England - South West • Dispute resolution
Burges Salmon LLP
The ‘competent, diligent and dedicated’ team at Burges Salmon LLP provides ’a standout offering of magic circle quality’ to its roster of high-profile clients, including multinational corporations, entrepreneurial businesses and high-net-worth individuals. David Hall, who has experience in financial services litigation, jointly leads the practice alongside Ann Metherall, while Andrew Burnette handles contractual disputes and professional negligence claims. Other key contacts in the group include transport and procurement specialist Chris Jackson, solicitor advocate Ian Tucker, Michael Ward, who focuses on shareholder disputes, and Brian Wong, who advises on procurement cases and was promoted to partner in May 2022. Matthew Walker has ‘excellent judgment’ and director Caroline Brown is commended as ’responsive and knowledgeable’. Sian Edmunds left for an in-house role in January 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A standout offering of magic circle quality without the equivalent billing.’
‘Matthew Walker is fabulous on the law and excellent judgment.’
‘The team is really dedicated, competent, reassuring and responsive.’
‘Burges Salmon have an outstanding litigation practice, particularly, in my experience, in construction and insurance. They are excellent lawyers, commercial, pragmatic, down to earth and very approachable and easy to work with.’
‘Matthew Walker is an outstanding lawyer. He is very bright, extremely commercially astute, an excellent strategist and fantastic with clients.’
‘Caroline Brown is responsive and knowledgeable.’
‘The team is extremely competent, diligent and dedicated. They are also extremely attentive to potential cross-border issues and very capable to lead foreign counsels effectively. They put client priorities first, professionally manage files and meet highest standards in terms of communication both between lawyers involved and clients. The best experience for my team so far when working with UK counsels.’
‘Excellent team who took time to understand the core issues behind the situation that required advice and action. Worked with us closely to develop practical solutions. Worked in a timely manner with appropriate urgency.’
Key clients
- Cobb Europe Limited and the Trustees of the Cobb Pension Scheme
- PNE AG and Orsted Onshore UK Limited
- URE Energy Limited
- PSGS Trust Corporation Ltd, the Trustees to the Robert Horne Group Pension Scheme, appointed by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)
- Astrel 1 UK Loan S.A.R.L & Others
- Atos IT Services UK Ltd
Work highlights
- Acting for Atos IT Services UK in a high-profile procurement challenge against the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the Meteorological Office, relating to the Met Office’s 2020 procurement of its new weather and climate forecasting supercomputer.
- Acting for Astrel 1 UK Loan S.A.R.L & Others regarding a surveyor negligence claim against Cushman & Wakefield for significantly over-valuing two neighbouring mansions in St James’ Park, London, which stood as security for a £30 million bridge-to-sell loan to a developer.
- Representing URE Energy in its dispute with Notting Hill Genesis (UK housing association), over the termination of a long-term electricity supply agreement.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading individuals
Dispute resolution partner specialising in complex fraud and professional negligence, shareholder/unfair prejudice disputes, contractual/warranty claims and product liability. Particular expertise acting for both traditional and specialist lenders to recover distressed loans secured against commercial property.
Head of Burges Salmon’s Disputes, Planning & Construction Department. Over a 30 year career David has represented numerous major public and private institutions on a wide range of disputes, investigations and inquiries. Currently Lead Solicitor on Burges Salmon’s appointment to provide all legal services to the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry chaired by Baroness Hallett. David is also playing a similar role in other confidential Public Inquiries to which Burges Salmon is appointed.
Next Generation Partners
Partner – Financial Services, Regulatory Investigations, Corporate and Commercial Disputes, InsuranceRecent experience includes conducting internal investigations for large organisations in relation to compliance if FCA regulatory requirements. Advising leading accountancy firms on FRC Investigations under the AEP and Accountancy Scheme. Advising corporates on disputed insurance claims in the financial services, healthcare and construction sectors. Advising corporates on a range of contractual and financial disputes.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Hall, Ann Metherall