Understanding our Risk and Best Practice team

When you think of a law firm, the first image that often comes to mind is lawyers advising clients and solving complex legal problems. But behind every great legal team sits a group of specialists who help the firm work safely, ethically, and efficiently. At Burges Salmon, our Risk & Best Practice team plays a central role in making that happen.

We’re a collaborative, approachable team who support colleagues across the firm. Our work is varied, people‑focused, and designed to ensure the firm continues to deliver high‑quality advice while meeting its regulatory and legal obligations.

Who we are

Our team brings together specialists in financial crime, information security, data protection, regulatory compliance, best practice, and operational risk. What connects us is a shared commitment to being open, supportive, and solutions‑focused. We enjoy working with colleagues across the business and take pride in being a team people feel comfortable approaching.

We also make time to strengthen our own team culture – whether through volunteering days, socials, or cross‑department collaborations. We believe that strong relationships help us deliver the best support.

What we do

Our work spans several key areas; all designed to help colleagues navigate risk and best practice with confidence and clarity.

• Safeguarding the firm’s integrity: We support teams across the firm with regulatory and conduct requirements – helping colleagues interpret rules, understand their responsibilities, and manage potential risks. From advising on complaints and professional indemnity claims to assisting with regulatory and financial crime queries, we help ensure the firm maintains the highest professional standards.

• Supporting client and matter onboarding: Working closely with our Client Intake Team and legal colleagues, we guide the onboarding of new clients and matters. This includes reviewing risks, supporting anti‑money laundering processes, and helping teams identify potential conflicts of interest.

• Protecting information and ensuring security: Information security and data protection are central to our work. We advise colleagues on how to handle sensitive information safely, support secure client communications, and help teams navigate Data Protection requirements.  

• Quality management and audit: We focus on quality management enabling the firm to deliver trusted, high‑quality legal services through robust processes and a commitment to continual improvement. Our audit programme plays a key role in this, giving us regular opportunities to review how we operate, recognise what’s working well, and identify practical improvements that strengthen our services.

Why our work matters

The legal landscape is rapidly evolving. By helping colleagues work safely, efficiently, and with confidence, we enable the firm to continue delivering excellent service to clients while protecting its reputation and values. Our goal is simple: to be trusted partners who help the firm do the right thing, in the right way, every day.

This blog was written by Aimee Davies, Risk and Best Practice Advisor.