James Sutherland > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

With a diverse roster of clients spanning large clearing banks, alternative lenders, regulators, and corporates, Burges Salmon LLP‘s corporate restructuring and insolvency team is well equipped to advise on national and international administrations, enforcements, and the related transactions. Andrew Eaton heads up the team and has substantial experience in cross-border distressed situations. Colin Ligman is particularly experienced in distressed real estate work, with James Sutherland specialising in real estate and insolvency disputes. Clive Pugh is well versed in pension-related issues, drawing on former experience at the pensions regulator, while Emily Scaife and Nick Middleton are other integral team members.

Burges Salmon LLP is go-to for a large swathe of real estate disputes with experience covering asset management issues for large property portfolios, dilapidations and lease issues, including terminations and renewals, as well as disputes relating to planning work and property insolvencies. The team is also known for its substantial water sector expertise together with its strong reputation in Building Safety Act disputes, notably regarding cladding. Practice head and ‘master tactician’ James Sutherland splits his time between London and Bristol and is experienced in advising landlords, occupiers, high-net-worth individuals, and financial institutions. Described as ‘excellent and extremely user-friendly’, Chris Preston has a strong track record acting for public and private sector groups; he also stands out for his expertise in the Telecoms and the Electronic Communications Code. Catherine Banton and Michael Duncan are also of note.

Based across Bristol and London, the ‘excellent’ property disputes group at Burges Salmon LLP acts for an impressive range of real estate investors and developers, primarily across the hospitality, transportation, and retail industries. The group advises on asset management, dilapidations, and cladding matters, among others. Regarded as a ‘master tactician’, James Sutherland anchors the practice and specialises in real estate insolvency disputes, often advising institutional and commercial landlords. Chris Preston acts for operators on telecoms-related issues, while Catherine Banton is a go-to for property disputes at various levels of court. Michael Duncan handles contentious and risk management issues in the property sphere, whereas Penny Shannon is recommended for her know-how on lease interpretation, rent review, and termination issues.

Reputed for their ‘expertise and commerciality’, and with bases in Bristol and London, the practice at Burges Salmon LLP advises an array of top global and UK-based corporations. The firm’s scope of work includes the negotiation and termination of leases, high value rent reviews, and headquarters relocations. The group routinely works in tandem with its general real estate practice, which handles development and construction, and property finance. Richard Clark draws from his ample transactional real estate experience to assist clients with large scale development projects, whereas James Sutherland covers landlord and tenant disputes, in addition to business tenancy renewals. Richard Read regularly acts for domestic and foreign investors on various real estate matters, Matthew Sims concentrates on complex portfolio management work for retail and office sector clients, and Will Hall handles corporate occupier work in the industrial and logistics industries.