The firm is rated by Chambers and Partners as being "clearly in the first tier" and has won client respect for being able to "hold their own against the best in the Magic Circle".
With a disputes capability consisting of over 60 lawyers, Burges Salmon has built a formidable reputation across a wide range of specialist areas including rail and transport, pensions, contractual disputes, regulation, professional negligence, defamation & media, IP, contentious financial services, insurance, construction and engineering disputes.
"This heavyweight, confident commercial disputes team 'leads the way in terms of the scale of its operation and share of work."
Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession 2006/7
Our core work continues to be complex commercial and regulatory disputes. As ADR continues to be increasingly important, we have invested significantly in the development of new skills, accreditation and resources so that all key skills can be deployed by our lawyers at any stage of a dispute.
Below are examples of some of our recent/ongoing cases:
• Advising on recoveries and other aspects (including public inquires) on each major UK rail accident since 1995 and a range of rail industry restructuring issues at a national level
• Representing UKAEA on the current Redfern Inquiry set up by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform into certain issues in the nuclear industry
• Acting for a large financial institution on all aspects of a complex property fraud case
• Acting for a number of companies in connection with investigations of them for the unauthorised carrying on of activities regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
• Acting on major safety investigations in construction, manufacturing and petrochemicals industries and also financial services investigations.
• Advice on and drafting of consultation response to draft legislation and other policy submissions particularly on safety issues and corporate manslaughter. Advising listed companies on governance issues raised by the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007
• Advising intervening parties and acting as Solicitor-Advocates in the Administrative Court in two Judicial Review Applications of national importance.
• Acting on large software dispute relating to innovative rail technology
• Advising a major bank in a series of disputes arising from US$ and Euro Interest rate swaps traded out of London and Germany, a Euro 50,000,000 synthetic Swap and a DEM 50,000,000 swaption.
• Redrafting on behalf of the UK rail industry its rail Access Dispute Rules and acting on many multi million pound track and station and depot access claims.
• Advising on a $250 million dispute relating to media rights in Europe
• Advising a major European bank in connection with potential liabilities/claims arising from the collapse of Enron.
• Advising Trustees, beneficiaries and companies about disputes relating to a variety of substantial Pension Funds.
• Advising on multiple appeals to the Secretary of State regarding the compensation of concessionary bus fares.
The successful applicant will be involved in a range of commercial disputes, with a focus on regulatory investigations and defending prosecutions. Qualifications and/or practice experience in one or both of the following areas would be an advantage but are not a pre-requisite as all necessary development opportunities are open to the right candidate:
• technical/engineering disciplines
• transportation
• health and safety
• insurance/reinsurance
A good level of client contact is assured and the post holder, amongst other things, will be required to represent clients in the full range of dispute resolution processes including mediation, arbitration and court appearances.
In an applicant, we look for a good academic record, acquired from a top university, coupled with evidence of good quality training and experience gained at one of the UK's leading law firms.
