Justin Briggs > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Burges Salmon LLP’s Bristol-based offering is described by one client as providing ‘city law firm quality out of London’. The claimant-focused firm is particularly well regarded for its lender-side expertise, which is a key area of focus for practice head Andrew Burnette, and its stellar track record of conducting pensions-related professional negligence claims, with Justin Briggs and Suzanne Padmore standing out for their expertise in this type of work. The team’s industry know-how spans the banking, legal, construction, environmental, energy, accountancy, surveying, tax, brokerage, IT and fund management sectors, among others.

‘A leading force based in Bristol‘, Burges Salmon LLP‘s private wealth disputes team excels at handling complex contentious matters for high-net-worth individuals, and in particular standing out for its expertise in beneficiary-executor disputes over trust structures involving landed estates and offshore assets. The team acts for both beneficiaries and trustees in high-value professional negligence claims, trust structure challenges, and breach of agreement claims, and it is also highly capable of handling complex will challenges. Kevin Kennedy is increasingly involved in matters at the intersection of private wealth and natural capital and heads up the team together with Justin Briggs, a private wealth and pensions expert who chiefly handles trusts matters. Suzanne Padmore is also a key contact for trusts disputes. Caroline Emslie left the team in December 2023.

Offering ‘great technical pensions knowledge combined with litigation expertise’, Burges Salmon LLP‘s practice advises on the full scope of disputes, with its caseload consisting of drafting errors, equalisations, and Part 8 claims. The department assists a blend of trustees and employers and has a strong track record assisting the public and private sectors as well as personal pension providers. The team also has substantial experience in advising on regulatory matters, professional negligence suits, and claims arising from the liability-driven investment (LDI) crisis. Practice head Suzanne Padmore is highlighted for her occupational pension schemes and climate risk work. Justin Briggs ‘is a class act’ with experience handling professional negligence claims, among other areas. Amy Khodabandehloo is noted for her expertise in negligence claims and contentious cyber security matters.

At Burges Salmon LLP, Kevin Kennedy has a proven track record of advising on complex contentious trust matters, as well as matters involving landed estates and high-net-worth individuals. Justin Briggs, who co-heads the department with Kennedy, holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts Disputes. Briggs handles high-stakes and challenging private trusts matters. Michael Ward acts in an array of private wealth disputes for high-net-worth clients, and these disputes often involve family businesses run as companies and/or partnerships, frequently with shareholdings held both personally and via trust structures.