Tim Illston, a partner at Bristol-headquartered law firm Burges Salmon, was today appointed as the new Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bristol.
Tim, pictured, has taken over from the previous Honorary Consul Ann Newby, who is retiring.
He was sworn in at a ceremony – entitled Vin d’Honneur – hosted by the German Ambassador Dr Peter Ammon at Burges Salmon’s Bristol head office.
His consular duties will include looking after the interests of German citizens in Bristol and the surrounding area and promoting good relations between Germany and the UK.
Tim Illston said: “I am very honoured to have been appointed to this prestigious position and look forward to continuing Ann Newby’s good work over many years looking after German citizens.
“It seems to me very important that the friendship between Germany and the United Kingdom should be maintained and developed; and one of my main aims as Honorary Consul will be to build on the many existing links between the two countries in Bristol, especially in educational, cultural and business fields.”
Tim Illston trained in Lincolns Inn and the City of London before joining Burges Salmon in 1988. He became an associate in 1989 and a partner a year later.
He is a full member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers (APL), an adviser with the Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) and a member of the Society of Pensions Consultants (SPC) and International Pensions and Employee Benefit Lawyers Association (IPEBLA). He was awarded the Industrial Society prize for his paper on Communication and Management in the 1997 Pensions Management Institute exams and has spoken most recently as guest at the Actuarial Profession’s seminar in Bristol on ‘current issues in funding’. He has been praised in the Legal 500 guide for delivering a ‘fantastic’ service.
Bristol has strong historic links with Germany and its twinning with Hanover in 1947 was one of the first between a UK and a German city.
Pictured, from left: Tim Illston, Ann Newby and the German Ambassador Dr Peter Ammon
