John Barnett > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Burges Salmon LLP is well-known in the South West market for the strength of its corporate practice, with the firm’s corporate tax team forming a key element of this offering. The group regularly assists prominent UK clients, including plcs, with the tax aspects of high-value transactions involving companies and capital assets. The team also frequently receives instructions from international clients looking to invest in UK assets. Ian Carnochan leads the practice and has expertise in complex, cross-border tax matters, while John Barnett heads the firm’s private client team and also handles corporate tax. Hilary Barclay was promoted to partner in March 2022 and offers clients experience across M&A, reorganisations and equity fundraisings, and senior associate Jessica Chesterfield is developing a practice spanning the financial services, real estate and charity sectors. Former practice head Sarah Lane departed the firm in July 2021 to join Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Burges Salmon LLP‘s expertise lies primarily within trust restructurings, often involving high value and international elements. Beatrice Puoti is an expert in tax, trusts and estate planning for both UK and non-UK residents, as well as domiciled clients. John Barnett regularly advises high-net worth individuals and banks. They lead the practice together. Catherine De Maid is noted for her international work, with a particular interest in Africa. Tim Williams is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Burges Salmon LLP ‘offers an attractive combination of in-depth expertise with excellent lawyers and at the same time more reasonable fees than those private client firms based solely in London’. Beatrice Puoti and John Barnett lead this large team that has lawyers who are based in Bristol and London. It has enhanced its traditional client base and now acts for a large and growing number of the international super-rich. The group has increasingly been advising on domicile-related work, anti-avoidance issues and compliance as well as major trust restructurings and the movement of assets into and out of the UK.