Six new partners have been appointed by Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon across a number of its key teams, including private client, healthcare, real estate, dispute resolution and employment.
The firm said the move, which will take its total number of partners to 96 from May 1, reflected its continued growth and commitment to operating effectively and delivering excellent client service. 
The new partners are Catherine de Maid, Emma Heelis-Adams, Patrick Parkin, Ross Simpson, Matt Walker and Katie Russell.
Catherine de Maid becomes a partner in the firm’s international private client practice. She leads the firm’s philanthropy team and specialises in international tax, trusts and estate planning advice for a wide range of clients, from high net worth individuals to trust companies and other institutions.
Also from the international private client practice. Emma Heelis-Adams joined Burges Salmon as a trainee. She specialises in providing tax advice to high net worth and ultra-high net worth international clients, advising individuals who are UK resident but not UK domiciled and non-UK residents. She also advises private banks. Emma’s advice covers personal taxation and cross-border succession planning, including drafting wills to cover assets in multiple jurisdictions.
New partner Patrick Parkin, who also joined the firm as a trainee, specialises in commercial projects, public procurement and regulatory matters, with a focus in healthcare and technology. He advises UK and international private sector healthcare and technology providers, as well as a variety of public sector clients including central government bodies.
Specialising in land and rural property, Ross Simpson becomes a partner in the firm’s real estate team. Ross’s practice is predominantly landowner focused. His specific areas of expertise are in advising landowners on strategic land (including landowner-led development work), rural property law and Scottish land and estates. His clients include traditional land and estate owners, family trusts, farming partnerships and institutions. Ross is dual qualified to practise in Scotland and England and Wales.
Matt Walker becomes a partner in the firm’s dispute resolution team. He specialises in managing disputes and handling regulatory investigations and enforcement situations arising out of the finance sector, with a growing practice in the field of accountancy and audit. He also advises businesses on their contentious and non-contentious insurance needs.
Katie Russell’s appointment builds on the firm’s growth in Scotland. She will join the firm’s employment team next month from Scottish firm Shepherd and Wedderburn. Katie will be based in the firm’s Edinburgh office but have a UK-wide practice as she is dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales.
Burges Salmon managing partner Roger Bull said: “Our focus at Burges Salmon remains very clear: we are fiercely proud of our independence and we are committed to being an exceptional law firm for our clients and an exceptional place to work for our people.
“Building on these foundations, I am delighted to announce the appointment of these six fantastic lawyers to the partnership who will each help us continue to deliver this vision.
“I am also really pleased to welcome Katie to Burges Salmon, who will be an excellent addition to our growing team in Scotland.”
