Burges Salmon, the Bristol-headquartered national law firm, plans to bring in new post-Covid fexible working arrangements for all employees that will allow them to work from home if they choose, subject to ensuring clients and colleagues are prioritised.
The firm, which has more than 800 people in its Bristol HQ and London and Edinburgh offices, said the new scheme would follow a model that combined home and office working, as well as working from other locations such as client offices.
This would suit the needs of its clients, its people and the business, it said. The firm will not mandate specific minimum office attendance requirements, instead giving employees flexibility to work in a way that suits them.
The move follows last week’s announcement by national law firm TLT, which is also headquartered in Bristol, that it is to change its working practices to create what it called a fully flexible, progressive and inclusive work environment for its 1,150 employees and 130-plus partners which includes more choice so they can work “at a place and time that suits them, their clients and their role”.
Burges Salmon said the arrangements, which it described as ‘principles-led’, would be introduced across its offices once current government guidelines on working from home and social distancing were lifted in England and Scotland.
The firm said the hybrid working model would be based on trust and would provide greater choice and flexibility. It will be supported by guiding principles that focus on collaborating effectively, delivering an efficient service and respect for others.
Burges Salmon also plans to gradually increase the number of people able to attend its Bristol and Edinburgh offices when social distancing rules are lifted by the government with a view to having the hybrid working model in full operation firm-wide this autumn. 
Burges Salmon managing partner Roger Bull, pictured, said: “Our people have worked extremely hard throughout Covid-19 to continue to provide our clients with impeccable service delivery and to support the business, predominantly from home.
“During this period, we have seen that there are benefits for many in working from home, but we have also recognised that there are significant benefits of physically working together, including effective collaboration, supporting colleagues and developing skills and knowledge.
“With our principles-led hybrid approach, we are offering our people genuine choice and flexibility in the ways that they work which we know will further support the core values of Burges Salmon’s unique culture – a truly open, inclusive and collaborative workplace with our clients and our people at the heart of everything we do.”
Last month Burges Salmon gained a platinum ‘We invest in people’ accreditation by Investors in People, the international standard for people management’s highest level of accreditation, for the support it gives its staff to enable them to flourish.
