UK independent law firm Burges Salmon has named a successor to senior partner Chris Seaton. 

Ross Fairley will take over on 1 May from Seaton, who has served as senior partner since 2017. 

A veteran of Burges Salmon of more than 20 years, Bristol-based Fairley established and currently leads the firm’s renewables energy team and is also chair of Renewable UK’s Strategy Forum and deputy chair of the UK Hydrogen Energy Association. Before joining the firm he was a partner at legacy Allen & Overy. 

Roger Bull, Burges Salmon’s managing partner, commented: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ross as our new senior partner. His experience and visionary approach will undoubtedly drive the firm forward, continuing our growth strategy and commitment to delivering excellent client service while maintaining our culture.”

Fairley’s renewables practice has seen him advise on many of the UK’s offshore wind farms, including Seagreen’s 3,500MW Firth of Forth project, and develop corporate power purchase agreements for Marks and Spencer, among other matters. 

His appointment follows Burges Salmon ringing in record financial results in FY23/24, when the firm grew revenue 27% to £163m and profit per equity partner by 42% to £661k – a significant turnaround from the previous year’s 10% drop. Meantime net profit jumped 46% to £50.5m. 

The firm put the results down to “an ongoing programme of investments into our clients, people, premises, technology and responsible business agenda” that meant its core sector groups – built environment, energy and utilities, financial services, infrastructure, private wealth, public sector and transport – had an average revenue growth of 32%. 

Under Seaton’s leadership, Burges Salmon opened offices in Edinburgh in 2019 and Dublin in 2020, and since the start of its current strategic period in May 2021 it has grown its overall headcount by 30% to more than 1,100.

In that time the firm said it had also made a record number of partner promotions and lateral hires – 25 and six respectively. It also launched a digital learning hub, refurbished its offices in London, Bristol and Edinburgh and won plaudits for its workplace culture. 

Fairley commented: “It is a real honour to be appointed as Burges Salmon’s senior partner. This firm continues to provide a fantastic platform for people to build their careers and flourish. As senior partner, I want to make sure that we maximise this platform, continue to attract more great people to work here and demonstrate to organisations and individuals who are not yet using us the value Burges Salmon can bring to them.”

He added: “On behalf of the entire firm, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Chris for his leadership and support.”

For his part Seaton will retire in May after standing down as senior partner, a Burges Salmon spokesperson said. 

Bull is set to remain as managing partner until 2028, which Burges Salmon said would ensure “a consistent leadership for the firm over that period”.