Sian Edmunds > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Burges Salmon LLP acts for high profile clients, from institutional landowners and estates to agri-businesses, on both national and cross-border matters. The practice is led by Tom Hewitt who is an expert in agriculture and sits on the Country Landowners’ Association national taxation committee. Sian Edmunds is noted for her niche experience in ‘farm to fork’ matters. Emma Folkes, Ross Simpson and Tim Williams are also noted for their expertise in rural affairs.

Burges Salmon LLP fields a sizeable team and is well known for its expertise in the rail sector. This expertise extends into the aftermath of serious accidents. The team also has particular experience in food safety laws and is well equipped to oversee food safety issues, product liability and advise on relevant regulations. The practice is led by Ann Metherall. Another name to note is Sian Edmunds; she is known for her food and agricultural specialisms. Partner Guy Bastable joined the practice from BCL Solicitors LLP.

Burges Salmon LLP fields ‘a great team made up of hardworking individuals and strength and depth at all levels’ with ‘a City ethos and skill levels’ which allow for ‘a mature and commercial approach to disputes’. The practice handles the full spectrum of commercial litigation at a national and international level, acting for a client roster of high-profile companies including Virgin, the BBC and the Ministry of Justice. David Hall and Ann Metherall jointly lead the practice, which also fields ‘one of the smartest solicitors around’ Andrew Burnette, food specialist Sian Edmunds, Chris Jackson, who advises on transport and procurement litigation, and Michael Ward, who regularly handles shareholder disputes. Other key names include solicitor advocate Ian Tucker, financial services expert Matthew Walker and Richard Binns, who focuses on procurement disputes. At associate level, Brian Wong is ‘just the sort of litigator you want by your side’ and Caroline Brown is ‘totally on the ball’.

The health and safety team at Burges Salmon LLP offers broad sector expertise drawing on resources from across the firm. The team has an especially strong presence in relation to the transport and food sectors, while also doing a significant amount of work for the construction, water, chemicals and renewables clients. All lawyers on the team are experienced civil litigators with a regulatory specialism, allowing them to act on both the criminal and civil issues arising from serious health and safety incidents. Ann Metherall leads the team and is one of the UK’s top names in the rail sector for health and safety issues. Recent addition Guy Bastable is the former head of corporate crime at BCL Solicitors LLP and Sian Edmunds is a leading expert in health and safety issues relating to food and drink. Senior associate Charlotte Whitaker  is regularly involved in high profile investigations and litigations under intense public scrutiny.

The cross-departmental food and drink group at Burges Salmon LLP works for important clients across the food chain as part of a growing firm-wide focus on food law.  The practice includes an expertise in due diligence for product liability and and regulatory risks in relation to business mergers and acquisitions. Sian Edmunds has considerable experience in food safety and labelling, as well as product recalls and withdrawals. She is supported by professional negligence expert Andrew Burnette and associate Abigail Jones.

The Burges Salmon LLP group is especially well known for its expertise in disputes involving agricultural partnerships. Sian Edmunds and Kevin Kennedy, frequently assisted by senior associate Maddie Dunn, provide nationwide, specialist advice in complex disputes relating to large-scale, high-value farming and agri-businesses, which often utilise traditional partnership structures but may also involve the use of LLP or limited company structures. Jim Aveline advises family businesses and high-net-worth clients on structuring their business arrangements, succession planning vehicles and tax matters. It also offers clients its Clientspace platform which provides them with a secure space in which to work with lawyers across the firm.

Burges Salmon LLP is a ‘very impressive outfit’ that is co-led by Justin Briggs and Kevin Kennedy. It continues to act in some of the biggest and most complex contentious trust and probate matters in the country, attracting a broad client base of high-net-worth individuals including aristocratic families and wealthy international figures. Sian Edmunds is also well-regarded for her work across a broad spread of trusts and estate litigation work as well for her agricultural law disputes expertise.

Tom Hewitt leads the department at Burges Salmon LLP that has a deep bench of experienced practitioners who advise on the full range of agricultural and estates issues including subsidies, rural development and renewable energy schemes. The nimble team continues to act for many of the largest and most important institutional landowners, estates and agri-businesses nationally. Hewitt has a wealth of experience in succession and wealth planning and on all aspects of complex trusts, wills and probate matters in addition to capital tax issues. Kevin Kennedy advises on a myriad of high-level agricultural disputes. Sian Edmunds advises landowners, agri-businesses and producers on an array of contentious and regulatory issues. Ross Simpson receives plaudits for his work on diverse issues such as land reform, community rights to buy and Scottish agricultural holdings and crofting. At associate level Maddie Dunn, Peter Roberts and Tim Williams are all recommended.

Burges Salmon LLP‘s ‘excellent‘ Bristol-based disputes group comprises experts in transport, financial services, insurance, energy and natural resources, agricultural and rural affairs, and business crime and regulatory matters. The group is jointly led by David Hall and Ann Metherall, while Andrew Burnette acts in contractual, banking, company and shareholder disputes. Also highly regarded are ‘trusted‘ food litigation expert Sian Edmunds; Chris Jackson, a transport and procurement specialist; Michael Ward, who is ‘tireless and creative‘; and rail regulatory expert Ian Tucker.