Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has been shortlisted for the ‘Diversity Award’, ‘Pensions Law Firm of the Year’ accolade, and ‘Innovation Award’ at the Pensions Age Awards 2023.
Now in its tenth year, the Pensions Age Awards celebrate excellence across the UK Pensions industry, recognising both schemes and providers that have continued to thrive in a challenging economic climate.
This year, the Burges Salmon Pensions team have been shortlisted for the Diversity Award in respect of the firm’s open, collaborative and inclusive culture. The firm has a number of initiatives to improve diversity both within the organisation and across the wider industry.
These include the ‘Working with Schools’ programme for which Burges Salmon won
CSR Initiative of the Year at British Legal Awards; the firm’s diversity networks; delivering a black and minority ethnic work experience week as part of our co-creation of the Bristol Future Talent Partnership; working with charities Brigstowe and Freedom Youth; providing mentoring and work experience for disadvantaged mums through our partnership with Womens Work Lab; and working alongside Talk Club, an organisation which aims to improve male mental health, to name but a few.
The firm’s Pensions Law Firm of the Year shortlisting is in acknowledgement of the firm’s support over the past year for a number of schemes that were in very difficult circumstances. Certain challenges have led the firm to innovate and build closer relationships with its clients than ever before. Burges Salmon has provided emergency legal support for a number of pension schemes affected by the liability-driven investments crisis; has come up with innovative new transfer arrangements; has devised pragmatic and cost-effective approaches to complex legal issues; has protected poorly funded schemes – and is doing it all with innovation and value-add.
In this respect, the firm has also been nominated for the Innovation Award at this year’s Pensions Age Awards, for both its Pensions Schemes Act Triage Tool, which was launch towards the end of 2021, and for its second interactive guide, a Pension Schemes ESG Tool, launched in October this year. The ESG Tool is a free guide, which helps trustees and employers to navigate the law and guidance surrounding ESG and identify which issues they may want to consider further.
Partner Richard Knight, who heads up the firm’s Pensions practice, comments: “
We’re thrilled to be nominated for these prestigious accolades at the 2023 awards. This year we have continued in our efforts to support our clients in often difficult circumstances and to add value within the pensions space so it’s fantastic to be recognised for this.”