Burges Salmon LLP

Burges Salmon has always been a strong advocate for the arts and creative industry, recognising the important role it plays in improving social mobility, diversity and inclusion, and equality of opportunities. As part of our community engagement programmes, we’ve got a longstanding relationship with Bristol Beacon and over the past five years, we’ve proudly served as its official legal partner, endorsing its vision to create one of Europe’s best, most accessible, performance and music education venues and the UK’s first carbon neutral concert venue by 2030. In celebration of Pro Bono Week UK we highlight how we've supported the music charity on its once-in-a-generation transformation and advised on a pro bono basis on the legal aspects critical to Bristol Beacon's operations and redevelopment. Our multi-disciplinary team of experts worked on the venue’s extensive redevelopment process, providing commercial, employment and real estate advice, with our firm playing an instrumental part in the venue’s grand reopening in November 2023. Supporting Bristol Beacon’s community outreach, we’ve also helped deliver a number of projects. Examples include director Richard Hugo leading a workshop on music rights for young emerging talent whilst our Marketing team volunteered at Bristol Beacon’s music teaching and community space in Southmead. Simon Wales, CEO at Bristol Beacon, comments: “The support received from Burges Salmon meant that we were able to deliver one of the most ambitious arts regeneration projects in the UK by reopening the transformed venue in November 2023. Their support has enabled us to continue to expand our creative learning programmes reaching over 30,000 young people every year, most recently by providing pro bono legal advice following our appointment by Arts Council England to lead the West of England Music Hub in partnership with West of England Music and Arts. The ongoing partnership we have built with Burges Salmon ensures that many more people in our community will benefit from life changing musical experiences.” #ProBonoWeek #WeDoProBono #ResponsibleBusiness

Are you an employer of a DB Pension Scheme? Our recent webinar, featuring experts Chris Brown, Partner and Kelly Beattie, Senior Associate from our Pensions & Lifetime Savings team, along with special guest Iain McLellan (Director, Isio), is now available on demand! In this webinar we covered topics relevant to employers of DB schemes such as: - Understanding the New Funding Code and its implications for employers, - Deciding whether to run on or risk transfer, - Insights on pension considerations in corporate transactions amidst increasing M&A activity, including the latest on TPR’s powers, - Virgin Media and its implications for employers. Originally broadcast on 23 October 2024, this session will be valuable for sponsors of DB pension schemes as well as Trustees, and anyone involved with DB pensions. Watch the webinar here: https://buff.ly/3Yy3ehx #Pensions #DBPensions #FundingCode

Noeleen McAleenon, affected by emissions from a nearby landfill, argued that regulatory bodies failed to set appropriate limits, breaching her ECHR Article 8 rights. Initially dismissed, the Supreme Court allowed her appeal, clarifying that judicial review focuses on whether a public authority acted lawfully based on available information. The Court concluded that whilst judicial review is typically a remedy of last resort, it is an option where no statutory right to appeal exists. Brian Wong, Andrew Walls and Molly Taylor examine the ruling and how it underscores the importance of judicial review in holding regulators accountable. Read more: https://buff.ly/4fbq4m2 #JudicialReview #DisputeResolution #ECHR

Our Corporate and M&A team has advised FirstGroup plc on two back-to-back acquisitions, as the Group looks to strengthen its First Bus division and expand its operational footprint in key UK locations. In a transaction led by Julie Book, Rupert Weston and Chris Doherty, the team advised on the acquisition of Anderson Travel. In parallel, a team led by Chris Doherty, Victoria MacAulay and Danny Lee also guided the Group through its acquisition of LAKESIDE COACHES LIMITED. Both transactions, which completed within the space of a week, align with FirstGroup’s UK-wide investment strategy into highly profitable businesses to diversify its portfolio and grow its presence in adjacent services market. For the full story, read the press release: https://bsalmon.us/4hAnIyG #Transport #CorporateM&A #Growth

Bidding for public sector contracts? The Procurement Act 2023, due to come into force in February next year, brings a multitude of changes that suppliers to the public sector need to be aware of. Our “Guide to the Procurement Act” has now been updated to include a host of practical tips designed to help bidders navigate the new legislation. Download the updated guide now: https://buff.ly/48tAQll #ProcurementAct #PA23 #ProcurementReform

The Autumn Budget confirmed that the UK’s non-dom regime is being replaced with effect from 6 April 2025 and provided much needed clarity as to what the new rules will look like. Individuals and trustees now have sufficient detail to determine how they should respond and what steps need to be taken before the end of the tax year. Please see our summary of the proposed changes and what they will mean in practice here: https://buff.ly/3YPXIan #BurgesSalmon #AutumnBudget2024 #NonDomReforms

Witness memory often faces scrutiny. Test your memory with our interactive memory test video! Watch this short clip and follow the instructions on the screen. Once you’ve completed the test, learn more about issues affecting witness memory in our latest article by Andrew Walls and Stacie Lydia Bourton, the first in a series produced in collaboration with CKitt Investigation & Training. https://buff.ly/4e9q2Kl #disputeresolution #witnessmemory #memory

In our latest #employmentlaw update, we cover the latest Employment Rights Bill news, changes to the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance Contributions, and compensation uplifts in ‘fire and rehire’ cases. Plus, don't miss our upcoming webinar: ‘Managing data protection challenges: strategies for HR’. Read here: https://buff.ly/3NKGSVd #emplaw #ukemplaw #ukemploymentlaw

Julie Book, Douglas Streatfeild-James, Oli Gingell, Dan Wood, Samantha Booth and Richard Spink from our Corporate and M&A team advised Fasadgruppen, a Swedish company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, on its first UK acquisition, with the company acquiring CLEAR LINE HOLDINGS LTD, a specialised full-service contractor in façades and façade fire remediation. The £119.9 million acquisition establishes Fasadgruppen Group in the UK and is an attractive complement to its Nordic market with opportunities for consolidation and growth. Read the full story here: https://bsalmon.us/4fkNOUy #International #CorporateDeals

In a transaction led by Niall Mackle, Alex Lloyd and Manahil Qadir, our Corporate and M&A team advised longstanding client The Electric Car Scheme, a UK-based electric vehicle salary sacrifice provider, on its latest funding round. The finance was made available by a consortium of investors, led by UK-based venture capital firm 13books Capital, with participation from Triple Point Ventures, Seedcamp, Adjuvo, Ascension and Bayern Kapital. The fundraising comes on the back of an impressive year for The Electric Car Scheme which saw it deliver 160% year on year growth. The investment accelerates the company's ambitions to scale, helping to meet a substantial increase in demand for both its new and used EVs and increasing awareness of the benefits its innovative salary sacrifice scheme offers to consumers and businesses. The funding also allows for further investment into technology to boost product innovation and develop wider Net Zero transition offerings. Read the full story here: https://bsalmon.us/48u16vL #ElectricVehicles #NetZero #CorporateDeals