Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has been recognised at the 2024 Bristol Law Society Awards with the firm winning all three awards it was nominated for including the Team of the Year, Lawyer of the Year and Community Impact awards.
With a unique blend of sector and net zero expertise, Burges Salmon’s Sustainable Transport team was named Team of the Year. At the forefront of accelerating the decarbonisation of vital infrastructure across the Transport sector, Burges Salmon plays a pivotal role in the delivery of high-profile and nationally significant projects spanning rail, highways, road, aviation, and marine and ports. In this year’s entry, the firm highlighted its work with FirstGroup, Firefly, Gravis, Rock Road and Protium, with the judges recognising the team’s pioneering transactions that set new standards in sustainability across the sector and help clients realise their ESG ambitions.
Recognised as this year’s Lawyer of the Year is Tom Whittaker, a director at Burges Salmon and one of the few legal minds in the UK to be actively involved in shaping AI regulation. Working alongside Burges Salmon’s specialist AI team, Tom advises multiple Government bodies on the responsible deployment of AI and has contributed responses to multiple consultations on AI regulation and use for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and, separately, the Public Accounts Committee. Tom is also part of Burges Salmon’s specialist AI focus group and has supported the firm and its people embrace the new tech, with his leadership in this area instrumental in positioning Burges Salmon as a forward-thinking firm that champions digital enablement and transformation.
In the Community Impact category, Burges Salmon’s far-reaching responsible business programmes and its collaborative approach to community engagement were recognised, with the firm working collaboratively with over 60 charities across both Bristol and Edinburgh. The firm is actively engaged in food justice and, in the past four years, raised and donated £160,000 – including over £28,000 this financial year – to over 30 organisations to tackle food insecurity in different ways – whether that is meeting urgent immediate needs of providing healthy and culturally appropriate food, or working on food education and other projects. Other notable initiatives include working with refugee charities to fund the provision of food and the firm’s involvement with the Bristol Local Food Fund. Burges Salmon’s focus on sustainability and biodiversity was also applauded by the judges, and since 2021, the firm has planted 6,500 native trees and in 2023 turned its hand to beekeeping, with three beehives across the UK and around 200 jars of honey harvested and sold, with proceeds reinvested into the community.
Roger Bull, Managing Partner at Burges Salmon, comments: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been recognised by the Bristol Law Society in all three categories we entered into. These wins highlight the huge talent we have across our firm, with teams and lawyers that stand out as exceptional individuals and true experts in their fields and who are making significant contributions to our business, our clients and the legal sector.
"We’re also very proud to have been recognised for our collaborative approach to community engagement, working closely with our charity partners to understand the challenges they face and how we can work together on social value projects. Authenticity underpins our responsible business philosophy, and our collective efforts means we support and champion the all-important work our charity partners do for the good of our communities.”