Press Release
THE CROWN ESTATE APPOINTS BURGES SALMON & CLARKE WILLMOTT FOR RURAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO IN ENGLAND & WALES
12 March 2007
The Crown Estate has announced that following a competitive tender process, Burges Salmon and Clarke Willmott have been appointed to provide legal services for their rural property portfolio. The appointment takes effect from 30 March 2007 and is for 5 years. This is the first time that Clarke Willmott has been appointed to provide legal services for The Crown Estate.
The announcement signals the completion of The Crown Estate’s 18 month restructuring of its legal services. This streamlining of legal services cuts from four to two the number of firms handling the rural portfolio creating a smaller, integrated team that will work in close partnership with The Crown Estate to provide an efficient and seamless service to the rural portfolio. Burges Salmon are re-appointed to handle higher value work, whilst Clarke Willmott will manage the balance of legal services.
Vivienne King, Head of Legal at The Crown Estate, said: “I am delighted with the appointment of Burges Salmon and Clarke Willmott. It is particularly pleasing both to be in a position to reappoint Burges Salmon given the merit of their past performance and to appoint Clarke Willmott as an entirely new firm to The Crown Estate. I am confident that we now have a small and enthusiastic team, able to pick up the challenges of the rural portfolio and who can hit the ground running.
“Throughout our restructuring of our legal services we were keen to ensure a smaller and more integrated team of advisors with whom we could build relationships and closer partnership working. We wanted teams that understand The Crown Estate’s vision and core values of commercialism, stewardship and integrity – and who can put those values at the heart of what they do.”
Bob Smyth, Senior Partner and Client Partner at Burges Salmon, said: “We are delighted to be appointed to advise on this unique portfolio of rural property. We have enjoyed a long relationship with The Crown Estate and we have, like them, been acutely aware during this time of the growing impact of economic, technological and social changes on the countryside. The challenge for us is to help The Crown Estate achieve its own ambitious commercial and customer service goals while at the same time having regard to the long term nature of The Crown Estate’s rural portfolio.”
Tim Russ, Head of Agriculture and Client Partner at Clarke Willmott said: “Our appointment to advise on The Crown Estate rural portfolio is very welcome and exciting. It reflects our hard work and commitment to the agricultural and rural sector. We believe we were successful because Clarke Willmott's values and client led approach coincides with the approach of The Crown Estate. The team are looking forward to working with The Crown Estate to achieve their core objectives and the highest standards of excellence.”
Further Information
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