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Burges Salmon LLP

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The Bristol-based environment team at Burges Salmon LLP is experienced in handling matters spanning various sector. Its particular areas of expertise are water, wherein it represents many well-known UK clients on high-profile investigatory matters, and nuclear-related work which frequently involves the team advising on the decommissioning of power stations; nuclear work is Ian Salter‘s area of specialism. Corporate crime specialist Guy Bastable provides contentious capabilities to the team. The ’excellent’ Michael Barlow, who leads the team, is noted as being ‘a really good, all-round environmental litigator’. Renewables and net-zero-related matters are the focus of Ross Fairley; other key names include senior associate Sarah Sackville Hamilton.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team does diverse work covering regulatory, advisory, public and private law litigation with a very collaborative work ethic.’

  • ‘Michael Barlow has excellent client care skills, measured judgment, is a thoughtful litigation strategist and a curious and ambitious lawyer who will explore all avenues.’

  • ‘The Burges Salmon environmental litigation team is perhaps the best in England for this kind of work. They've got real experts, with the backing of a good firm to resource litigation matters when the work needs extra lawyers brought in.’

  • ‘Michael Barlow is excellent - a really good, all-round environmental litigator. He is tough in litigation but knows where to compromise in mediation to get the best for his clients. He is a good leader and has such in-depth knowledge that he is able to play a key role in environmental disputes alongside counsel.'

  • ‘Burges Salmon's team is headed up by Michael Barlow, with Guy Bastable leading on Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions. Burges Salmon represents major corporate clients in all manner of environmental investigations, and uses judicial review proceedings to great tactical effect.’

  • ‘Guy Bastable is a strategic genius in high-demand. He is a heavyweight in the field and Boards utterly respect his candid no-nonsense approach to litigation. Senior associate Sam Aldous is Guy's right hand man. He is incredibly bright and knowledgeable on all his cases, bringing a good sense of humour to his work.’

Key clients

  • FirstGroup
  • Canal and River Trust
  • EDF Energy Ltd
  • Severn Trent Water
  • South West Water
  • Koch Industries (and subsidiaries including Georgia Pacific LLC)
  • John Lewis
  • JG Pears Group/Tigerfert
  • ENGIE
  • Affinity Water

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley

Hall of fameBurges Salmon LLP

Specialist in renewable, Net Zero and environmental projects. Covers areas such as wind, solar, hydrogen, wave and tidal, low carbon transport, biomass, energy storage and biofuels. On environment, covers all aspects of regulation particularly contaminated land and environmental enforcement.

Ian Salter

Hall of fameBurges Salmon LLP

Partner, head of Nuclear Law unit; advises on all aspects of nuclear energy projects with particular expertise in nuclear law. Head of Projects Department.

Leading individuals

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Michael Barlow

Other key lawyers

Ross Fairley, Ian Salter, Ian Truman, Guy Bastable, Sam Aldous, Sarah Sackville Hamilton