Matthew Ramus > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

With a client roster including leading universities such as the University of Oxford as well as the Department for Education, Burges Salmon LLP offers a broad set of support in the education sector with experience covering inadequate Ofsted ratings, joint ventures and mergers, and employment-related work. The Bristol-based team is led by Matthew Ramus, noted for his expertise in PPP, PFI and outsourcing mandates. Luke Bowery assists with employment and HR matters, including tribunal, discrimination and whistleblowing claims, and senior associate Huw Cooke has experience in employment and immigration cases. Procurement expert John Houlden supports on bid strategies, while Tim Roberts advises on transactions.

Involved in numerous large regeneration and infrastructure projects, Burges Salmon LLP fields a strong local government practice, praised for its ‘remarkable depth of collective experience and knowledge’. Gary Soloman leads the practice and advises on planning issues, regeneration projects and highway proposals. Particularly knowledgeable on procurement matters, John Houlden acts for a range of local authority and central government clients. Matthew Ramus is regularly sought out for advice on education and children’s services restructuring programmes, while Emma Andrews focuses on energy projects and regulatory advice. Paula McGeady, Sarah Sutherland and Jen Ashwell are other key names.

Burges Salmon LLP‘s Bristol-based local government practice excels in handling energy infrastructure schemes, assisting councils on major net-zero and renewable energy investment projects, as well as regeneration projects. The team is also well-equipped to handle development work related to cultural, residential, and transport infrastructure. Additionally, it advises on both contentious and non-contentious procurement work for these projects. Practice head Gary Soloman is an expert in planning and compulsory purchase matters on major transport and energy projects. Procurement expert John Houlden advises on subsidy control and vires issues and is highly recommended, as is commercial projects specialist Matthew Ramus who is a key contact for restructuring work. Director in the projects department, Emma Andrews, is also notable.

Acting for a number of UK universities, providers of apprenticeships and work-based training, research and development organisations, as well as governing institutions, Bristol-based Burges Salmon LLP‘s education offering includes advice on university spin-offs, new campus developments and employment disputes. Additionally, the department assists the DfE regarding financially distressed education institutions. Matthew Ramus leads the department and is known for his expertise in PPP, PFI and outsourcing projects for education clients. Luke Bowery covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law-related matters. Procurement expert John Houlden acts on contentious and non-contentious matters, often in connection with bid strategies for education-related contracts. Other key members of the team are corporate finance director Tim Roberts and senior associate Huw Cooke.