This week, independent UK law firm Burges Salmon is recognising the second anniversary of the opening of its Edinburgh office and celebrating the growth and achievements of its Scottish practice over the past two years.
The firm’s office in the Scottish capital, launched in May 2019 in line with Burges Salmon’s commitment to meeting the needs of its clients and underpinning its strong position in the Scottish market, has grown by 50 per cent over the past year and now boasts a 30-strong team.
The appointment of Nigel Watson as Head of Employee Incentives in January this year brought the number of Burges Salmon partners in Edinburgh to six. Corporate practitioner Danny Lee, commercial property lawyer Robert Forman joined as partners at the office’s launch in May 2019, with Stuart McMillan joining the Banking and Finance team as partner in October 2019 and dual-qualified, UK employment law specialist Katie Russell appointed to partner in May 2020.
The team also comprises a range of directors, senior lawyers and business services professionals, with solicitor Natalie Bennett joining the Banking and Finance team in April marking the most recent appointment.
The past year has seen a number of key client successes for Burges Salmon’s Edinburgh team, having advised on a number of significant transactions across a range of sectors and for high-profile clients such as leading global renewable energy developer BayWa r.e. UK, renewable energy investment platform Bio Capital and Gladman Developments Limited, one of the largest strategic land promoters in the UK.
Burges Salmon has also forged partnerships with some of the most significant institutions in Scotland, including being appointed to the legal services panels of both the Scottish Professional Football League and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The firm has continued to firmly cement its reputation in Scotland since the launch of its Edinburgh office, not only for its trusted expertise in providing wide-ranging and high-quality legal advice, but also for its commitment to its obligations as a responsible business. Earlier this month, Burges Salmon became a signatory to the Scottish Business Pledge, a values-led partnership between the Scottish government and business, and it has also partnered with charity Trees for Life on a rewilding, reforestation and carbon-offsetting project focused on the Scottish Highlands.
Roger Bull, Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, says: “The launch of our Edinburgh office two years ago has supported our strong position in the Scottish market and enhanced our capacity to provide wide-ranging sector advice across the UK.
“Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 impacting on all businesses over the past year, it’s been fantastic to see the team continue to grow and play such pivotal roles in supporting our clients through a number of exciting and significant projects and deals."