Former BLS President Robert Bourns elected to Law Society Management Board

Posted on29 May 2013

TLT's Senior Partner Robert Bourns has been appointed to the Management Board of the Law Society in England & Wales following a contested election.

The Management Board is one of four boards to advise the Law Society Council, which is responsible for the main policy decisions and overall direction of the Society. In his role Robert will work alongside Law Society President Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Vice-President Nick Fluck, and the Society’s Chief Executive Des Hudson among others.

Robert was first elected to the Law Society Council in 2011. He is one of five representatives for the City of London constituency and a member of the Law Society's Equality & Diversity committee as well as its Regulatory Processes Committee. As a past Secretary and President of Bristol Law Society and Secretary of the Association of South Western Law Societies, Robert has been closely involved in the debate around change in the legal profession for some time.

Robert Bourns commented "The Law Society plays a key role in the leadership of the legal profession through a time of continuing change. The effective management of legal businesses is critical to the success of the sector and I'm looking forward to a closer involvement with and lending my support to the management of the Society."

Robert has considerable experience in the management and development of a growing business, having held the role of Managing Partner of the firm for six years, and as Senior Partner of TLT, a role he has held for three consecutive terms.

Robert is an experienced advocate and employment lawyer, with particular expertise relating to TUPE, insolvency, partnership (including LLP), the exiting of senior executives and partners and issues concerning professional conduct.

Clients have voted TLT the best UK law firm for client service in Legal Week's independently researched Client Satisfaction Report 2012. TLT has also been named National Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2013 acknowledging the firm's strategy and growth in Scotland and Northern Ireland and TLT was named Best Managed Firm and won Best Community Engagement at this year's Managing Partners' Forum Awards.

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS