Overview

Our partnership lawyers are skilled in all areas of partnership law and work across a range of specialisms. Our farming partnership practice in particular is one of the largest in the UK, reflecting our status as a national leader in agriculture.

A significant volume of our work involves partnership disputes which require the application of specialist knowledge of partnership disputes law and its impact on the rights and obligations of partners and members.

We also advise on all aspects of partnership formation for professional firms, whether trading as conventional partnerships or as limited liability partnerships (LLPs). We provide strategic and tailored advice based on our work with existing clients and from our own experience of converting Burges Salmon from a partnership to an LLP in 2004.

Clients attest to our innovative approach in the use of partnerships as wealth management and investment planning vehicles, and as alternatives to trusts which are now subject to an unattractive tax regime.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in Partnerships includes the following:

  • Partnership disputes.
  • Limited partnerships.
  • Partnership formation.
  • Partnerships for tax planning.
  • Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • Family limited partnerships.
Experience

Acting in more than 10 substantial farming partnership disputes, including a Court of Appeal case, a successful challenge in the High Court to a Court appointed receiver, arbitrations and numerous mediations.

Setting up a number of partnership structures to enable tax-efficient profit-extraction. This has included setting up hybrid partnership between individuals and companies, advice on TUPE and restrictive undertakings, property and other transfer work.

Advising more than ten departing partners from a firm of solicitors.

Establishing Albion as the bid vehicle for the MBO of Close Ventures Limited and advice on internal constitution. Albion is a LLP, the members of which were the senior management of Close Ventures; Close Ventures is also a member of Albion. The transaction involved complex provisions reflecting classic private equity articles through a members' agreement, while not losing the partnership ethos.

Advising a regional solicitors' partnership on the departure of an equity partner and the potential for claims against by and against it leading to a negotiated settlement and the restructuring of the partnership for merger.

Advising two partners of a five partner opticians' firm on the dissolution of the partnership including a dissolution deed and formation of their own practices.

Advising partners in a firm of architects in relation to the terms of their partnership agreement and their relationship with other partners.

Advising accountant on his retirement from a multi-office regional practice and his employment as a consultant.

Setting up a number of family limited partnerships and advising on the tax and regulatory consequences of these.

Meet the team
Headshot John Barnett

John Barnett Partner

  • Head of Partnerships
  • Private Client Services
  • Tax
Jim Aveline

Jim Aveline Partner

  • Private Client Services
  • Family Offices and Family Businesses
  • Food and Farming
Paul Haggett

Paul Haggett Partner

  • General Counsel
  • COLP/MLRO
  • DPO
Tom Hewitt

Tom Hewitt Partner

  • Private Wealth
  • Head of Estates and Land
  • Head of Food and Farming
Headshot of Adrian Martin

Adrian Martin Partner

  • Head of Employment
  • TUPE: Business Transfers and Outsourcing
  • Restructuring and Redundancy
Headshot of Chris Seaton

Chris Seaton Senior Partner

  • Senior Partner
  • Employment
  • Partnerships

What others say...

You always know that you'll get a well-considered, commercially priced and prompt response. A really good firm with a great approach.

Chambers UK 2016

Burges Salmon careers

We work hard to make sure Burges Salmon is a great place to work.
Find out more