Ann Metherall > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Burges Salmon LLP‘s ‘excellent reputation‘ in the health and safety sphere stems from a sizeable and highly regarded team with ‘strength across the board from partner to trainee level‘. The firm is particularly well known for its work in the rail sector; the arrival of senior associate Ben Davies from the Office of Rail and Road in May 2022 further highlighted the group’s commitment in this field. Ann Metherall heads up the practice, as well as overseeing the firm’s disputes offering. Charlotte Whitaker, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, has particular expertise in handling multi-fatality incidents, another area of expertise for the department. Senior associate Sam Aldous ‘embeds himself in every case he does‘.

The ‘competent, diligent and dedicated’ team at Burges Salmon LLP provides ‘a standout offering of magic circle quality’ to its roster of high-profile clients, including multinational corporations, entrepreneurial businesses and high-net-worth individuals. David Hall, who has experience in financial services litigation, jointly leads the practice alongside Ann Metherall, while Andrew Burnette handles contractual disputes and professional negligence claims. Other key contacts in the group include transport and procurement specialist Chris Jackson, solicitor advocate Ian Tucker, Michael Ward, who focuses on shareholder disputes, and Brian Wong, who advises on procurement cases and was promoted to partner in May 2022. Matthew Walker has ‘excellent judgment’ and director Caroline Brown is commended as ‘responsive and knowledgeable’. Sian Edmunds left for an in-house role in January 2023.

The ‘formidable’ Bristol-based practice at Burges Salmon LLP, noted for its ‘immense experience’, is led by rail specialist Ann Metherall who also leads the team’s 24-hour major incidents response service. The team is well-equipped to handle the full array of matters across industry sectors and its workload often involves major disasters, multiple fatalities and corporate manslaughter investigations; areas which Guy Bastable has ample experience handling. Notable changes to the team include the promotion of the ‘ruthlessly efficient’ Charlotte Whitaker to partner in May 2023, and the departure of Sian Edmunds to a food and beverage manufacturing company in January 2023. ‘Incredibly bright’ senior associate Sam Aldous is a key name within the practice, and Ben Davies is praised by clients for being ‘a wise head on young shoulders’.

The ‘quality of a London firm but at regional prices‘, Burges Salmon LLP‘s Bristol-based practice fields experts in disputes involving commercial contracts, reputation management, professional negligence, product liability, multi-jurisdictional scenarios, ADR, and arbitration. The group also acts in business crime and real estate disputes. David Hall handles mega-value cases;  Ann Metherall focuses on the transport and energy sectors; Andrew Burnette ‘has an excellent market reputation‘; Chris Jackson and Ian Tucker are transport and procurement specialists; Michael Ward ‘provides great client service‘; and Richard Binns is a commercial disputes expert. Former partner Sian Edmunds departed for Cargill in January 2023.