client practitioner with a good manner in dealing with clients and a very good understanding of what makes clients with farms and estates tick and the sort of advice which they need. He is very personable, approachable and conscientious'.
‘Ross Simpson was very approachable, easy to communicate with, keen to move the case forward. Speed of response was exceptional, communications were clear and precise. He dealt with all matters with precision and speed, at the same time, in a pleasant manner'.
‘We have most recently worked with Ross Simpson who was highly effective, hardworking, competent and good fun to work with. He has access to knowledgeable colleagues who promptly provided technical advice on specialist issues (e.g. employment law) that arose during the sale/letting'.
‘The Burges Salmon team provide a wealth of knowledge across a number of disciplines. Of particular interest to me is their ability to undertake cross-border transactions to ensure continuity for their clients. Ross Simpson is a dynamic and pragmatic individual who works in a diligent and professional manner to deliver results for clients'.
‘Kevin Kennedy is superb. A very thoughtful, relaxed and pragmatic individual. Takes the inevitable twists and turns of litigation in his stride, with humour and common sense. Always thinking ahead to try and secure the best outcome for his client, no matter what surprises the litigation throws up'.
'Maddie Dunn. A very able number 2 to Kevin Kennedy. Has come up through the firm, and has some seriously heavy litigation under her belt. A very dependable pair of hands'.
‘Kevin Kennedy is top-rate. He handles high-value trust matters concerning substantial property and estates. He is very easy to work with in achieving the right outcome for his clients'.
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Head of Burges Salmon's Food and Farming team. Advises on tax and estate planning for individuals, business structures, including partnership; tenure issues; complex variation of trust actions; complex probates and trust matters. Particular focus on clients who own land. Frequently lectures on capital tax issues and particularly inheritance tax reliefs for farmers and landowners.
Next Generation Partners
Partner in Real Estate specialising in strategic land and rural property. Undertakes complex strategic land work advising on options, promotion agreements and conditional contracts associated with major projects regularly acting for consortia of landowners. Also works within the firm’s Food and Farming team advising on the purchase and sale of estates, farms, country houses, commercial forestry, island properties, sporting rights and salmon fishings. Expertise extends to advising landowners and investors on natural capital opportunities including rural land acquisition and management for Biodiversity Net Gain, carbon and other environmental outcomes. Clients include traditional land and estate owners, family trusts, farm partnerships and institutional investors. Dual qualified to practise in Scotland and England and Wales.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Tom Hewitt