Burges Salmon’s decision to open an office in Edinburgh is about recognising and responding to the needs of its clients, and is aligned with the firm’s key sector strategy. The new office, due to open in May, demonstrates the firm’s continued commitment to the Scottish market and will support its successful and long-standing Scottish practice.
To launch the office, Burges Salmon has secured three high-calibre partners from top-quality independent Scottish firms.
Heavyweight corporate practitioner Danny Lee joins Burges Salmon (from Shepherd & Wedderburn) as a partner in its Corporate Finance team. Danny is an experienced operator in the Scottish market and brings a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity with a particular focus on the renewable energy, food and drink, and technology sectors.
Robert Forman, a leading commercial property lawyer, joins the firm (from Brodies) as a partner in its UK-wide Real Estate team. Robert is well known in the real estate sector and has a broad range of experience in investment acquisitions and disposals, commercial leasing, property development and secured lending. Robert also has experience advising on the property aspects of rural business.
Prominent planning law specialist Craig Whelton re-joins Burges Salmon (from Burness Paull) as a partner in its Planning team, having previously worked for the firm for nearly five years in Bristol. Craig has extensive experience in all planning related matters and has specialist expertise in consenting major energy, housing and infrastructure projects. His focus will continue to be on energy projects (in particular onshore and offshore wind projects) and housebuilding, and wider regeneration projects.
Danny will initially be joined by senior corporate director Joanna Monaghan (Shepherd & Wedderburn), who will continue to work together at Burges Salmon, and Robert will be reunited with senior real estate director Claire MacLean (Burness Paull). Making up the additional team of five lawyers will be solicitor Lynsey Reid (Planning) and two of the firm’s existing Scottish qualified Real Estate lawyers; senior associate Lynette Purves (who is currently on a client secondment in Edinburgh) and associate Emma Shearer (who will relocate from Burges Salmon’s Bristol HQ).
All of the new hires will be based in Burges Salmon’s Edinburgh office and will work with the firm’s wider practices, sector groups and existing Scottish law team, led by partner Euan Bremner.
Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, Roger Bull, says: “The launch of our Edinburgh office is exciting and will enable us to support the firm’s growing client-base and long-standing Scottish practice.
“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit such talented lawyers into our new office and would like to welcome our new recruits to Burges Salmon. Their appointment in our Edinburgh office responds to the needs of our national and international clients, and enhances our ability to continue providing wide-ranging sector advice across the UK.”
Emma Dowden, Burges Salmon’s Chief Operating Officer, who led the team responsible for delivering the Edinburgh office design and fit-out, concludes: “Our aim is to strengthen further our offering by attracting exceptional people to work in our growing Edinburgh office, which offers a high quality, collaborative working environment.”