Kevin Kennedy > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Led by Justin Briggs and Kevin Kennedy, the team at Burges Salmon LLP, ‘combines great technical knowledge of the law with commercial insight’. It is ‘able to go toe to toe with the top private client teams and often come out on top’. The group continues to act in some of the largest and most challenging contentious trusts and probate matters in the country. It has an enviable client base of wealthy individuals (including some aristocratic families), landed estates and high-net-worth international figures. Sian Edmunds has left the firm for an inhouse position.

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.

Burges Salmon LLP provides specialist advice to their high-profile clients, from agri-businesses to landowners and landed estates. Advising on both national and cross-border matters, the team’s expertise extends to all aspects of food and agricultural law. Practice head Tom Hewitt – who sits on the Country Landowners’ Association national taxation committee – specialises in tax, trust and property advice. Kevin Kennedy, whose regular workload includes tenancy advice and real property disputes, is noted for his ‘technical knowledge and expertise.’ Other notable individuals include Emma Folkes, Ross Simpson, Tim Williams, and Maddie Dunn.

Noted for its expertise in large and complex mandates, the team at Burges Salmon LLP has an excellent reputation in the South West, representing a range of high-profile clients at both the national and international scale. The team is jointly chaired by Justin Briggs and Kevin Kennedy; Briggs is noted for his capabilities in high-stakes private trust matters, while Kennedy is well placed to advise on matters involving landed estates and wealthy individuals. Caroline Emslie, who handles international disputes concerning trusts, wills, tax planning and the administration of estates, is praised for her ‘superb judgement.’