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

Hailed as ‘a leading player in the professional negligence field’, Burges Salmon LLP‘s predominantly claimant-side practice possesses particular strength in lender-side and pensions professional negligence claims. The group, led by Andrew Burnette, is also known for its expertise pertaining to private wealth claims. Pensions-related disputes are handled by Justin Briggs and Suzanne Padmore, with the latter frequently acting on behalf of trustees and employers in claims against pension scheme advisers. Senior associate Kelly Whittaker acts for businesses and financial institutions in multi-party professional negligence disputes.

Noted for its expertise in large and complex mandates, the team at Burges Salmon LLP has an excellent reputation in the South West, representing a range of high-profile clients at both the national and international scale. The team is jointly chaired by Justin Briggs and Kevin Kennedy; Briggs is noted for his capabilities in high-stakes private trust matters, while Kennedy is well placed to advise on matters involving landed estates and wealthy individuals. Caroline Emslie, who handles international disputes concerning trusts, wills, tax planning and the administration of estates, is praised for her ‘superb judgement.’

The ‘cutting-edge’ pensions disputes team at Burges Salmon LLP is lauded by clients for its ‘excellent knowledge of pensions litigation’. The practice is headed by Justin Briggs, who has extensive experience with cross-border pensions cases and matters which intersect with trusts, tax, and private wealth, in particular. The team is experienced advising both trustees and employers in the public and private sectors with small self-administered scheme (SSAS) disputes, and with self-invested personal pension (SIPP) disputes, which is Suzanne Padmore‘s area of specialism. Additionally, the team is well-equipped to assist in recovery actions and rectification cases. With the 2022 launch of the practice’s Pensions Schemes ESG Tool, clients are offered up-to-date advice on ESG requirements of UK pension schemes. Senior associate Amy Khodabandehloo is recommended for her work in pensions-related professional negligence cases.

Led by Justin Briggs and Kevin Kennedy, the team at Burges Salmon LLP, ‘combines great technical knowledge of the law with commercial insight’. It is ‘able to go toe to toe with the top private client teams and often come out on top’. The group continues to act in some of the largest and most challenging contentious trusts and probate matters in the country. It has an enviable client base of wealthy individuals (including some aristocratic families), landed estates and high-net-worth international figures. Sian Edmunds has left the firm for an inhouse position.

The ‘very experienced’ Burges Salmon LLP professional negligence team primarily focuses on claimant-side disputes. The firm is one of the leading practices in pensions professional negligence work. The practice is headed by Andrew Burnette, a specialist in significant claims against solicitors, surveyors, auditors, and financial services professionals. Other key names include Justin Briggs, Suzanne Padmore, and Kelly Whittaker, who are described as ‘excellent both in terms of their knowledge and experience, and their responsiveness both to counsel and the clients.’